To not do party bags for 11 year old party?

[Finemjen]

considering not giving out party bags after my sons 11th birthday party - we’re hosting a 3 hour adventure tree top party and there will be cake food lots of activities etc. Would you be offended if your child attended the party but didn’t come home with a party bag?

Party bags are full of tat and usually go in the bin (although I’ve got a toddler) so no wouldn’t be offended and wish more people wouldn’t do them.

No, not at all.

At 11 it's more "do something with your mates" than full on party.

No, not at all.

I used to just give them something related to the party (so if it was a movie night a wee bag of popcorn; if a climbing party some chalk, etc)

No. We had definitely stopped doing party bags by 11. It was only the "select few" invited at that stage, with transport, activities and food and drinks inclufed. Probably cost more than the whole class parties as it was.

At that age i did a bran tub.
Much more fun, youngest dips first.
Don't need to spend much the kids just love rummaging for a parcel.

If I were one of the parents I would be grateful you were putting on such a lovely party and wouldn’t think twice about a party bag.

Wouldn't be offended, but I always found party bags at my kids' parties as a good way of signalling "go home I've had enough ".

So I'd provide something just for that reason. But it doesn't have to be a bag. As mine got older I tended to do a small gift like a book, or craft item etc.

My ten year old hasn’t received a party bag for ages, it’s completely fine and normal not to give them out at eleven. I think my DC would be embarrassed if I’d handed them out at his party.

And if you have generously entertained and fed their kid for three hours, any parent being offended by the lack of a party bag is rude and unreasonable!

Totally fine unless your child is desperate to have them

Oh actually I think it might depend a bit on what you mean by "hosting". Will the party be at home? I was thinking more along the lines of when we did cinema followed by pizza for the birthday, or the time we did water sports at an activity centre with food afterwards. Then we dropped everyone home after.

If at home, I'd probably still give them something going home.

Sweet cones are cheap and easy to do if you feel you want to give something out at the end to send them on their way.

My DD did sweet cones for 10&11. She had fun making them herself.

bag of Percy pigs each to take away if you must

I would be relieved not to have another load of plastic tat in the house! Ok to be fair they haven't all been plastic tat, some have been lovely but the older they get the harder it is. Like the amount of stuff they all actually like that isn't a bit of plastic that gives them 30 seconds fun then is never played with again, is tiny. When they are younger books work well or maybe a bath bomb, but when they are 10, 11 they all read different stuff and some only have showers!

If anyone is interested, I think the best one we did was £12 for 15 bath bombs, and then bit of white tissue paper, bit of red tissue paper, black tape around the middle, white circular sticker with the edge coloured black = pokeball!

I wouldn't worry too much at age 11, but just an idea you could do sweet cones, they went down well at my daughters party.

I wouldn't mind but my kids probably would 🙈😂
I would do a sweet cone. I agree with the previous poster who also said it's a good indicator of it being time to go!

I found that the older they got, the more delighted they were by having party bags.

These are all great comments thank you everyone! It’s at an activity centre so will come to a natural end when they tell us to leave. Decision made not to do party bag, but I like the sweet cone idea! How do I make them - do you mean put sweets in an ice cream cone?

You buy plastic bags, they’re shaped like piping bags, fill with a mix of sweets and then tie with a bit of ribbon or the twisty ties that usually come with the bags

https://www.amazon.co.uk/cellophane-Transparent-Halloween-Christmas-Chocolates/dp/B09QLCWFZB?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P1IKUPD9XIZW

I’m lazy and buy them

got them off this lady on eBay the last 3yrs

yes I could buy the bags and sweets and make but cba

https://ebay.us/m/uV0cmV