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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

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Original poster

Party bags for 3 year olds

21 replies

greenapples · 22/01/2011 20:09

Hi,
My ds is coming up to his 3rd birthday and is having a party. I was wondering what is the best idea you have ever seen in party bags? I am a bit anti plastic tatt, which will just get broke /chucked etc.
Thanks
:)

OP posts:

Blatherskite · 22/01/2011 21:13

I hate plastic tat too - although I think the kids quite like it :) DS's 3rd birthday was almost a year ago now so I only vaguely remeber what I put in there but I know they went down really well.

There were definitely some chocolate buttons, some bubbles and a balloon and I got some really cute little wooden photo frames from Hawkins Bazar for about 80p each that all the Mums though were fantastic. Most of the children still have them out in their rooms. I found some of those little foam gliders in there too which all the children loved. The boys got planes and the grls got fairies. Could possibly be called plastic tat but they were a lot of fun and cheap.

Other staples are little mini colouring books and crayons or mini reading books (the type you get in little boxes of 5 or 6 like this, just split them 1 in each bag)

Large wooden dice would be lovely. Twirly straws? A matchbox style car would be a huge hit with small boys, maybe buy a pack and split them like with the books For DD's first birthday last month, I bought a load of cheap cookie cutters from ebay and gave the children one each - they were very popular. I've done little mini tubs of playdough in the past too.

And of course a slice of cake :)

Does that help?

I'll be watching this thread for future ideas. One of my friends said before DD's party that she was looking forward to our party bags as I always chose such nice things - now the pressure is on for new ideas! All DS's friends are from my antenatal group so there's 6 birthdays in a month with us at the end. It takes lots of effort to be original!!

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/01/2011 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsKitty · 22/01/2011 21:18

Can I ask what most would think a reasonable expenditure on party bags for 3/4 year old is?

Trying to keep costs down as booking a hall & bouncy castle took up a sizable chunk of money, but I know how important party bags are .

mollymax · 22/01/2011 21:20

I bought the peppa pig activity books from book people.
A balloon on a stick.
Pack of crayons and slice of cake.
Have also brought bits from the pound shop before too, one year I managed to find a pretty notebook and pen set.

bubbleandsqueaks · 22/01/2011 21:34

My 3yo girl would love:

Bubbles
Crayons
Cake
Balloons

Anything more and I would probably think it was excessive tbh. They are only 3 after all.

Curlybrunette · 22/01/2011 22:03

For my ds's 3rd birthday we bought book sets from the book people, wrapped each book up, put them all in a big box with shredded paper and as the children were leaving they got to pick a present from the 'lucky dip' and took a piece of cake.

Each book worked out less than a pound and the children loved getting to pick a present. I don't do plastic tat either and figured if anyone thought we should have given more they should bugger off!

Bumperlicious · 22/01/2011 22:15

Wilko's have wooden pencils with animal toppers for about 20p, plus their bubbles are really good. Also cheap crayola stuff. It's a one stop party bag shop!

Original poster

greenapples · 23/01/2011 09:34

Thanks everyone for your ideas!

OP posts:

Original poster

greenapples · 23/01/2011 15:06

I've also thought a fun size box of dry fruit (raisins / sultanas etc).
Slightly different - what about a packet of cress seeds? (obviously not poisonous!) - something that can be grown on a bit of wet kitchen roll on a saucer, doesn't take too long to germinate and can be eaten!

OP posts:

belgo · 23/01/2011 15:06

NO yoyos! They drive my children mad when they can't yoyo.

Curlybrunette · 23/01/2011 16:12

I read about someone who did a plantpot decorating session at the party and then gave that and a packet of seeds for each child to take home. I thought that sounded like a nice idea

Original poster

greenapples · 23/01/2011 19:05

ooo. I am liking that idea. Thanks.
:)

OP posts:

Blatherskite · 23/01/2011 20:27

If you like that how about this... a grass head

You could either make them from scratch with the children or make up the head shape yourself in advance and then just provide the bits to create the faces. They can then take them home to water and grow the hairdo?

We made sock snakes at DS's 2nd birthday but stuff bright stripey socks with scrunched up newspaper, wrapping an elastic band round the neck and then adding sticky eyes and felt tounges. They were a big hit.

bubbleandsqueaks · 23/01/2011 20:50

Love the sock idea blatherskite!

SleepWhenImDead · 23/01/2011 20:57

stickers
bouncy ball

Tesco do good bags of things, reasonably cheaply.

Best thing we did for DS1's 3rd birthday was to make pizzas (add toppings to small pizza bases), do party games while they were in the oven, then eat them, cake, party bags, go home, Bob's your mother's brother. Each child could put what they liked to eat on their pizza and it was something fun to do.

Blatherskite · 23/01/2011 21:05

Thanks bubbleandsqeaks Forgot to add that we got a load of those little plastic cases from inside Kinder eggs, filled them with rice and put them in the tails to make rattles too.

We had a little table in the corner of the room with an adult or two helping make them up. It was loads of fun and quite cheap too.

Original poster

greenapples · 24/01/2011 19:56

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am loving the ideas.

OP posts:

tassisssss · 24/01/2011 20:00

FOr 3 year old boys the wee matchbox cars are good in partybags.

My guys all like whistles too (parents less so!). And bubbles.

We've planted bulbs/seeds at parties and decorated the pots, nice to take home.

You could make a big batch of playdough and send home some of that with some cutters (bulk buy on ebay). Books are often suggested on MN, but I'm not sure how well they go down with kids.

My firstborn would have been fine with funsize raisins at 3, my next 2 would expect sweets, sorry!

HAving said all that my guys love tat!

ja9 · 24/01/2011 20:28

My ds once got an iron transfer - it was for Star Wars, but you could go with whatever character he's into. We put it on a tshirt but others put it on a plain vest and it went down a storm. You can buy them on ebay or buy iron on paper stuff and print them out yourself.

What kind of a party are you having - any little theme? Ds once had a magician at his party and we put a magic wand in each party bag...

Original poster

greenapples · 25/01/2011 18:31

I though to have an animal theme, as in lions, snakes, zebras etc rather than cows and chickens!

OP posts:

mumoverseas · 03/02/2011 11:33

Am just starting to do party bags now for DS's 2nd birthday party next week.
I hate bags of plastic tat.
Last year all the little ones had a party bag with some milky buttons and a soft ball in.
This year, the boys are having a small Bob the Builder book each and a wind up toy and a milky way/mini smarties.
I was a bit stuck on girls as they are a bit harder but yesterday found some lovely wooded puzzles in a toy shop so bought a lot of those and will wrap up and do a lucky dip for them as they are too big for bags.

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