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’?

I lose my mind over party bags and get waaaay too preoccupied with them (entirely unnecessarily). I’ve done books, socks, craft kits, non-tatt etc etc. Of everything I’ve gifted or we received, the best things were sweets cones (adored by children 😱), marbles (we’ve actually played with them), You Choose book which was really lovely (but £££).

😂 this is so true, even though I had never fully formed this thought before.

If it's those cheap £1 books I wouldn't bother. Bag of sweets/sweet cone and cake seems to be the norm and well accepted by the kids! I just added a superhero mask to my bags which were a big hit with the kids.

Went to a party that did this once and op I have to say, be ready- some kids were so excited and happy, others looked like they’d been told off and looked miserable. My own son got in the car and said ‘they gave me a book’ with a puzzled expression. (My other son took it and read it so it was definitely something but nothing close to when they get the little medals, bubbles, whistles, notebook and pens etc). I’m so sorry op, just warning you to be ready!!

Great idea!

Much better than plastic crap!

Much better for who?

As others have said it's the parents who think it's much better, the children don't usually see it this way. Little children like plastic tat, yes it's a pain and it might break, but it's a staple of a party bag and often the only time they get the daft nik naks and novelty items. Yes there will be children who like a book, but what suits one reader doesn't suit another. But i've yet to see a child who hates a plastic pot of bubbles.

My point was that at that specific age books can be hit and miss due to the vast range of interest/abilities. Some will be reading Harry Potter and others will be working through early readers/ still wanting picture books. If you give a book to a 2 or 3 year old they are likely to be books the parents read to them. At age 7/8 you can go down the Horrible histories type books. Five is probably the hardest age to buy a type of book which will keep them all happy.

I have given out books and like others on the thread had a mixed reaction.

I always find this a bit condescending- and I love love love books.

They are usually cheap books that the kids either already have or aren’t interested in reading. There is usually a view the mum or dad has done it to show they are better than ‘plastic tat’. 😂

Kids love the plastic tat - bouncy balls, huge balloons, novelty rubbers, bubbles.

Bottom line is that you need to be thinking what would a 5yr old child actually want ? (rather than what you would like to give them)

Well said.

Bottom line is that you need to be thinking what would a 5yr old child actually want ? (rather than what you would like to give them)

then you do need to create individual party bags. Not 2 5yrs old is the same.

I already got in the habit of having 2 birthday cake flavours at parties, because some like chocolate, some don't 😂

We did this for my son’s 5th. Books, bubbles and birthday cake - everyone seemed to enjoy it!

Me!

I hate all the plastic rubbish that ends up broken in bits and ends up being a waste of money as it's all thrown in the bin.

Do like a good bubble pot though!

I think it's a lovely idea, but I'd put the books in the bag ready, otherwise the kids will be there forever deciding which one they want!

Personally I'd also include something else in the bag, although possibly you'd get away with cake + book only. Loads of ideas online if you search for "non plastic party bag fillers" or "zero waste party bag fillers".

Why do people automatically think plastic = "tat".
There's some perfectly decent and reasonably priced plastic toys out there.
I remember reading one of these party bag threads I mentioned Lego Polybags (can be bought in bulk working out at a £2 or £3 each) and one person said her kids weren't into Lego (not all kids are) so she threw those straight on the bin !!
Not give them to a charity shop or anything - but the bin and then posted something that said "oh but it's just plastic tat". Errr....no. It's a perfectly decent toy that happens to be made out of plastic.

But i've yet to see a child who hates a plastic pot of bubbles.

I can show you loads. One pot of bubble, fun.

Half a dozen parties later (30 kids in the class, plus friends from clubs.. that's a minimum of 2 parties a month on good month), various school fairs, after-school celebration, price on trail and basically 20 pots of bubbles.. I assure you kids barely glance at them then.

You should see some of the wooden toy groups. I've genuinely seen people post a photo of Lego and ask for a wooden alternative. The fact that Lego is an amazing toy that promotes so many skills doesn't matter, they're not interested because it's plastic, and plastic = bad. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Would the posters who hate plastic toys prefer a wooden whistle in the party bag?

My child doesn’t like plastic crap, so no, not all kids live them. Not all kids like the same things, so I don’t think it really matters, just do what you think best.

I’m not sure why the go to retort on here is being a fun sponge if you have a different opinion though, seems a bit silly.

I don’t agree with plastic crap, so I won’t buy it. It doesn’t mean we don’t do fun things or not bother with party bags. There are lots of things my child would like that I don’t agree with doing, they’d probably eat 2 litres of mango sorbet if I didn’t stop them after a bowl!

Just give everyone a bag of Tangfastics. That’s what they really want.

We did exactly this for my daughters 5th birthday. Book and a cupcake. Seemed to go down well x

If you're after useful stuff as opposed to plastic tat - but still a bit exciting for the kids

Party bag but with a sachet of crackle baff, a bath bomb, a bubble stick, and cake

All fairly low price (just buy big pack and break it down) and all used not just binned after a short while?

Possibly a bit expensive but a great gift from one of the many parties I went to was a superhero cloak and mask in various different colours. They were laid out at the birthday tea and each child took one randomly. There was a bit of swapping between children and possibly a few disappointments but I thought it was a great idea.

Also personalised plastic cups (those ones with a lid and integral straw), stick a few sweets inside.

I've done books. Don't care what parents or kids think. They can whinge behind my back!

I think it’s a great idea. I did it and wrapped them up and did it as a lucky dip with loads of shredded paper in a massive box, they dug in a picked one on their way out of party.

In fact I don’t think I only did books, think I had other things in the lucky dip too-packs of colouring pencils etc too.

Ok so overall it looks like books are good, but some kids may be disappointed with just that so I will do a book plus bubble tube. Compromise! Will just place a big box of both at the entrance and they can take one/both.

Yes, great idea! We’ve just gone back from a party and the bag contained a bloody whistle 🙄