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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

Why do people feel so strongly about party bags?!

20 replies

russiandolly · 19/07/2012 17:24

I'm organising a 6th birthday party in a couple of weeks and as there is a party 'theme' I was thinking about party bags and contents.

We do paper bags with a few bits in, sweets, cake and non-plastic bits and bobs, and my DC love decorating the bags, putting the bits in and handing them out.

I've seen lots of threads on here regarding the hatred of party bags. Are they really despised so much these days? If the kids like them, does it matter so much?

Anyone else actually like putting these together or is it just me now?!

OP posts:

pictish · 19/07/2012 17:25

It's just you.

The rest of us would rather hang on to our hard earned cash.

frustratedpants · 19/07/2012 17:31

I'm divided on party bags. i do them, but don't put sweets in them, I think the child's parents have to make the sweets decision and don't agree in giving other peoples children sweets i put things like hair clips, stickers, a little toy, bubbles and a balloon in.

NoComet · 19/07/2012 18:02

Please, please put sweets in them and cake and nothing else.

Sweets get eaten, balloons and cheap unsharpenable pencils clutter up the place.

CaitlynsMummy20 · 28/07/2012 17:52

I love doing party bags.....

I love finding unique bits and bobs and tend to buy packs (10 rubbers/pencils etc)

I have got a lot this year in the 99p such as 8 bubbles/8 notebooks etc

So it can work out cheaply if you look around

susiedaisy · 28/07/2012 17:53

It's just you and all mums that are new to the birthday party scene most people who are on their second third or fourth kid are sick to death of party bags, sorry!

Vickles · 10/08/2012 16:23

Shame about not giving kids sweets at a party 'frustrated'!! My god, it's a party for gods sake!
We do old fashioned one penny sweet bags filled with old fashioned sweeties! A huge success, kids enjoy them in the way home, or save them for later. All mums have been thankful for not plastic or wooden crap! Save your money for the party and party girl or boy!

Vickles · 10/08/2012 16:24

Forgot to say, russian dolly, your party bags sounds great!

stealthsquiggle · 14/08/2012 23:42

Russiandolly - I like doing them too - on DC2 now as DC1 is into the birthday outings rather than parties stage.

A theme makes the whole thing a lot more fun, IMHO, including sourcing and putting together party bags.

Yah Boo Sucks to all the misery grumps otherwise entirely reasonable people who don't like party bags and view someone who enjoys doing them as some sort of competitive one-upper. I have yet to have a child turn one down.

fuzzpig · 15/08/2012 00:00

I like them. Admittedly I have only done one set :o I really enjoyed planning them and finding nice but cheap stuff (eg some activity books from thebookpeople website which ended up at £1 each). I have a personal hatred of Tat. It is purely personal though and honestly is not competitive - couldn't care less what others put in theirs, and I don't care what parents think of the ones I did. DD loves party bags no matter what and that's the point of them! I just enjoy online shopping :o

I am never going to be able to give my DCs a whole class party anyway, so will only ever be doing say 10 at the most rather than having to fill 30!

Pagwatch · 15/08/2012 00:06

To be honest I think it is only on mn that people have an opinion either way. I think in the real world most people don't really care.
It is one of those subjects that just draws out all the nutters people who have thought more about it than the topic really justifies.

Do what you like. People won't mind much one way or the other. Which is a good thing.

putri · 15/08/2012 22:20

I love doing party bags! We don't do parties often but when we do, I plan way in advance and start gathering things whenever I see an offer. I do love small parties better. I hand make the bags and the process gets boring after making six of them.

Growlithe · 15/08/2012 22:28

I wish people wouldn't put balloons and lollipops in TBH. My DDs always want the party bag with them in the back of the car and then I'm trying to drive whilst worrying about the choking hazards if I haven't been able to sneak them out

headinhands · 15/08/2012 22:37

Parents only feel strongly about party bags if they are overly keen to impress their dc's friends parents. Top tip: party bags are about kids.

fuzzpig · 15/08/2012 23:43

DH worked for a chain store that had a brief unsuccessful foray into selling video games. When they gave up they sold them off cheap (about a tenner each). A lady bought about 10 identical Xbox games for her son's party bags... did raise an eyebrow or two, but I can't help wondering if she knew that all the boys had an Xbox?!

ladymariner · 15/08/2012 23:59

We used to put conkers all polished and ready strung into ds's party bags, went down a storm

GoodHeavensNo · 16/08/2012 00:04

I have no opinion either way on party bags meself.

I'm with headinheads

The kids love them so I do them. And I don't care what the parents think.

usualsuspect · 16/08/2012 00:06

I have no strong feelings about party bags,few sweets bit of cake bit of tat. Job done

justturned40 · 29/08/2012 14:18

I like party bags. I have 3 kids and the eldest is 6 so I have done plenty of them in my time. I like making them, my kids enjoy putting them together, and its nice for the party child to not only be on the receiving end of gifts but also to give something out as well.

Lastly, and most importantly, its the easiest and simplest way I know to get (tired and over-excited) children out of the door at the end of a party - it is amazing how a child on the brink of a meltdown at having to leave a party can two minutes later be smiling and trotting down the road happily clutching their party bag. Face it, children's parties are hard work for all parents, whether visitors or hosts, and if it makes mine and other parents life even a jot easier then its worth it!

OK so the bags my children receive are often tat and sweets, but really, who cares? They are children, its a party! Does nobody remember going to parties when they were children? I have a vivid memory of going to a party when I was a kid and the excitement of getting a party bag at the end.

I do like to try and put in one decent gift (e.g. a book or a half decent toy) and then a few sweets or stickers. I don't see it as a competition ie who can do the most expensive / homemade bag - everyone is different.

I don't know any parent who doesn't do party bags, tbh.

systemsaddict · 29/08/2012 14:27

yyy party bags are the only way to get my son (who struggles with transitions at the best of times) out of a party. I don't care what's in them, but on the one occasion we went to a party where something different (and lovely, actually) was done, I had to carry him out stiff as a board screaming ... (yes OK there are some other issues here) but there are certain party rituals which have a definite function!

korvonia · 29/08/2012 15:25

I am doing pre-packed ones this year - it has cost £40 for 16, which is probably a tenner more than I would spend. That tenner has bought me days of angst!!!

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