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?

malory, you put the party tea in the party bag?

Malory, let me guess. You have daughters, not sons.

And who puts it in the bin? Adults. Bringing the whole party spirit down.

Roobie. I do. I am 31 weeks pregnant and these things matter, d'ya hear?

Everyone (well, the media) is always carping on about our 'knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing' society and, IMO, we need to start changing this. Thus, I have singled out party bags.

Can I just say at this juncture, that I am beginning to sound like the worst kind of liberal, round-shouldered type of mnetter. And that is not me.

pointydog............. if you want to provide party bags for the wee blighters that come to my 5 children's parties.... you feel free babe. Go for your life.

DD2 will be having 6 guests
DD1 will be having 5 guests
DS1 will be having 5 guests
DTs will be having 2 guests each.

Next year, if your party bags are up to scratch, we'll up the ante!

The thing is ... if you have a party with games and prizes (which kids LOVE) and make sure that every one wins something ... then no one goes home empty handed anyway ....
I agree with the 'expectation' thing ... drives me nuts. So the children who come to DS's parties get an empty bag at the start of the party. They have to put anything they win (pass the parcel lolly, treasure hunt prize, pinata stuff, lucky dip) in the empty bag ... so they go home with something - NOT empty handed but they don't leave the party with their hands out expecting to be given something for nothing.

Ah, you're pregnant, bubble. Don't worry then. I bet once you've had the baby you'll like all the shiny pretty funny trinkets again. Thjis terrible phase will pass.

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mars - you have five children? You could make so many more children happy with party bags.

nah she's always been a horrid old bag! Haven't you my bubbly one?

and I could keep so many in misery! Isn't the world good?

marslady ... you always make me larf ...
ML has 5 poor deprived kids that never get anything nice ....

Apart from lemon drizzle cake

ghosty. Spot on. I have no problem with prizes for games. I am generous in the prize department and yes, I make sure that everyone wins something. I also take the opportunity to wantonly thwart our crappy Blairite 'nobody should ever be a loser' nonsense.

Musical chairs, for example, illustrates that someone must be a loser each time as there will be no chair for them to sit on. We have (in the UK, and in schools, at least) recently been inflicted with the term 'deferred success' for 'failure.' WTF!

Children at our parties go home with a prize and a piece of cake. What more should they need?

YOU PUT YOUR LODS STIFF INT EH BIN BEFORE HTEY PLAYW ITH IT
YOU MISERABLE COW

AM GPOONG OFF YOU BIG TIME
TESCO IF A NECESSITY

YOU SILLY MARE
CRAFTY GHITE IS BANG ON
GOD AM CROSS

I hate party bags. I hate what they do to kids. Cheap thrills and landfill fodder. Kids start obsessing about the party bags before they even leave the party. They are really bad for kids. The pressure to do them is immense. I'm totally behind any campaign to stamp them out.

Marsy. I am bad and getting badder.

Good night at Waitrose, cod?

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