Any ideas for very cheap party bags/gifts for nursery class instead of party for ds (4)?

[bodiddly]

All the children at nursery that don't have birthday parties seem to send home party bags for the whole class. It is ds' 4th birthday next month and we have decided not to throw him a party (largely due to cost). I have just found out that there are now 27 full and part time kids in his nursery class .... that's a lot of party bags! I don't want to spend more than about £1 a head as we will probably give them a cake to have at tea time as well. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can give them all or do I do a party bag with a few bits of plastic tat?

a book each
red house books do packs and free delivery
or look in local pound shop

for less than that you could have 2 kids home for tea and ds would think it was a party! I seriously wouldnt bother if you donht particularly want to send home bags. sounds like utter madness to me!

sorry that wasnt helpful was it

you could send off for multipacks of age-appropriate books from the bookpeople/ they usually work out at around 75p to one pound each then wrap one up for each child with a bit of cake and a balloon?

good idea!

I really wouldn't - the children don't expect it, and its a lot of money to spend for no reason. A nice cake for tea is very much enjoyed though

I was thinking of having a kid home for tea but felt somewhat obligated to send something home with the others when ds receives them all the time! We have a tiny living room and kitchen and having children plus parents round is more than a little tricky!

actually i think the bit about having them home for tea might have been helpful, way cheaper than bags and ds will think its really exciting. or i might be wittering to myself haha

he has been at this nursery since he was 6 months old and they all do it every birthday .... would you really be the "odd one out"?

x post there! i know what you mean about little space but they manage!

Agree with cmotdibbler I really wouldn't bother either, but if you want to do something nice why not invite just a few friends over for a birthday tea/party.

yes i would. but make an amazing cake yourself to wow them if you are bothered lol! doesnt it really bug you when you get yet another bag of plastic crap? 27 times a year????

Yup. Fortunatly the nursery DS goes to, they only ever seem to have cake. Friends nursery they send home chocolate for birthdays, but friends refuse to on principle

I dont like the plastic tat but ds loves party bags!

At DS1's nursery many of them hand out sweets for birthdays but I really do think kids of this age are none the wiser if you do or don't, and most parents are really not that competitive.
IMO it's nice to do something to make it special for your DS but having a few round for tea/cake is far nicer than spending money on party bags...

i know kids love them and i always give them after parties but am sure they wouldnt notice not getting one from school if there isnt a party. tell the parents you are being environmentally friendly if anyone asks, you can shame them with your [ahem] 'green principles' by not creating more stuff for landfill

don't know what to do now ... books or nothing? Tricky one .. think I will sleep on it and see what I decide in the morning!

At dd nursery she takes in bag of sweets and cake most seem to do that regardless of having party or not.