Sustainable kids party bag ideas?

[Lavender14]

Just saw a post on social media where a mum had the idea of finding cute second hand teddies from charity shops, giving them a good bath and then using them as party bag fillers with little adoption certificates which seemed quite clever. Got me wondering if anyone has any other ideas for sustainable kids party bag fillers that are better for reducing consumerism/ better for the environment? Ds is coming 3 so would be nice to have some ideas ahead of his birthday!

The most sustainable approach to party bags is not to do them at all.

personally I cba with the eco friendly party bags, oh yay, another pencil you can plant into soil
the teddy bear is cute
I tended to do a craft activity for some of DDs parties - so for age 3 would do scribble on a plate/mug with porcelain pens, then bake it whilst kids run riot and hand over to parent at the end with a slice of cake. job done

The works 10 for £10 books
A cake or cookie mix with a cookie cutter tied to it
Advent calendar/easter egg if it a an appropriate time of year
Mini box of cereal and a fun themed cereal bowl
A reusable cup filled with sweets
Fun novelty socks

All ideas I've done that have done down well

My daughter is 5 at the end of the month and we've gone with little edible gifts rather than party bags

We got a baking kits from one party which the kids really liked. Whilst not strictly speaking sustainable good quality stationary like a fun pen tends to last and get used repeatedly rather than head straight for the bin. Also, I know still plastic packaging but play doh is good because it can be played with repeatedly rather than ending up in the bin that afternoon. Key rings always tend to make it onto school bags here but 3 might be a bit young for that. Sweets obviously always get eaten! Books have always been a miss e.g. kid had superhero party and gave out superhero books but DD isn’t a bit ambivalent towards superheros and wouldn’t read it. I really hate the teddy idea. Just because we’re overrun with them as is and I’m trying to sneak them off to the charity shop so being lumbered with other peoples cast offs is the last thing I’d want. And honestly who can be bothered with sourcing them, washing them and making adoption certificates. I’d honestly think you’d lost the plot!

We generally do wildflower seed balls or paper, bath bombs (we find ones not packaged in plastic), and maybe one of those pencils that has four different colors in the lead so the kids can write in rainbow writing. And then a big slice of cake :)

Honestly a packet of sweets that will be eaten and the packet recycled is the best way to go, nobody wants more crap! I don’t want a grubby second hand teddy or a book abour something they have no interest in.

The seeds are totally pointless and never get used.

This. Also those fucking packets of seeds. They honestly end up in the bin. Bath bombs are also immediately flung in the bin.

Kids want a packet of chocolate buttons, one of those sticky men that you chuck at the wall, a curly novelty straw, and a slice of cake.

I hate all the overthinking about party bags that goes on on Mumsnet. Kids just want a couple of stupid bits of tat and some sweets.

To be honest, the happiest my son was after a party was getting a slice of the cake to take home and choosing a helium balloon (not foil, just a normal balloon) to take home. He loved that wee balloon.

We did a preloved book swap for my daughters 4th bday - everyone brought one wrapped to swap (instead of bringing gifts) and the kids got one to take home with a chocolate. Everyone loved it...we didnt end up with lots of unwanted toys and clutter, and parents didnt have to spend anything.

Loads of ideas on the @no.crap.parties instagram for sustainable parties

Absolute tat 🤣

Reading books (whatever they read at that age) wrapped in paper. Nothing else.