Why I hate party bags and what you should be putting in them!
Ok, so maybe the title of this post is a bit harsh! I don’t necessarily hate party bags, just the contents that some parents put in them. Our twins are soon to be four years old and they’ll have a party which inevitably will include a party bag for each child, but I have to question some parents logic when it comes to buying things to go in them.
Now I understand a slice of birthday cake is obligatory and I accept that. I mean who doesn’t love a bit of birthday cake! However when I find sweet cones inside my child’s party bag I think that’s pretty poor judgement. What three year old needs a sweet cone? I don’t give R and M sweets because they don’t need them, but they also don’t ask for them when we go into shops either.
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Another thing I can’t stand people putting in party bags is bubbles. My house is full of tiny pots of bubbles and I hate them! I can understand why children enjoy them and I don’t begrudge my children them, but the pot is usually so small that it doesn’t last five minutes, queue small child tantrum when they run out, or the liquid is so diluted that it doesn’t actually produce bubbles.
Crayons or pencils seem pretty pointless to me too. I mean what parent doesn’t have a drawer, shelf or pot full of them? We all probably have way too many than we actually need and I don’t ever recall a child getting excited at seeing crayons inside a party bag.
Colouring in sheets or activity sheets are also pretty pointless in my opinion too. I’d rather a small colouring or activity book. At least that way it will last longer five minutes.
Here are some suggestions for what to include in a party bag. Of course depending on the age of the children some things may not be appropriate.
Slice of birthday cake
Thank you note/card for attending
Sticker sheet
Mini grow your own kit (cress/flower etc)
Pack of seeds
Snap cards
Small book
Small craft set
What do you think? What would you include?
22 Comments
Anonymous
January 27, 2016 at 7:13 am
I think you're over analysing it, it's just a party bag, it's only suppose to entertain your little one for five minutes, maybe you've been to too many parties and had too many bags! I love a party bag 🙂 I prefer my son having chocolate to sweets but bubbles are a must, we empty them into our bubble making & continue the party in the bath 🙂
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 9:47 am
Quite possibly, but I just don't understand why people put sweets in! I know they're meant to entertain kids, which is why I think a bit more thought into what goes into them wouldn't go amiss! Chocolate I don't mind. My kids have bubbles – I just don't like them in party bags! Thanks for your comment 🙂
MostlyYummy
January 27, 2016 at 7:32 am
That title is a tiny bit bossy yes! Ha! I do know what you mean though it always seems like a terrible waste, doesn't it? That party bag 'tat' always ends up in the bin here at some point. At the last couple of parties we've been to, books have been given as a party gift and I think this is perfect. I secretly hope everybody else copies and does the same in our circles!
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 9:48 am
Haha, it is a bit isn't it! It does seem like a waste. I'd rather spend a bit more on something that will last rather than something will end up in the bin as you may as well throw your money in the bin instead to save you the time and hassle! Books are a great idea! x
LadyBug Home & Design
January 27, 2016 at 8:11 am
I admit that candy and random stuff ends up in the bin shortly after party. Books are a great idea or craft kits. Planning a party for 2 weeks and hoping for the craft kit idea. I think people feel pressure to create a goodie bag. Thank you for sharing.
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 9:49 am
I totally agree books and craft kits are great ideas, but I guess can be expensive. I understand why parents resort to sweets and tat as it's cheaper. I agree I think some parents do feel pressure to create a good goodie bag! x
Simon (Man vs. Pink)
January 27, 2016 at 9:07 am
Bit put out reading this post, as we've just done 4yo party and bag included bubbles and sweets! 😉 But your post shows how subjective these things are. Our daughter loves bubbles, and so do her friends. Also loves colouring (and gets excited about crayons). You could pretty much interchange your likes and dislikes, and it would be the same opinion of another parent – your tat is another parent/child's treat. As long as we keep it simple, the world won't end.
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 9:52 am
Hi Simon! I didn't mean to put anyone out! Sorry about that! Just my personal opinion! Sweets, as mentioned above I just don't get as not every parents allows their children to have sweets and if that's all a child is given then it can be a disappointment to a child. As you say we're all different, but my kids don't excited at seeing crayons in a party bag as they have loads at home. I think they'd rather something a little different which will genuinely excite them. I'm keeping the girls ones simple for their birthday and will be popping in a slice of cake, a mini connect 4 game for each child, which you can bulk buy 30 for around £14, a sticker sheet each and a colour in finger puppet for each child. Total of £20 for 30 kids and not a sweet or pot of bubbles in sight! Simples!
