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Original poster

Can we start a campaign to ban.....

54 replies

Blandmum · 03/03/2007 17:16

.....party bags?

I hate them. I hate making them up, I hate the needless expence. I hate the kids bringing more 'stuff' that they don't really want or need home.

Why do we feel that kids 'need' them? Isn't two hours of fun and games and some party food enough for them to have a nice time?

Sour puss and gumpy face Bishop

OP posts:
Original poster
Blandmum · 03/03/2007 19:08

bah, humbug to you both!

OP posts:
NAB3 · 03/03/2007 19:08

They are a waste of time and effort, as well as money. 99% of what my kids come home with goes in the bin anyway. One party didn't do them. The kids had a piece of cake and a wrapped up book. Much better than plastic tat and scarily coloured sweets. My 3 year old after the last party "I have a bag Mummy and it has some more rubbish in it."

FluffyMummy123 · 03/03/2007 19:08

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FluffyMummy123 · 03/03/2007 19:09

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FluffyMummy123 · 03/03/2007 19:09

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NAB3 · 03/03/2007 19:09

Well these weren't shitey books. Very nice ones actually.

zippitippitoes · 03/03/2007 19:10

you so harsh what about ltittle lip glosses like cakes and spinning tops

Original poster
Blandmum · 03/03/2007 19:13

It isn;t the sugar I don't like, or the stuff as such, I just don't see why we need to do em.

Most kids have enough 'stuff' as it is

OP posts:
Original poster
Blandmum · 03/03/2007 19:15

I suppose a bit of me doesn't like them because we are basically pandering to the idea that our kids can't cope with the birthday boy/girl getting presents and the rest of the kids not getting something as well.

And I don't think that kids are that daft.

they can cope with leaving without a goody bag, but we all feel we have to do them because everybody else does them

Bah Humbug

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 03/03/2007 19:15

you can say that about everything we don't need most things..in fact most aspects of life can be dispensed with

themanfromiPannema · 03/03/2007 19:22

they are RUBBISH!!

local Tesco has a separate "party bag" section, FGS!! To blled the parents that bit more.

dd forgets she has one by the time we get home. Full of rubbish, so they are.

for me its the expense and having small peices of rubbish all ove rthe car/house for days afterwards...

Original poster
Blandmum · 03/03/2007 19:23

YOu are so right penn, they take no notice of the stuff 10 minutes after returning home. And more plastic crap round the house

OP posts:
themanfromiPannema · 03/03/2007 19:33

eg for Dd's 7th birthday in Jan., we took her friends to the cinema (11 of them), then back to mine for a party with usual games and things, and a friend of mine came in and did some juggling with "light balls" (balls that glow in darkened room) - great day, she loved in...and the ridiculous gathering of rubbish to put in little pags was such a pointless waste.

often thought this, but reluctant to post a potential humbug opinion. thanks mb.

twoisenoughmum · 03/03/2007 19:46

Some of my kids favourite little things have come from party bags. And my 6 year old DD remembers each and every bag and what came in them! LOL. Tonight they are having a bath with bubbles from a LittleMissSunshine individual sachet of bubble bath that came in one. Party bags wouldn't be such an expense or such a PITA if you didn't invite so many people to your parties IMHO. What's wrong with 3 friends at 3, 4 friends at 4, 5 friends at 5 etc? It's all this inviting the whole class, all your neighbours kids and all their siblings as well that's the problem. Bah humbug to too big parties, I say.

themanfromiPannema · 03/03/2007 19:48

she's just TOO popular!!

steinermum · 03/03/2007 19:56

It's useful to have something to give them so you can get rid of them at the end of the party
as in 'put your coat and shoes on then you can do lucky dip'. I never bother with party bags, just wrap up a few little things and they take one and a piece of birthday cake. If anyone complains you just put a big smile on your face and say 'this is how we do it in our house' (now sod off home you spoiled brat so I can open the chardonnay).

Kbear · 03/03/2007 20:00

I love 'em. Love making them up with interesting things. Love rootling around for a fun size Milky Way the kids have forgotten about too !

I think if you don't like them, don't follow the herd, just don't do them. Say, no, didn't do party bags, here's your cake, see ya!!

belgo · 03/03/2007 20:03

I would like to ban inappropiate food party bags. They cause my dd no end of frustration. She is only three years old, and can't be the only three year old not to be able to chew toffees.

The party bag she recieved this week contained:

five unchewable toffees (even I couldn't chew them)
three cola flavour lollipops - yuck yuck yuck.

I felt quite sorry for her frustration and gave her a piece of chocolate instead.

I gave out play dough samples instead of party bags at her birthday party.

WestCountryLass · 03/03/2007 20:04

My kids have had fairly big parties but, say, you are friends with someone and see them and their 2/3 kids you can't just invite the child the same age as the birthday boy/girl can you? Before i've even thought about school friends i've got 10-15 kids to invite.

My kids like party bags, they get sweets I don't buy for them I tend to go for the half decent toy (penny racers for boys/wooden bracelet or something for girls) and some choccy and leave it at that, don't bother with a bag!

WestCountryLass · 03/03/2007 20:05

Bwahahaha steinermum

Exactly!

Mirage · 03/03/2007 21:05

Oh yes!
I hate them with a passion,like I hate pass the parcel with presents at every layer.DD1 is only 3,so hasn't had a party yet,but I will make a stand when she does & I don't care what the other mums/children think.

I also hate the 'competative party' syndrome that is happening where I live.It is a case of if X had balloons & a face painter,then Y has to have,balloons,facepainter & bouncy castle too.Madness.

Caligula · 03/03/2007 21:08

LOL at there's a little bit of Kate Moss in all of us.

I do hope that's not true...

expatinscotland · 03/03/2007 21:11

Neither girl has ever had a birthday party or been invited to one.

They're 3.7 and 1.

This year, for DD1's 4th birthday, we're going on holiday.

And for DD2's 2nd birthday, we're going away.

Hallgerda · 03/03/2007 21:11

I just don't do them. And I never have. If a child asks me about party bags, I just say I don't do them. And I haven't had any tantrums over it - it's just been accepted that I don't do party bags.

Budababe · 03/03/2007 21:14

So where did they come from? Who did the first one?

(I like them!!)

Party today - little set of paints and a notebook - Mum then added a cookie/rice-crispie cake to each one. The children jsut like to get a bag!