It seems like every little kid I know is having a birthday within the next month. What is it with all those June babes? Is there a power cut every Autumn that sparks off mass conception?
And with birthdays comes the inevitable round of birthday parties. And you can't have a party without a party bag. Well, you can, but you'll have trouble shifting the party-goers at the end, and they'll grumble about it.
So if you're looking for an alternative to the traditional party bag full of disposable plastic rubbish and sweets, here are some ideas:
- A piece of birthday cake and a balloon
- Lego Minifigures
- Something from a one pound shop
- Seeds or a bulb to plant in the garden
- A book
- A book with a chocolate bar sellotaped to the front
- Nothing at all
The simple approach is absolutely fine. Just make sure you have enough balloons for everybody, and a few extra in case those burst. Obviously this will only work if you have no balloon-phobics present, so do check.
These are due to be the going home pressies at my son's seventh birthday. They're only £1.99 and (fingers crossed) will be popular with all little boys.
I've had some great partyware from bargain shops. A craft set like this Ben 10 one from Poundland would go down well with most children.
Very popular with both adults and children. We have plants in our garden which came from party bags years ago.
With a multipack from The Book People or Red House Books, you can get a book for each child for around 80p.
The deluxe version of above. Use supermarket multipacks and you can still keep the budget under £1 per person.
For the hardcore minimalists. Come on you lot, where's your party spirit?