To ask if this is a good idea re party bags?

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

DD’s 5th birthday is in a couple of weeks. Rather than filling a bag with plastic things from Amazon, I’m thinking of buying a load of books from the Works and each child can take one on the way out (along with a slice of cake of course). As a parent would you think this is a nice idea or a bit twee and show off ‘look at me such a superior educational parent’?

A bit twee?!? This tends to be the norm nowadays rather than non biodegradable plastic tat.

The last parties my kids have been to, the bags had plant pots and seeds, books, papercraft thing to make, sweets inside a cup with their name on etc...

It's the same plastic tat in every party bag and to be honest my kids are not interested in more sticky men, small bubble mixes, tattoos, gliders, mazes or tiny packs of crayons. The last party we went to they didn't even get it out of the bag. I think either do useful stuff such as novelty pencils, rubbers, notebooks, activity books or do 1 decentish present such as toy car, or little craft activity or do sweets. My kids would like a book. Surprised most 5 year olds don't like books tbh.

I think it would be lovely and ime all the kids really care about in the party bag is the cake !
If you’re not sure tho little colouring/ activity books and a little packet of crayons might be a safer bet or I don’t know a single child that age that wouldn’t be delighted with stickers, bubbles and a wee packet of sweeties!

Great idea

I dislike the plastic tat shipped from China and straight to landfill so used to go heavy on the sweets in party bags, with some stickers or something as well. That felt a bit less environmentally bad but that it would be actually appreciated by the kids.

Not the point of the thread but interesting that in the UK it sounds like you don't actually eat the cake at the party. I'm in Ireland and we do the cake/candles and then cut it and eat it. It would never go in the party bag.

For my little ones last party I gave everyone a “grow your own grass head” as we had cousins of all ages and I just wanted one thing I could give everyone.
they were big hits with all the kids & parents!
I still get photos of how they are doing lol.

Oh and the cake was just eaten at the party

I agree.

Parents think a book is a great gift, but children really enjoy the plastic tat and novetly items that usually come in a party bag.

I think this is a lovely idea but I would randomly choose and wrap the books for the children rather than letting them pick as it prolongs the whole exit and there could also be squabbles over who wants what.

Tbh I won’t be buying loads of plastic tat because I would rather be a bit boring than add a load of shit to a landfill in 6 months time 😬 if it’s not a fun idea then I might just buy them all a large bubble tube each, at least that’ll likely be used?

It sounds like it could be very expensive ! I remember being given a piece of cake in a serviette, and being happy with that. It could become a competition, comparing all the party bags, and also making kids greedy.

I like the idea of books instead party bags. My kids liked the idea of the books.

Don't think they ever read a single one they got, though. They were never books they would have chosen. They just ended up being donated to school/charity shops.

My dc never used the crayons in party bags and none were into colouring - the stuff that’s marketed for party bags is really low quality so not a lot of fun to use, and it wasn’t as if they didn’t have coloured pencils at home.

I put in one thing (book, toy car, puzzle, hair band, spinning top) that was nice enough quality for the kids to get some value out of it before it hit landfill, a slice of cake and something like a mini box of smarties. No one ever complained.

Just be prepared to ignore the one kid that says disdainfully "A BOOK?!" when you hand it over

I was going to say the same, many years ago when my children were that age people bought the packs from the catalogue but them readers probably already had them and non readers don't want them so a bit wasteful imo

Cake,sweets and bubbles sounds fine to me

We did it years ago when book depository did 10 books for £10 for different ago ranges. Some of the books were £15 picture pop up books which was great. We wrapped them and did as a lucky dip plus a tiny bag of Haribo.

The books are a good idea. I would certainly like it.

My DD recently went to her best friends 6th birthday party. It was fairy themed and her mum had wrapped and hidden fairy wings and a wand in the garden for all the guests. No party bags as they got to take them home. It worked really well and they only cost a few quid from the £shop

too bad 😂

Others will prefer the book to the plastic tat! You can't please everyone.
Just teach your kids to be grateful to get a gift as a thank you for attending a party and be given food and cake!

Books are very common, it's just hard to judge the reading levels which vary immensely at that age.

I did this for my sons 4th birthday and it went down well. I wrapped the books up and put the children's names on and they got some sweets as well. The parents commented that it was a great idea. I got a bundle of books from The works and it worked out at £1 each.

We’ve done this and had friends do it.
or we’ve done a colouring book and crayons. I personally prefer it to the tat you usually get in party bags.

we went to 2 parties last week, one party the kids got a book from the works and a little packet of haribo, the other party they got a bag with plastic tat in….although we were very grateful for both, the plastic tat is now in the bin and the books are still being read almost daily.

We just went to a party and in the bag was slice of cake,few sweeties, sticker sheet and punch balloon, it was perfect. Books are good but a faff at leaving time

Ha, now I'm intrigued! We've had some very odd books but even ones I'm a bit at, they sometimes find something they like in it!

Oh Lordy, someone make sure Barnacles sprog gets a copy of "Beowulf" please.

I think it's more the mums of kids behind the reading level of the top of the class who get offended to be honest...

but people get offended by anything these days.