[darrylb42]

Not to mention the really cheap plastic stuff given away in gift bags when it is someone's birthday. Small non-functional yo-yo's balls with paddle. etc. Since you can't give food or candy for fear of nuts.

For things like LEGO they are mostly specific sets, so they get built and displayed like models by my kids. Rarely to they build random stuff like I did when I was little, with only a small amount of LEGO.

[riffraff]

When did gift bags at parties become a thing? When I was a kid the social contract was "I host the party you give me a present, and next time you get one".

When my kids come home with gift bags I feel like screaming.

[munificent]

I think the trend of gift bags comes from a good place. Parents saw that when the birthday kid gets everything, it's easy for that to become a lesson in selfishness and Main Character Syndrome. Having the birthday kid also give gifts to the guests helps make it feel like a shared experience where everyone is important.

The plastic junk is just collateral damage.

[gitaarik]

They are mentioning that in the article