When organising a birthday party for your child, one of the things to consider is what to put into the party bags, or party favors. Giving a fun party bag with some well thought out goodies or swag is a great way to round off the perfect kids party, giving your guests something to remember the party by and enjoy once they get back home.
The first tip to consider when choosing party bag items is to keep it age appropriate. For toddler parties, its best to avoid some of the sweets and candy that are popular with school aged children in party bags, and once the guests are a little older, they may not appreciate some of the more babyish party bag toys so it’s important to strike that balance. Baring this in mind when putting everything together will help you prepare the best party bags.
For all ages, it’s always better to go with quality over quantity and avoid those tiny little plastic party bag toys that tend to be destined for landfill straight away…
If you’re looking for some ideas for your child’s birthday party bag fillers, here are a few suggestions:
What to Put in Kids Party Bags
To help you out with your kids party bag ideas, we’ve broken it down into a few different categories. You can go with one nicer quality item, rather than a bunch of tiny things that will end up in the trash sooner rather than later…
These ideas can be used and adapted for boys party bag ideas, girls party bag ideas, and children’s party bags for all ages.
Something to wear
For my older kids, they’ve often come home from parties with t-shirts in their party bags. This is a great idea as it’s something practical that will get used. If you’re unsure on the sizes for the party guests, I would always veer towards the larger as it’s better for them to be able to grow into it, than it be too small and not be able to wear it at all.
If there’s a party theme that all of the guests are into, then that’s something easy to lean into for the party favor t-shirts, for example my kids came home from a Minecraft party with a Minecraft t-shirt for each child and so on.
Another cool idea would be to send personalised wrist band bracelets. You could put names, or fun phrases related to your party theme. You can design your very own personalised silicone wristbands online ands have them delivered before putting your party bags together. Kids tend to enjoy wearing this kind of bracelet, whether boys or girls.
Making your own friendship bracelets for party bags is another option, or for the girls putting in a cute pack of inexpensive hair clips – you can easily choose these to match your party theme or colour scheme
Something to eat
Birthday cake in the party bag is a given with most parties. Most kids also always appreciate chocolate treats in their party bags. I prefer to give chocolate rather than hard candy, as it’s not quite so bad for the teeth and also avoids the issue with some jelly sweets not being suitable for vegetarians. However, if you have any guests with dairy allergies who are not able to have chocolate then it’s best to have a few options and add the treats accordingly.
Something to read
At some parties, rather than a party bag with toys each guest has received a book as a party favour. You can buy box sets and then split them to give each guest a book each, or make us of ten books for ten pounds type of deals to achieve this very inexpensively.
Fun books like choose your own adventure, puzzle books or sticker books for younger children are also great options. With a book, you know that this is a party favour that can last for longer and be used over and over again.
Something to make
Small craft sets are also a great idea. Some parents like to give small packets of seeds which can be planted, which is great for spring time parties. You can buy packs with multiple sets of the same small craft, which are perfect for splitting up into party bags or even make your own. The are so many printable craft activities online which could be prepared ahead of time for party bags, or even colouring pages which could be added to the bag.
Something to play with
Rather than small plastic toys, you could consider giving a small tub or play dough, bubbles, crayons, or a die cast car. Multipacks can be bought cheaply and split for many of these items. There are also small wooden toys that you can find for party bags, like kaleidoscopes, small puzzles, or small wooden animals.
Go with a theme
If you’re not sure what to put inside your child’s party bags, going with a theme can help pull everything together. This can tie in really well with the theme of the party.
For example, for a space themed party, make space party bags with glow in the dark space stickers, astronaut figurines and a bouncy ball in the design of a planet.
Cool Party Bag Ideas by Age
Now that we’ve covered some of the general ideas, let’s take a closer look at party bag fillers by age. Putting together party bags for 13 year olds, and finding suitable teenage party bag fillers can feel more daunting than putting together party favors for younger kids who are more easily pleased. But don’t worry… there are options out there!
Here are some age-appropriate party favor ideas:
Teenagers (13-17):
- Mini skincare products (lip balms, face masks)
- Cool keychains or lanyards
- Mini journals or notebooks
- Trendy stickers for laptops, water bottles, etc.
- USB Drives
- Gift cards for a small amount (bookstores, fast food, music)
- Chocolate, candy and snacks
- Small craft kits
- Themed bookmarks
Related: Teenage party ideas
Preteens (9-12):
- Mini LEGO sets
- Small craft kits or art supplies
- Pocket-sized games or puzzles
- Glow-in-the-dark items
- Temporary tattoos or stickers
- Collectible trading cards
- Age-appropriate books or comics
- Slime or putty kits
- Small action figures or dolls
- Fun socks
Children (8-10):
- Small puzzles or brain teasers
- Bubbles
- Mini coloring books and crayons
- Fun erasers or pencils
- Small stuffed animals
- DIY craft kits
- Yo-yos or small toys
- Keychains or small figures
- Temporary tattoos or stickers
- Play dough or putty
Children (5-7):
- Animal figurines or plastic dinosaurs
- Mini play dough sets
- Coloring books and crayons
- Stickers
- Bouncy balls
- Small picture books
- Bath toys or bath bombs
- Finger puppets
- Mini bubble wands
- Character masks
Preschoolers (3-5):
- Mini stuffed animals
- Chunky puzzles
- Crayons and coloring books
- Plastic animal figures
- Bubbles
- Stickers
- Play dough
- Soft balls
- Bath toys
- Finger puppets
Toddlers (1-3):
- Soft plush toys
- Board books
- Stacking cups or blocks
- Bath toys
- Sippy cups or water bottles
- Soft balls
- Finger puppets
- Toy cars or trains
- Musical instruments (like shakers or rattles)
- Large-piece puzzles
Remember, when choosing party favors, it’s important to consider any potential safety hazards, especially for younger kids. Small parts can be a choking hazard for toddlers and preschoolers. Always consider age recommendations when purchasing items.
I hope these suggestions have given you a few ideas, especially on how to avoid plastic waste in your party bags or party favors.
What else do you like to put into your kids party bags? Let us know in the comments.
“Anna, thank you for sharing these wonderful party bag ideas! I love how you emphasize quality over quantity and the importance of age-appropriate favors. Your suggestions for personalized wristbands, books, and small craft sets are fantastic. Your creativity will surely make any child’s birthday party memorable. Keep up the great work!”
Planning a birthday party for your child can be such a fun and exciting time! And when it comes to party bags or favors, it’s all about creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for the guests. I love how the suggestions provided focus on age-appropriate items and the importance of quality over quantity. It’s great to see the consideration given to practical items like t-shirts or personalized wristband bracelets, as well as the inclusion of treats and books that can be enjoyed beyond the party. The idea of incorporating crafts and play items adds an interactive element that kids will surely love.
Thank you for these ideas! These are amazing and it must have taken ages to write the lists! Very much appreciated as a children’s entertainer!