Can we start a mnet movement to ban party bags?

[bubble99]

Back in the dark ages, when I was a girl, we sometimes got an extra piece of birthday cake in a paper napkin to take home.

When did this 'party bag' nonsense start? From what I can see most of it is (expensive) junk and, what offends me more, is that the guests look for it.

Am I an old skinflint/curmudgeon? No honest answers required.

FGS, most parents have already forked-out for the food and the makeover/clown/entertainer/ unicycling jugglers, as it is. Isn't that enough?

its liek a party wihtout a cake if you dont give em
out
ill tell you as your kdis gtes older shell BEG you to do them

gte OFF you hobby horses you lot
it slone fro like 6 years of parties isnt it

yes they're at a party and had fun!

ohh am quite proud of party bags for dd's 5th birthday - pencil cases all around with pencil, ruler etc etc inside - all starting school so I though perfect!

the party should be enough why does everyone else need presents - its one persons special day [skinflint emoticon]

Jools. But did you get a ton of crappy plastic and toxic sweets? No. I thought not.

I was brought up in the 'thankyou for having me' era. An extra bit of cake was a bonus.

I'm starting to sound like the Monty Python 'licking the roads clean and sleeping in a shoebox sketch', aren't I?

yes oh you miserable air born thing

you are skinflints
adn tight sods

might have to chuck in a few chocs I suppose

yes a special day which they share with their friends! even to get a small part of that is great to children

But that's the problem, cod, they're not particularly excited about them. They all expect them and I hate that.

that be us cod liver my darling! lol

Sod off. Fishface.

I only expected a party bag as a child because people always gave them, I don't remember not getting one and I LOVED them!

I have to admit I am yet to have to do any but it is the kind of thing I quite like doing so I doubt I'll be bothered.

Hana - I think yours sound great!

put something different in them then, something they won't expect

Bubble, but it's a kid ritual. Compare it to an adult dinner party (er, I might be on a sticky wicket here, don;t have many). Would you expect to be offered a cup of coffee or tea or liqueur after the meal?

I'd be a bit disappointed if I was hustled out the door without the offer of a coffee.

There you go - games, party tea, cake, party bag.

like a mousetrap?

a live crocodile?

Is that too cruel? lol

Be honest. Are none of you ever saddened by the 'chuck it on the pile' mentality of children at birthdays/Christmas etc? The party bag thing is just an extension of this, IMO.

How many of you have stood on broken bits of toys that have been barely looked at?

Yeah, southeast. They'll be givin gout party bags with mouse traps next.

You see! Mars has already done it!!

I just did books (bought cheap on The Book People website) and a piece of cake.

I've only had one party for dd so far (4th) and really enjoyed putting together the party bags - sourcing lovely little necklaces, nice little cheap toys etc.
Equally if dd came home from a party without having been given a bag (even if she commented on it) it wouldn't cross my mind to be miffed or the slightest bit sniffy about it - do grown ups really care about this stuff?

I do find that sad bubble, which is why I try not to go to mad at Christmas/birthday time, maybe party bags to reinforce that but I think they are a lesser evil!

with you on the 'chuck it on the pile' mentality. But that's all to do with parents giving their own kids far too much. If they would just keep back a few pounds to make other people's children happy with a party bag, the world would be a better place...