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.

Hula - my DD would pass out with delight if she got that in a party bag.

Poppity -love DIY shop party bag. My DS's are 8mths and 2.5 so might have to wait a while before nails are deemed appropriate tho.

Absolutely stinkermink. Ear plugs instead of stickers would be a mighty start. Can you tell me 4yr old is still awake?

Meant 'my'..

lol sqeaver - they were truely a fab find. Good old Home Bargains - I bought all bar about 1 pack in the store grin]

DS' birthday is next month and I was thinking about party bags last week. My ideas were:

Mini water gun
Whopee cushion
Pack of crayons and mini colouring book
Seeds
Magazine
Glow stick
Bubbles
Stickers
Balloon
Cake

Which of those would you not like to see in your child's party bag?

O Smee, ear plugs fab idea! My nearly 4 year old was still awake at 9pm the other night....drives me nuts. I have put the stair gate back on the top of the stairs and shut the living room door since. I am happy to pick him up (sleeping) off the landing when I go to bed and just ignore him. Unless his head is trapped in the bannister or something. I'm on a different time zone to the UK so sometimes it's really late my time when I log on, and I'm already 2 vinos down and listening to the horrors of children still up at 9pm UK time. But I have still had the odd horrific night when it's 10pm here (8pm UK) and he's still bimbling about upstairs!

sorry to revive the "book in a party bag" debate but it went down very well at my son's 4th birthday - but with a twist. Rather than give everyone a bag I just stuck a big box of books by the exit and said choose which one you want.

Thanks to The Book People extra cheap set deals I could afford a fairly wide selection for less dosh than the plastic tat it takes to fill a bag - and the left overs have stood me in emergency birthday presents (sooooo mean I know) ever since.

Parents not only commented favourably at the time, but I have since been to three parties where they've done the same.

That said, the illuminous plastic orange frogs the got in a recent party bag which remains their favourite if asked...

Tat is required. Books are worthy but for parents' benefit, not DCs.

DS(6) has reluctantly accepted that not all parties result in party bags, and that one is required to be gracious in the absence of party bag - in fact, last time he got one he commented on the way home "I can't believe X's Mum paid for us all to have such a great time and bought us party bags - how great is that?" but I have to admit I like them. In order to avoid complete chaos in the car I somehow managed to introduce a rule that party bags had to be taken home to be gloated over opened with Daddy.

i got htose bought ones onece

indiana jones
they loved em

the best item in a party bag that my ds got was a cd . the party was a disco party, it is now a permanent feature whilst we are in the car.

SOCKS? Has anyone mentioned a pair of socks? Is it just my dc's or do all kids love new socks - esp slipper socks ...they will last longer than the sweets and plastic tat...and are cheap! All the girls loved them at my dd's 8th party recently. Am I weird?!!

OK that is wierd but actually yes my DC would both value a pair of 'frivolous' socks (i.e. not sensible plain ones)

Good - not too weird so ! -DEFINITELY not plain ones - but you can can lots of jazzy socks for very little these days. Go on - let's start a trend! Time to give those mini books the boot!

Party bag crap here:

www.bakerross.co.uk/cat_id/TOYSBARG/product-Mr-Clown-Lucky-Dips-L121.htm
www.bakerross.co.uk/cat_id/TOYSBARG/product-Super-Egg-Lucky-Dips-L4.htm

Model planes are always good:
www.bakerross.co.uk/cat_id/VIEW_TOYS/product-Bird-Gliders-P367.htm

as are balls that bounce very high
www.bakerross.co.uk/product-Mini-Hi-Bounce-Jet-Balls-P6A.htm

Tattoos for the higher class of party. Tell the parents they contain LSD:

www.bakerross.co.uk/cat_id/TOYSSTAT/product-Beautiful-Butterfly-Tattoos-P370.htm

What's so wrong with having books in party bags? Genuinely mystified as to why most people think it's a bad idea...

Oh Iahve told you all before what to put in party bags:

Wrap of crack cocaine
10 Rothmans
Miniature of gin
Condom

I do bubbles and stickers. Ds is allergic to latex so no balloons, and food colourings - so no lollies.

Ds's favourite McDonalds toy was however - a book on dinosaurs.

Contrary aren't they?

I think that most people go a bit over the top on the volume in party bags. I have myself got carried away at times to (that is when I have remembered to have the party at all - poor kids!). I don't think they are necessary for under fours at all. A bit of cake and a balloon is fine (I hate balloons, but can't deny that my children when little adored them, and you can get some really nice patterned ones) for littlies. Then cake, sweets and no more than two or three (ideally themed) things is fine. And once children are 10 or so they are no longer required (along with big parties). So only five or six parties bag bonanzas per child per lifetime

I think books are only OK if they are good books (or comics - comics are fine because they are supposed to be disposable). My experience of cheap books is that they are crap, and I refuse to read them to the children. Sorry for those that think they are great, but no. Good books cost too much for party bags, and should be chosen by parents only (I love buying books ). So if it is a small party with a theme and the book is part of that (and it's good) then great. My mother once took me and a small group of friends on a book themed tour for a party - we went to the Museum of London and toured one of the brewery stables, and the going home present was Humbert by John Burningham (which is about a carthorse who pulls the Lord Mayor's carriage). I have to say I can't remember it at all, and I suspect my friends and their parents were a little mystified.

I don't think anyone should worry too much or spend too much. It's only really for the way home after all!

bubbles, stickers and sweets. Very cheap.

I did the book idea. It was when DS was 4 and his birthday party was kinda for leaving nursery as well. The parents said it was a nice idea. I now have visions of all the kids ripping pages and scribbling on the books in disgust.

lol at book snobs and the "anything that gets kids reading" sanctamoneous shite.

Some books are poorly written brain-candy. Nothing wrong with that, just don't be claiming special status for Rainbow Fairies or Igglepiggle Says Very Little over just sticking a dvd on.

I did a baking party for dd2 this year (aged 8) and her friends got to take home the three things they made plus birthday cake plus a small wooden rolling pin and wooden spoon lovingly tied together with ribbon by me! They seemed overjoyed at the idea of a wooden spoon of their very own and I must say I was very, very smug!

If I find out any of those mums were judging me then it's going to be rolling pins at dawn!!

I only did it because Costco had 10 story books for £9

My dd2 had to have a "sitting down" party for her 5th due to a hip problem she has.
So I got each girl a "Paint your own door sign" kit from ELC (reduced, £1.99 each) and they did that, and took them home instead of a party bag. It was brilliant! Provided about a quarter of the things to do at the party and gave a take home treat.

My other pet hate is the amount you can spend on themed disposable table crap. So I have a wipe down multicoloured tablecloth I use for every party, and as children are arriving, they get to sit down and decorate their own plain paper cup and plate. Keeps them quiet for longer the older they have got! In fact, 7yo ds hardly ate at his own party as he was so busy finishing his Sonic the Hedgehog plate!