alternative to party bags?

[frazzled74]

what can i give 30, 5 yr olds instead of a party bag? wild west theme party girls and boys. I want to break the tradition of handing out bags of plastic tat and sweets but want the kids to like the alternative.

A book? If you can buy some in bulk (e.g. from Book people etc) you could get them for a good price, and they would all have something quite good to take home. Add in a piece of birthday cake, and maybe a balloon, and that will be fine.

Individual £1 books, perhaps from sets.
Cuddly toy keyrings (cows/ horses) again limit to no maore than £1.
A blown up balloon (helium) to annoy parents on the way home.
A wee stationery set (£1 shop do ones)
A cowboy hat to take home

Basicly go to the pound shop and see.

buy packs of kids tumblers, put in a couple of sweets (no plastic tat) and wrap in cellophane, curly ribbons etc ( I did this one halloween for guysers)

helium balloon (kit bought from asda) with weights tied on them...weights were plastic discs with each individual child's name etched on them (courtesy of very clever dh with not much going on in his job!)

Ooh cactus plant I like that,

Have done the book thing - went down well.

Dd1 also went to a party the other week where they had inflatable toys (microphones, guitars, etc) and at the end of the party they were all allowed to keep one so they had this and a slice of cake. The kids were delighted.

I'd also consider lucky dip (plus the cake of course!)

ooh i am liking the cactus plant idea! the inflatable toys and books also good ideas.

where can i buy cheap cactus plants? anyone? online preferably as live miles away from decent town/garden centre

bandana

Something that goes BANG. I My kids love these.