Sons 6th birthday dont want to do party bags

**edayhouse** · 09-12-2010, 01:59 PM

Ok so i am having a party for my sons 6th birthday (his 1st proper big party with friends) have hired a hall for it. Now he will be having a party for his 6th birthday but prob wont have one like this till he is at least 9!!

There will be approx 30 children coming and i dont want to spend money on party bags that contain not very good items that the kids dont really play with and will break and was thinking instead to just put a slice of cake in the party bag then give each child either a toy or book (undecided yet) worth approx £3 - what do you think?

Any ideas of what to buy or where from?
Going to look in Boots at sale time to see if i could get anything reduced and 3 for 2....
ideas or thoughts appreciated
x

**grindal** · 09-12-2010, 02:05 PM

DS1 and 2 went to a party recently where all the kids were given a book at the end. They thought it was great - but there were some rather ungrateful remarks flying around.

I hate party bags personally, and object to the cost and the tat that is usually put in them. However, kids do seem to love them. DS1 and 2 have a box of old party bags and often play "parties" and go and collect objects from around the house and hand them out.

What about a lucky dip/bran tub where each child picks a present from a big box?

**little miss chatterbox** · 09-12-2010, 02:08 PM

fab idea! I too think party bags are pointless!

What about buying some book sets from book people? they very often have packs of 10 for £10 so they would be perfect!

**wendywu** · 09-12-2010, 02:09 PM

Do a lucky dip at the end.

The children love it and it means only one present each , not lots of tat.

**Twinkles** · 09-12-2010, 02:12 PM

I was going to suggest a lucky dip too.

Or one year to save time etc I ordered a load of Happy meals from Mc D's and the free toy in them was the gift they went home with.
Tea and pressie sorted in one go

**sweets** · 09-12-2010, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by wendywu

Do a lucky dip at the end.

The children love it and it means only one present each , not lots of tat.

love that idea. it will work out quite expensive to but every child a book. i think party bags should go back to what they used to be. A slice of cake a couple of pencils maybe, a mini pack of sweets and a balloon. people go so over the top nowadays (crikey how old do i sound!) lol.

**snufflepuff** · 09-12-2010, 02:13 PM

Party bags can be a real nightmare- they almost all contain the same rubbish. I think books are a great idea and lucky dip would be good too, the kids would really love that!

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 09-12-2010, 02:14 PM

I got Lucky Dip bags from the cash and carry for £1 each

**loocyloo** · 09-12-2010, 02:36 PM

i don't like party bags.

i usually do a book lucky dip ( from book people book sets ) and then a couple of sweets from a lucky dip too!

although a couple of years ago i bought a load of cheap cookie cutters, tied each one to a laminated biscuit recipe along with a wooden spoon! cost about £1 each! the children loved them!

my son was given a football at the last party he went to - that was great too! ( the mum had got a deal as she was buying 30, and i think they were less than a £1 each !

)

**mr man** · 09-12-2010, 03:50 PM

i dont do them either, i buy a colouring set from B&M ( usually about 89p) and then a bar of chocolate - i wrap them up together as a little present they all loved it, and now ive done it ever since.

**singingcactus** · 09-12-2010, 05:50 PM

I got these for my sons birthday not tat! I will say though, that even though the grown ups don't like the little whistles, party blowers and what you are all calling tat, the kids frequently do and they play with much of it. It is for the kids after all.
We actually added in a trophy cup (had a bowling party) and a whoopee cushion for each child into our bag, and some child friendly chocolate.

**miffy** · 09-12-2010, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by grindal

What about a lucky dip/bran tub where each child picks a present from a big box?

I like this idea!

Miffy xx

**sillysausage** · 09-12-2010, 07:16 PM

I got these for my sons birthday not tat!

those are brilliant value Singingcactus!!

Edayhouse you could do the whole 30 children for £25.....bargain

I have to admit (years back) when my sons had parties I only did party bags when they had small parties (10 or less friends). The times they wanted the whole class/football club etc I only did cake and a balloon.

**edayhouse** · 09-12-2010, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by singingcactus

I got these for my sons birthday not tat! I will say though, that even though the grown ups don't like the little whistles, party blowers and what you are all calling tat, the kids frequently do and they play with much of it. It is for the kids after all.
We actually added in a trophy cup (had a bowling party) and a whoopee cushion for each child into our bag, and some child friendly chocolate.

Loving the lucky dip idea but especially loving the idea above - brilliant value for money. Would it be ok to give the girls these too though or do you know if you can get girls complete party bags similar to the horrid henry ones? did a search but couldnt find any.

Thanks so much guys for your replies
x

**avril** · 09-12-2010, 08:04 PM

Cosco do packs of books 10 for £9.99 and they are good books for they do 5 books for £9.99 and each book contains a cd of the story.

Great for parties and children do love stories

**The Juggler** · 09-12-2010, 09:14 PM

i don't do party bags either. well i buy bags but in them goes a cake, maybe their sweets they won in the Pinyata if we do one and a present. either nail varnish etc for girls from the pound shop or a toy - all my ds friends are into Pokemon so this year bought 10 Pokemon balls from the local shop (they are a pound each).

I agree, most of what's in the party bags is tat you'd throw away unless the parents have spent a fortune on each one. it's such a waste.

**Rubybubbles** · 09-12-2010, 09:33 PM

the best party bag my dd came home was with a slice of cake and a note to say they have donated the money for party bags to help for heros

**Louise B** · 09-12-2010, 09:38 PM

I've stopped doing party bags because of the expense, and as someone else said, it usually goes in the bin anyway. If I did do it again, I'd go to B&M (if there's one near you, they're brilliant for cheap art and craft packs, some under £1) or Wilkinsons for their craft packs too, they're 98p.

**singingcactus** · 09-12-2010, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by edayhouse

Loving the lucky dip idea but especially loving the idea above - brilliant value for money. Would it be ok to give the girls these too though or do you know if you can get girls complete party bags similar to the horrid henry ones? did a search but couldnt find any.

Thanks so much guys for your replies
x

I had girls and boys to my sons party and I gave them to both. There are 2 different story books in the box, 5 of each. Horrid Henry and the secret club, and Horrid Henry meets the queen. I gave the queen ones to the girls - they are purple with pink writing, and the other to the boys it is green with blue writing.
The banner is very very nice by the way.

**singlewiththree** · 10-12-2010, 07:53 AM

I've just bought those HH kits for my daughters party :-)

My eldest went to a party recently where the 9yr old girls got a real rose each in nice wrapper she thought it was lovely and it lasted ages.