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.

Verygreenlawn - I did Ben 10 comic books for ds' last party and the kids loved them. Don't think it counts as wanky if there's zero educational value in them .

Well I would rather they had a book than plastic tat, so there.

Or a mixture of the two, plus chocolate.

Especially for younger kids. I grant that the average 7 yo might be a tad disappointed by the worthy and wants crap, but the average two year old or three year old will get far more out of a book than a load of shite from Tesco that will be in the bin by tea time.

Yes it was the comic books!

I think Ben10 is a great idea. And a lolly too - all sounds good to me!

Plastic crap please, and the odd sweet.
I don't object to books unless they are sodding Rainbow Fairies or similar.
DD was given some seeds recently which made me snigger but she turned out to be thrilled with them and I think they are actually going to grow

Like I said, Kathy - seeds are a winner!

DDs last party was attended by EVERYONE in her class (long story) and as a result I had over 40 party bags to make.

It was cheap tat all the way - Wilkinsons sell big bags of pink things (hairclips, rings etc) and boys stuff (mainly things which make a noise) for £2.99 and you get about 30 items in each. I put one of these in, a slice of cake, a small 10p bag of haribos and balloon in as well. I was too stressed/worn out/meh to worry about what the other mums thought.

I think my dds would prefer a book (especially about bug detection) to more plastic bangles and hair accessories, which they never wear.

They like sweets the best though.

Thankfully mine are now too old for party bags, but in the end, I was just putting sweets in the party bags, plus a slice of cake. TBH I resented paying good money for plastic tat that I knew would break almost immediately.

Books are put in by parents to please other parents (unless of the Beano or comic book variety, which are very acceptable ). Kids need haribos, plastic tat and whoopee cushions/fart powder etc. We used to have a special drawer for party bag tat and it's still played with occasionally even though dc's are now 13 and 9!

pmsl @colinfirth - though actually I know some parents who come pretty close to doing that

don't do them.
surely the point of a party is for the kids to have fun.
think they are naff and would rather spend money on food and booze so adults can have a good time.
also LOATHE organized games, esp PC pass the parcel where everyone gets a prize - too LAME for words.

I'm tempted to bypass the party and just bring a load of party bags to school instead ... would be much cheaper and less hassle. The kids seem to be asking for them waaaaay before the end of the parties now ... bit of a shame really. This party bag thing has got totally out of control imho!

When DD turned two I put one tub of playdoh in each party bag and also one or two shaped cutters as well. And a small Kinder chocolate bar which comes in a multi-pack. The playdoh and the cutters were both in multi-packs so it was quite cheap to do. IME two is too young for plastic tat and sweeties.

Bubbles are a big hit in this house but annoy the crap out of me as they seem to be overturned on the carpet within five minutes.

Books awways seem to go down well round here be them story books, non fiction or activity/stcker books.

DD always enjoys them, and def prefers them to plastic tat, which gets looked at and not used.

She also likes keyrings too - they go on her school bag; her and her friends all ahve little collections.

I don;t think it is smug or whatever to put books in the bags. Can ven just be a way of saving money to start with.

Oh, and I hate it when DD gets balloons. Hate having to have them in the car. If you must give them I wish they were deflated in the bag for later.

Bubbles and hair bobbles go down well with DD too.

I am so relieved as had noted with horror the mention of the fabness of including such desirables as a packet of seeds - nice idea but can't see that going down too well

I think a packet of seeds in a party bag is a lovely idea. As is a book. I don't think there is anything 'smug' or 'wanky' about that, I'd've LOVED it when I was a nipper.

Other than that, I would say sweets and balloon - obviously - but what about a biscuit cutter in a good shape for older kids?

("on past threads" that should have said)

Well I do agree seeds and book are good idea - in principle - but that's just not what they are hoping for is it?

Well maybe some children aren't, no. But I would have been thrilled to find a book or seeds along with the sweets and I can't believe I am alone...

Oh, and my DD would love anything to do with bug detective stuff. Her and her best friend love bug hunting and spotting what they have found. They often set up their own little woodlouse nursery in the garden

Sweets and chocolate always a winner. Sadly DD now lokes sweets so no more pinching it like I could when she was tiny.

Books in party bags? Eh? How do people afford that?

IF I ever provide party bags, there will be a piece of cake and a balloon and nothing else. Bah humbug.

"By MrsEricBana on Wed 13-May-09 17:13:09
Well I do agree seeds and book are good idea - in principle - but that's just not what they are hoping for is it? "

Well some children may not be hoping fr them. But equally some will be overjoyed and love them too. IME they do generally like th books or seeds ideas. DD has had both and enjoyed both.

Olifin - books can work out way cheaper than bits of plastic tat. The Book people do sets of 10/12 books for less than £10.