Alternative to "lolly bags" for kids parties

[KarenH]

We have a birthday party for DS 4year old coming up in a couple of weeks.  After being to several kids parties recently, I have realised that it seems to be the done thing to give each child at the party a bag of lollies and cheap little toys as they leave.   Any ideas for alternative things other than lollies that I could make to put into the bags???  And any ideas for alternatives to cheap plastic toys that break as soon as they get home, or else get trodden on with bare feet in the middle of the night  ??

Or maybe I should just get over myself and accept that a birthday party is just one day a year, and sometimes junk food and junk toys are OK???

[Ceejay]

Depending on the party, I always give a small gift but never lollies (our parties are lolly free ).
My daughter's 4th birthday was a beading party and all the children took home a bracelet/necklace or whatever they had made.
My son's 5th birthday last year was a magic party and each child received a small pack of cards to practise tricks with.
We also a beach party theme for my daughter's 5th and everyone received a small bucket and spade set.
My 3yo son had stickers to give out at his last one.

I try to be creative but different.  Most parents seem relieved to find no lollies or such to worry about.

[judydawn]

Karen, the kids probably love getting junk stuff but I'm sure their parents don't.  I googled and found plenty of other ideas.
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/archive/index.php/t-337871.html
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/archive/index.php/t-271593.html

[natmum]

We don't either give out the lollies..I hate them and when my kids get them they go straight in the bin.
We do as Zan depending on the theme you get something from that.
DS one year had a bob the builder so everyone built stuff and took that home.
DD a fairy party everyone made a wand and crown.
Last year DD had a pamper party and we made bodyglitter everyone got some to take home.
So no keep your thought ..many parents hate lolly bags

[Meagan]

One party we went to DS got a mini play dough tub, some sultanas in a mini box balloons and stickers and a chocolate fredo. DSwho is 4 has never eaten fredos and then he was most excited about the play dough lol!! I think stick to your idea of what you would want to get.

[Sonan]

All great ideas ! Stickers, balloons, little erasers/pencils (try Smiggle), key rings are all cheap options you can put in a lolly bag. I have also purchased small wooden toys such as flutes, spinning tops, castanets etc from the markets.
For four year olds, I like the idea of playdough - you can make it in your thermomix and pop it in a cute little container. You can add in some aromatherapy oils for something a bit different too.
Depends if you are having a theme too on what you could use.
Most kids these days to expect 'something' to take home at the end of a party. For food, you could make some of the 'treat balls' or some small cookies, cut out into shapes.
I sometimes use just plain paper bags that the kids have decorated for lolly bags too !
Have fun !

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I love doing party bags.  Some things I like to include are little bubble blowers, homemade choc chip cookies, balloons, sunflower seeds (with growing instructions), yoyo's, fresh popcorn and scratch and sniff stickers. 

[Caroline J]

Bubble bath, ribbon wands, bubbles, homemade glitter/scented playdough, a homemade cookie

[KarenH]

Thanks SO much for all these fantastic, creative ideas!  I'm new to the kids party thing and just getting used to what kind of things to do!  I really appreciate all the great suggestions ......

[ahoney]

i hate lolly bags too! lots of good ideas on here, I went to a party once where each child got to pick a small tuber with a native  plant to take home 

[sue_h]

Some great ideas, especially the plant idea and seed ideas. We also try to steer clear of lollies at our parties and the food is all home cooked. The party bags (we often use bowls, cups or treasure chests that the kids get to keep) we also make cookies, dried fruit, treat balls, popcorn. The idea of the rest of the party bag/container is that they put prizes or craft in them as they go. We often include bookmarks that have their name on them printed in whatever theme the party is, home made pencil toppers, colouring activity books that we put together ourselves. My kids have done most of the work on this since they were 3. It really helps them have ownership of the party and means that I know that whatever we come up with is something kids will like and I am happy with.

[Cuilidh]

I think I must be getting old - or else I am older than I thought and obviously completely out of touch. 

When I was a kid you went to a birthday party with a gift for the birthday girl / boy, had a great time, ate heaps and went home.  No one ever gave us anything when we left (except perhaps something small if we won a "prize" in any of the games).  Absolutely no offence meant to any one (either here or anywhere else!), but what the heck is this all about?  Surely the parents have enough stress in preparing for a houseful of kids and getting the food and games together without having to worry about what they would give the guests at the end of the day.

Sorry, just getting this whole concept 'off my chest'.

[KarenH]

I'm the same as you Cuilidh - I had not heard of this before until we started taking our son to other kids birthday parties recently.  I am clearly out of touch too!

And I must say I agree with you ........ I am putting in so much thought and effort into organising the party and food (trying to have healthy homemade food, but still a bit special and party-like) that organising takehome bags is just another hassle.  Plus there are going to be more adults there than kids (all the parents of the kids)

I have given up on the organised games thing - my kids are still quite young and dont do the organised party games that well - they just want to run around and free-play with their friends.  So I am doing an easter egg hunt in the garden and leaving it at that.

But seeing as the lolly bags seem to be the done thing - I suppose I will go with the flow and do something, and use the wonderful suggestions on here to do something I am happy with

[obbie]

  For my kids party's last year we hired a big jumping castle for 2 hours. it was great fun.
they played on that, ran around the yard.

I made little lolly bags, but had pencils, rubbers, bubbles in them, and 1 freddo.

Another year, i paid a friend of mine to come and do face painting for my daughters party.
well worth the cost, for the wonder full faces.  ( she does face painting at markets here.)

home made popcorn is always great too.

Robyn

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Lolly bags are very optional and certainly not a must. Our kids don't expect them (and we reinforce this with them), but love them when they receive them. I can remember getting take-home lolly bags from parties when I was a child.  They have been around for a long time.