that " book in a party bag " idea some CLOT had once

[Frivol]

well it goes down very badly here.
My kids like books.

they like parties

they like party bags

they dont like them mixing.

a party bag BEST case scenario is sweets, with a football keyring( who has keys aged 6?!) if you haev to.

I went to a party when DD was 5 months old, she was given a party bag with a little box of raisins and a pack of Heinz baby biscotti!

She hasn't had either yet actually but it was a nice idea I think!

i have never seen a grabber gun ever! are fab!

But the contents are always gone before we've even got home

DD1 had to use her (empty) party bag once to puke in because she'd stuffed the lot in about 5mins. I was suprised she didn't try to eat the styrofoam put-together-yourself aeroplane that was in it

We were on a dual carriageway so couldn't stop, most unpleasant

i think books are a fab idea - they'd at least last more than the journey home

god i hate plastic tat - its instantly forgotten and im sure is bad for the planet in some way

recently its been cake wrapped in a paper napkin or a cupcake at parties my dd has been too - everyone has had a good time and seemed happy with it

I like to put in party bags:
1 organic carrot
raisins
plain pencil
age appropriate educational flashcards
Kids love 'em

I have no real opinion on this but just wanted to celebrate the use of the word CLOT.
Not heard that for many years

Doesn;t anyone else put stickers in? Whats a party bag wihtout stickers...

Yes, there are always stickers, aren't there?

Do you know what I HATE the most though?

That every party bag MUST contain a little pack of pencils/crayons

I mean, how many colouring pencils must a child have? We have literally hundreds, I am sure

And the DC never use them, they always want the felt-tips that they've let dry out from leaving the tops off

Reading all this with interest as I currently have 50 party invites awaiting RSVPs

Was definitely including bubbles, stickers, piece of cake, balloon and haribo !

I hate plastic tat too. I do put a few sweets in, a balloon (yes I know) and a pencil-type thing.

DD2 (5) recently came home from a party with a tiny flower pot with a sunflower seed to plant in it! She wasn't interested in the other stuff but she went bolistic about the sunflower seed - it was like she had won the lottery.

Original idea, I thought (not mine though )

50?!

Brave woman

One of the best end of party offerings dd had when at a friends party was to be faced with a big basket filled with plastic tat (eg. set of balls; water pistol; cheap doll etc etc)
The children got to choose a present as they left

i once put gave dr seuss books [squints at squeaver].

tbh i just want to give the grasping little horrors a push out the door and nothing else.

gah!

[snigger @ colinfirth]

Wow - I think it really sucks that no-one likes the book in the bag idea. You could always get a slightly larger party bag and something like Magic Ponies, Magic Puppies or Rainbow Fairies would easily fit in your average bag and little girls love them. A Jeremy Strong title for little boys (My Brother's Famous Bottom). Why not mix this with some sweets and something sparkly, fluffy or a whoopy cushion - whatever's appropriate for the title. Perfect for 5-7s when the party bags are at their most popular. Try www.booktrust.org.uk for recommended titles.

lol at someone posting" at one party theyput cake in"

er yes, they have been doing that for centuries.

the book is crap as mostly we have them all and THE KIDS LIKE CRAP

Oh, what nice memories this thread gives me! My mum was brilliant at parties and always thought of loads of original things to do. One year she wrapped all sorts of little presents and tied ribbons on them, then put them in a covered basket with the ribbons hanging out - everyone had to choose a colour and do a lucky dip. All the little girls were thrilled and they all copied it for their parties . It was years ago now but I think Mum had as much fun as we did, if not more!

That's the great thing about mumsnet, there I was thinking how much ds2's party guests would like their little Ben 10 book and a lolly each, now I find out I've been judged by all their parents as "wanky".

The one dd puked after was a party bag bonanza

Along with the styrofoam aeroplane it contained:

Piece of birthday cake
Box of Smarties
Mini-bag of Haribo
One of those long twirly marshmallow things

This was on top of the 'feast' laid on by the soft-play place (deep fried products and jelly and ice-cream)

No wonder she got a bit nauseous

(Shoddy parenting on my part though, I admit)

My children like books as well as plastic tat and sweets - as long as they are good books they are happy.

Would Ben 10 not be a winner? Surely, he is a hit everywhere, is he not?

Yes and they often arent.
we got some strange bug detective thing.
Dd held it up and said" i dont think this is my kind of thing"

with a wrinkled nose.