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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.

Original poster

Are sparklers a bit of a crap party 'bag' idea?!

37 replies

Pineappleandcheeseonsticks · 19/10/2017 23:14

DS is having a bonfire birthday party for lots of children aged 4-11. I am desperately trying to think of something that will work for most ages instead of a party bag full of tat! I was wondering about a pack of sparklers each with a nice tag, and a piece of cake but not sure if that is a bit boring?

Any alternative ideas gratefully received!

OP posts:
scrappydappydoo · 19/10/2017 23:18

Nope - I would not give fireworks as a party bag present. What about glowsticks as a safer alternative?

KatnissMellark · 19/10/2017 23:19

Terrible idea, sorry. I'd be really unimpressed. What about a toffee apple?

HorseDentist · 19/10/2017 23:20

No way! No fucking way. You want to put potentially dangerous explosives that can only be sold to over 18s in a party bag for a 4 year old?

GetTheeBehindMeShatner · 19/10/2017 23:21

That would be a bad idea. Just cake would be preferable.

AppleTrayBake · 19/10/2017 23:21

Really bad idea to give 11yo's their own sparklers! What if they try and light them unsupervised without parents realising they have them?

WinteryWalk · 19/10/2017 23:22

You’ve maybe not quite thought this through OP, how about good sticks/bracelets instead, you can get a tonne of them really cheap on eBay!

WinteryWalk · 19/10/2017 23:22

**Glow!

Ummmmgogo · 19/10/2017 23:23

I thought it was a nice idea. it's not like 4 year olds will have their own lighter to light them so not dangerous. but maybe it's just me and you who think like that op. just give them the cake?

Titterofwit · 19/10/2017 23:24

Home made bonfire toffee
Toffee apples
Glo-sticks
Mini torch
popping candy
But no fireworks .

WhichJob · 19/10/2017 23:26

What everyone else said. You have to be 18 to buy them so don't supply them to under 18s in a party bag. Toffee apple and a glow stick are fine!

CheerfulMuddler · 19/10/2017 23:27

Treacle toffee! And some marshmallows to roast on the fire.

Original poster
Pineappleandcheeseonsticks · 19/10/2017 23:31

Ha, obviously not then! All the children are coming with parents (it's all families we know well) so they wouldn't be going home with them unsupervised. Any other ideas then please? I've got vegans and kids who are coeliac coming, so food stuff is difficult for party bags!

OP posts:
theancientmarinader · 19/10/2017 23:34

Are you going to pop a nice box of matches in the bags too?

No. I am the most relaxed parent in the world ever, but even I would draw the line at putting sparklers in party bags. If you are going to give them out at the end of the party, you hand them to the adult that collects the child, and make it clear you are giving them sparklers and giving them to the adult to supervise.... Not party bags. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Original poster
Pineappleandcheeseonsticks · 19/10/2017 23:35

Oh, and one family who can't have sugar!

I was originally thinking of small uv torches, but with twenty children coming it would be too expensive.

OP posts:
Ummmmgogo · 19/10/2017 23:36

vegan coeliac and no sugar? I would just shake their hand and thank them for coming! maybe a glowstick but that's still plastic tat really xx

LineysRun · 19/10/2017 23:38

There are toffee apple recipes online that are vegan and gluten free. Or just have apples. And various sweets and crisps.

CheerfulMuddler · 19/10/2017 23:40

Do you have time to do a craft activity? Pumpkin carving (get them cheap post Halloween) or decorating jam jars to make lanterns with tea lights to hang from the trees. Then they could take a lantern home at the end.

CheerfulMuddler · 19/10/2017 23:42

Actually, re sparklers, surely instead of putting them in a party bag, the obvious solution is to do them up nicely with a tag and hand them to the parents at the end of the night?

DioneTheDiabolist · 19/10/2017 23:42

Instead of party bags, what about having some empty plastic bottles, glow sticks, string, googly eyes and adhesive hands/noses/teeth so that each child can make a lantern to take home? The parents can help the smaller ones. Light up balloons also go down well.

Original poster
Pineappleandcheeseonsticks · 19/10/2017 23:43

Thanks Cheerful, I like the lantern idea...heading over to Pinterest to have a look.

OP posts:
stonecircle · 19/10/2017 23:43

Well obviously it’s a bad idea if the parents involved are likely to react like the posters on this thread. 🙄

Personally I think it’s a nice idea - on the basis that you’re not supplying matches as well. I’d have been quite pissed off at my kids being given treacle toffee or toffee apples at that age though.

Original poster
Pineappleandcheeseonsticks · 19/10/2017 23:45

Cheerful, I did say in my OP (though perhaps not very clearly) that I wouldn't be putting them in party bags, but would put a tag on them and give them out with the cake (parents are present, as they are all here for the party anyway).

Dione, thanks - some of the younger ones would probably love that.

OP posts:
LineysRun · 19/10/2017 23:53

Is there a middle ground on MN between hummus and a small packet of explosives?

Ginfiend · 19/10/2017 23:58

Why haven’t you listened to the suggestion by several people to use glow sticks?
Pounds shop sell them. Kids love them.
Million times safer

Somerville · 20/10/2017 00:01

Liney Grin Grin