Alternative to "lolly bags" for kids parties

[baf65]

kids parties are all about the party bag!!

[Kath]

We don't do lolly bags. I think the kids have usually had enough treats by the end of the party, and my guess is the parents don't really want any more little trinkets to clutter up their homes!

What we have done in the past is to make sure to take a picture of each child at the party, then we use that picture to make a laminated thankyou card that my sons hand out at school the next day.

We had a reptile party one year, so we got a picture of each child with a python hanging around his neck. Another year (most recently) we went to an outdoor ropes adventure course in a state forest, so we got photos of each child coming down the flying fox.

I've never had any children ask for their lolly bags at the end. Sometimes they look a bit expectant, and I just say, "Thanks for coming, hope you had a good time!" and send them on their way. 

[Frozzie]

i have to admit most parties here are cake and lollies and then a bag of goodies to take home but there are some parents that do some kind of activity like mentioned previously....i think as long as the kids get something to take home they dont really notice too much the lollies...last time my DS made like a salt dough (dont know what its called in english but a homemade dough with salt) and they got a paint palet for kids to take home to paint what htey made...i also did a bunch of games at my DS last bday..he was 5 and gave away stickers, little bracelets etc..i dont have a problem with lolly bags and like chelsea i remember getting them when i was little so they have been around a while and if my kids go to a few parties in a row and therefore alot of lollybags then they just disappear in hte bin and they dont notice..i think bottom lineis as long as the kids have a good time they dont really care if they go home with something or not..i remember before lolly bags they used to just give you a piece of cake too to take home which was pretty much to get rid of the huge cake baked for hte party that wasnt eaten..just maybe do something simple that goes with the theme of your party..kids love activities and making stuff as long as its not too scholar like

[Denzelmum]

We did book and bubble for my 5yo DD.   

[CreamPuff63]

what about a star on the forehead or a stamp on the hand as they leave