At Captain Fantastic HQ, this is a conversation that we have a lot. The issue of what to put in a party bag seems to be never-ending and it changes with the times.
Doing something different with party bags can be a real challenge and some people want to stand out from the crowd. But some others feel deeply that they want to do their best to protect the planet’s precious resources as much as possible and they may want to avoid putting together a party bag altogether.
You might sit somewhere in the middle of these two opinions. Like us, do you want to have an environmentally friendly party, but also to put together a fun little party bag for your guests? How do you go about doing that and what should you put in a party bag for your guests as age-appropriate gifts? Read on to find out how to navigate the world of party bags!
Even big kids like teenagers love a party bag, even if they might claim that they’re not bothered! Everyone remembers the excitement they felt as a child leaving a friend’s birthday party clutching your precious party bag tightly. No one waited until they were home to tear open the bag to see what goodies had been given to them.
The classic children’s party bags contained a small plastic toy like a plastic glow in the dark stick or water pistol, a party popper or whistle, some sweets and a piece of cake wrapped up in a paper napkin or two. But these gifts seem retro and even a little boring in the twenty-first century. They’re also likely to comprise a lot of single use plastic, so what can you put in your party bags instead?
Party Bags for 1 to 6 year olds
Depending on the theme of your party, this might be a really easy party bag to put together. Alongside the customary slice of birthday cake, you could put a copy of the book that your little one’s birthday was themed around.
For instance, if you are having a The Very Hungry Caterpillar-themed birthday party then slip a copy of the book in the party bag alongside a cake. Perhaps add some sweets reflecting the items that the caterpillar munches through on his journey into becoming a butterfly into the bag. It’s a great non-plastic gift that they can use and treasure forever as a memory of the day. It makes an even better gift if you write a little note in the front page saying ‘Thank you for coming to my 4 th birthday party! Love, Harry x’
Party Bags for 6 to 10 year olds
We often think that the younger children are, then the easier it is to put together a party bag for them. This age bracket is still one that is easy to buy for depending on the theme of the party.
However, buying a non-plastic present for this age range can sometimes be tricky. When putting together party bag ideas for 6 to 10 year olds, stationery makes a great gift for children of this age. Items like pencils can be easily personalised if you wanted to give a more personal memento of the birthday boy or girl’s day.
Party Bags for 10 to 14 year olds
This is the age when putting together a party bag can start to become a little difficult. You don’t want to patronise them by treating them like children and yet they are still exactly that!
Striking a happy balance whilst also considering the impact of your purchases on the environment can be difficult.
This is where parties where the children are making something come into their own! You are also tackling two problems at once – the children are being entertained by having a task to make and they also get the item to take home with them.
We love pottery painting or glass painting-themed parties and they are very popular for both girls and boys. If you know that your birthday boy or girl’s friends are not very crafty then you could also consider a mystery-themed party meaning that you could put a torch and magnifying glass in the party bag, which are great souvenirs that they can keep forever.
Party Bags for 14 to 16 year olds
You might think that teenagers as old as 14 to 16 wouldn’t be interested in party bags, but you would be wrong! In our experience, even teens as old as sixteen love receiving a party bag and parents often report afterwards on the huge number of compliments they received on their party bags.
However, putting together a party bag for 14-16-year olds is not without challenges. You want them to have something to remember the day as well as something useful and environmentally friendly. Depending on the theme of the party, this might be easier for some parties than others. Alongside the customary slice of cake in the gift bag, you could add a face mask, nail polish and file, lip balm, hand cream and a compact mirror, which would be a great present for any pamper-themed sleepovers. Even some slippers!
Alternatively, for a party that was a little more active or sporty, how about a baseball cap, sport socks, cologne or shower gel? They are all sensible items that will get used by the recipient. If you wanted to create a real impression, you could personalise some of the gifts. If you were having an end of school party, a wonderful memento of their time together would be a personalised baseball cap with the name of their school on it.
Here at Captain Fantastic, we are happy to help everyone make their next special occasion a day to remember, whether that’s with an online party, a princess party or a spy party. Get in touch to find out how we can help you make your next special occasion really special.