Party bag alternatives??

[Emily6457]

My daughter is turning 5 soon.

I’m looking for alternatives to the usual plastic junk in party bag?

I can only think of sweets (we usually end up chucking them too!) or books.

Just been to a party and they sent home seeds and a plant pot, which I thought was brilliant.

Any ideas much appreciated? Particularly cheap and easy.

Also the party is Lion King themed, so bonus points for anything that fits with that!! Xx

I bought a bamboo beaker and sachet of hot chocolate

I put some sunflower seeds in little brown envelopes and a personalised sticker for DD's birthday. Don't know how well they went down but I felt better without the plastic rubbish!! You might be able to find some more exotic seeds to match the theme.

Also did these little wooden jitterbugs. They are out of stock but I'm sure other places do them:
www.partypacks.co.uk/products/wooden-jitterbug-toy-assorted-colours-4cm-each

At this time of year I'd just buy a load of Easter eggs

Masks? Lion ones? You could make them as part of the party activities if you feel that way inclined.

We got an Easter egg on our last one ! I thought it was an awsome idea

Balloons are always the biggest winner in this house. Those big ones with elastic bands on.. my kids love them!

Pot of bubbles also very popular. Blank note pad & a pencil is a big hit with my eldest. We got some homemade playdoh recently, that was cool!

Baking kits are good, think the company is called Cookie and crumb.
The packaging is all cardboard, no plastic junk in the house. Just bake and eat. Fairly sure you can get stickers to put on them too saying thank you for coming to my party.

@AndSoFinally

At this time of year I'd just buy a load of Easter eggs

Yep. I had two spring babies and this was my go too for years.

Its called craft and crumb

I’m not sure about baking kits. That’s more work and pressure for the parents.

I wouldn't do anything that has to have parental involvement. I know I'd never have baked cookies or painted anything with my DC.
Can I ask why?

I tend to do one sweet treat and one 'toy'. The treat is something veggie like skittles or a chocolate bar.
The 'toy' has been playdough, fairy garden with cress seed, fidget spinner and mini plush toy.

@Dutchesss

I wouldn't do anything that has to have parental involvement. I know I'd never have baked cookies or painted anything with my DC. Can I ask why?

I agree. It’s unfair on parents. If they want to do painting or baking at home with their child, they can. But the pressure of having a “kit” of stuff to do when they are busy and they’ve got other stuff to do isn’t fair.

@flashpaper

That’s encredibly sad for your DC. May I ask why?

We have got craft kits from Hobbycraft - 5 for £5, bag of sweets, rubber bouncy ball and a piece of cake.

My favourite ever party bag contained socks. They split a pack of fancy (Christmas themed in this case) socks and gave every child one pair. You could do lion king socks.

Also how about toothbrushes, bamboo ones or fun kids ones.
I'd appreciate the humour in giving a toothbrush with a bag of sweets!

Or instead of a pot to plant how about a wildflower bomb?

If my DC want to bake then it's definitely something we can do, but I need more planning than just having a kit from a birthday party. I'm so busy it would end up in a cupboard and going off and getting thrown in the bin. If it's a packet from a shop I'd be more inclined to use it at some point but if it's in a jar that's been homemade, one of those where you just add the wet ingredients, then who knows who has had their hands in it. Also, when he was younger, DS had intolerances so it would have been like waving it in front of his face knowing he couldn't have had it.

In terms of arts and crafts, I just can't stand the mess (also applies to baking). It's not as bad now they're older (but not interested) but I tried doing stuff like that with them and just ended up getting myself wound up. I don't like it.

My DC aren't deprived, it isn't "sad". They're 11 and 9 now. They bake by themselves (under supervision) and tidy their own messes. Their childminder who they've been with for years is much more crafty than I am anyway so they've done loads with her. It's just not something I like to do at home. I doubt I'm alone in this.

I did birdboxes one year, canvas bags another and pilllowcases another ... they were the activity too. Baker Ross used to be the best place for the kits and paints

I put socks in DC’s party bags. One DC is a Christmas baby, so those ones are Christmas themed. Always get comments on what a good idea it is.

I went to tiger tiger, bought a range of £1-£3 things, put them in a big box and at the end of the party kids chose 1 thing to take home. I bought a few extra so the last few children had a choice rather than being stuck with what was left. Worked really well and the leftovers were used as stocking fillers for my dc at the next Xmas.

Why do you throw the sweets away? Put them in food bank

Baker Ross do some good stuff
Crayons
Craft kits
Note books

Sweet cones personalised to the Lion King?

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/629881566/pre-filled-kids-childrens-sweet-cones?gbraid=0AAAAADutTMfxF1mmFABcO-2MA6WugBM0Q&gpla=1&gao=1&&utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=shoppinggukenngbe-paperrandpartyysupplies-partysupplies-partyyfavorsanddgames-partyfavors&utmmcustom1=kkEAIaIQobChMI9I6H8f-9gIVAe3tCh2SpgW7EAQYDSABEgL1PvDDBwEkk&utmcontent=goo326235648437782350100230350012522pla-3177494567955m629881566engbb135333837&utmcustom2=326235648&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMfxF1mmFABcO-2MA6WugBM0Q&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9I6H8f--9gIVAe3tCh2SpgW7EAQYDSABEgL1PvDBwE

Although it was many years ago now the best received gift I did was THE BIGGEST bar of chocolate that I could find.
No bag, just the bar each. The look on their faces was a picture and of course it can be shared or donated.

We just had DDS 5th birthday and we bought in a ton of space hoppers instead of party bags.

We hire a hall, set them all loose during the party and then told them to take one home each

We bought in bulk for about 2.30 each on eBay. No waste. No mess. Happy kids