Rachel Rogers
January 27, 2016 at 10:00 am
I don't have children myself, but from my experience with younger cousins I really agree with what you've had to say! It's something I can bear in mind when I have children myself (although I'm 20 so that won't be for a while!) 🙈 I really enjoyed reading this post!! 😊
Rachel xxx
https://rachelramblingon.wordpress.com/
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Hi Rachel, thanks for your comment! I'm glad you agree, I was beginning to think I was in a minority! x
Hannah Latoya Bond
January 27, 2016 at 11:07 am
I disagree. I used to love crayons and bubbles in a party bag. When i had finished the bubbles i would just re fil them from the bath x
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Bubbles I can understand, I think it's just me as a parent waiting for the inevitable time one of them spills the entire contents of their bubble pot all over the floor/carpet! I understand why kids love them! Think we'll have to agree to disagree on the crayons! x
Scandi Mummy
January 27, 2016 at 11:26 am
Being from Denmark we don't have party bags. Well, at least we didn't when I was a child. I find the concept a little strange. When I have friends over for a birthday dinner I make sure they are catered for with lovely food, drinks and entertainment… while they are there that is. I don't send them home with a bag of games, left over food, gum or anything else. I can understand that you receive something at a wedding to commemorate the occasion. But for a child's birthday party, hmm. And if the stuff in the party bag is simply cheap toys and sweets I don't see the point. My son Caspian's 1st birthday is coming up, but we probably wont have a party until the summer, maybe I'll feel I need to do party bags, but hopefully I can come up with something a bit more unique. I like some of your ideas and the book idea is great. #bestandworst
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 7:04 pm
Hi Nadia! It's really interesting to hear that you don't have party bags in Denmark. I'm not sure where this trend/tradition originated from, but all of my parties as a child involved party bags being handed out at the end. Silly really I guess as we pay for the venue, entertainment, cake etc and then fill a party bag with things for the kids to take home too! x
Janine Woods – Unhinged Mummy
January 27, 2016 at 11:50 am
My son is 4 in march and I am already thinking about party bags. Top of my list is sweets and bubbles. Oops! Lol. But you know what you do have some fantastic ideas to add. I especially love the idea of adding a thank you card and a packet of seeds to grow. I will definately be doing that so thanks for those fab ideas 🙂
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Oops! Popular opinion is that bubbles are a must so I may have to cave and give in to the bubbles! x
Jeremy Barnes
January 27, 2016 at 1:33 pm
we skipped the party bag for A's 4th birthday and nobody even noticed. Its always full of cheap crap the doesn't last more than a day or two and is just one more thing to have to buy. I'm all done with them
Emily
January 27, 2016 at 7:05 pm
You win best comment! 🙂
Mummy in Training
January 27, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Yep I'm with you I think. I do love a good party bag but I don't like the sweets being in them especially Haribo! Lots of fab ideas on your list! #bestandworst xx
Emma
January 27, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Found this interesting & the comments. A lot of the time I think it comes to cost especially if a large number of party bags to make. I always pit sweets in as mine love them & so do their friends & they've always enjoyed bubbles. For my daughter as she's got older I included hair bobbles/clips & my son football mini notepads & pencils. It's all just a bit of fun. This year I escaped party bags as went pottery painting & the pottery is the gift plus a cupcake.
Helen Gandy – Beautiful Things
January 27, 2016 at 9:38 pm
Arghh party bags, I find them so blooming stressful!! I can't even remember what I put in them last year, this year I think I'm just going to buy each child a book and probably a bag of choccie buttons, I'd like to think that this would be a nicer touch 🙂 I like your post, was just reading the comments, you have stirred some emotions ha! Thanks for linking up #bestandworst
Silly Mummy
January 27, 2016 at 9:39 pm
As a child, I loved party bags, as an adult I can see the flaws! I tend to only really be annoyed by things that are clearly unsafe for the age group. I get that people obviously need to keep price down, but I do think that it would actually make more sense to spend same amount and have a couple of things that would be more used and liked than 5-6 things that are completely pointless. I agree with you about stickers – I think they're always a good choice. Cheap, most kids like them & they're fairly unlikely to be impractical or annoying to parents. I actually don't think bubbles are too offensive, though – kids like them & they're safe. I do the same with sweets as you. I do let the girls have occasional chocolate, but I don't give them any sweets, as I think they are more artificial than chocolate, more likely to be dangerous re choking, & there is no real reason to have them while they are little & know no difference. That said, I get that kids have sweets (& mine will, but just when older & they actually know they're missing something), & most kids of even mine's ages do have them sometimes, so it doesn't really bother me that people give them as gifts. I just switch them for something I do give the girls & eat them myself! #bestandworst