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

Photobox had an offer of 9 fridge magnets for £3, not sure if it's still on.

You could have them made with Lion King characters? And a bit cake, sweets.

I've just had some made, ordered last Sunday and delivered on Tuesday

I think the most popular one, although plastic, was a bunch of poundland bucket and spades set. We would often see friends with them at the park. Popped some cake in the bucket and job done.

We wouldn't use a bake at home kit because we never bake at home with gluten, although my child at the party would not have allergies themselves so you wouldn't know. Flour gets everywhere and contaminates other baking things so we just wouldn't use it. We do lots of gluten free baking though so don't feel sorry for my dc!

Oh and space hoppers sound like awesome fun, do that!

Space hoppers would only work if you know everyone’s circumstances. Does everyone have a garden? Where I live, most children live in flats. I can just imagine their parents’ faces if presented with a space hopper!

Cookie cutters, socks with lions on (given your theme), cotton twist on Etsy do nice little bracelet or key ring kits for kids, books, bath bombs, baker Ross craft kits as others have said, bubble mixture. This year my daughter chose really cute tins of plasters and some tissue packs covered in bears from flying tiger for her bags.

I have done sweetie kebabs, books and some more traditional bags but with more eco friendly stuff. I used a website called the curious caterpillar which had lots of good things. My son went to a lion king party a few years ago and they were given masks and a bubble wand.

My biggest win was a gymnastic ribbon. The kids loved them.

Tube of smarties
Colour in bag and pens + smarties
Pencil case + pencil
Playdoh
Book
Lollipop
Kinder egg
Easter egg

Or sticker book

I feel like party bags have become the next parent competition!! What’s wrong with a slice of cake and a bit of plastic tat! That’s what the kids love. And the bag is for them after all, not the parents!

I don't have young children so don't have kids parties to organise but when did party bags become a thing? When my ds was of party age the kids went home with whatever sweets etc were leftover and cake if there was any uneaten but certainly no organised party bags, he never came home from a party with one either. My niece and nephew are both preteens and I've helped out at their parties and never seen these bags there either. The only time I seen something similar was during covid when parties couldn't be held so my ds dropped party food to my nieces friends and later they all got on zoom together to watch a film and enjoy the treats. Why are the guests getting gifts? It just seems really odd to me.

@Fuckitsstillraining

I don't have young children so don't have kids parties to organise but when did party bags become a thing? When my ds was of party age the kids went home with whatever sweets etc were leftover and cake if there was any uneaten but certainly no organised party bags, he never came home from a party with one either. My niece and nephew are both preteens and I've helped out at their parties and never seen these bags there either. The only time I seen something similar was during covid when parties couldn't be held so my ds dropped party food to my nieces friends and later they all got on zoom together to watch a film and enjoy the treats. Why are the guests getting gifts? It just seems really odd to me.

Party bags have been around for decades...

They did used to be a slice if cake and maybe a balloon or something really small. Bit a lot have grown into big bags with lots.ofnsall gifts for each child...madness!

Party bags have been normal for ages. My DC are mid-20s and they were normal when they were little. In my childhood -1970s - we got cake and a balloon.

An easter egg.

For my daughter's party one year I bought some small blank cards and envelopes, rainbow crayons, stickers, stamps and ink pads and split them into little sets so they could create their own cards. Another time I bought some nice material headbands and packs of lip balms from Amazon, though this was when she was a bit older. Plus sweets of course!

@PadBurnup

An easter egg.

Most party bags ds brought home full of cheap tat or naff cheap books ended up in landfill.

Lindt bunny (not in any further packaging/bags) is the best suggestion on this thread.

I have bought some of those childrens rub on tattoos for ours. About £5 for 100 on Amazon. We we use some at party in garden as ‘activity’ and add some to party bag ( only 5 children)

Maybe add animal theme pencil and rubber. Ds has allergies so not adding sweets.

The Works has cheap books for little ones.

Nothing wrong with an Easter egg - my March dds birthdays i bought a sekection with a few spares and people picked what they liked.

Tennis ball?

A mini lion bar (multipacks from Poundland) with a small animal toy tied on with a ribbon.

Wild republic tubes are good value - around £12 for x15 mini toys - there’s an African animal one:

www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Republic-Europe-Nature-Playset/dp/B00BZQZS32/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3P1FAVVGW11H9&keywords=wild+republic+tube&sprefix=wild+republic+tube%2Caps%2C60&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1647111291&sr=8-3

I appreciate they are plastic - but not junk!

Or
Lion bar with a jungle mask

www.amazon.co.uk/Blulu-Different-Farmhouse-Birthday-Halloween/dp/B07YCDSX9N/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=1SEN5VJS9QOU8&keywords=lion+king+mask&sprefix=lion+king+mask%2Caps%2C75&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1647111835&sr=8-9

Masks look like they are cardboard, so can be recycled afterwards or kept for dress-up etc if sturdy enough…