The class favorite part of every birthday party is the party favor. Kids love it and expect it. And not only that, it’s a great way to treat & thank your guests for coming. The only downside is that this can become a rather tedious and expensive task.
But no worries! There are a ton of budget-friendly ways to include party favors into your child’s birthday bash. No matter what your price range may be, you can save loads by integrating the party favor as a decoration, snack, or part of the entertainment. There’s no reason it has to be a separate deal altogether.
Just follow our simple party favor guide for easy, inexpensive goodie bags and party favors.
Great Birthday Party Favor Ideas for Kids!
So where do you start? First, look at your budget after all the rest of the party supplies have been bought and/or made. Party favors and goodie bags should only dig into the remainder of your budget, not beyond it!
You will want to have an idea ahead of time though, so make a list of what you think you can afford that would be popular with the kids. If you have a Swimming Under the Sea theme, then bath toys and supplies may be best. For a spa party, try little hair pieces and cheap accessories. Even arts and crafts activities can be great party favors!
Really, there are a million ways to go about it. Just look at our many fabulous party favor ideas below. Something is sure to catch your eye.
Need a hardcopy list? Then download our 80 Ideas for Kids Birthday Party Favors.
Mega List of Kids Birthday Party Favors
- Animal Figure
- Bandana
- Bath Bomb
- Bath Toy
- Bathtub Fingerpaint Soap
- Beauty Face Mask
- Bookmark
- Bubbles
- Cartoon Band-Aids
- Colored Pencils
- Coloring Book
- Compass
- Crayons
- Cute Eraser
- Face Paints
- Finger Paint
- Flip Flops
- Flower Seed Packet
- Fridge Magnet
- Friendship Bracelet
- Frisbee
- Fun Socks
- Gel Pen or Mr. Sketch
- Glow in the Dark Stars
- Glow Sticks
- Hair Accessories
- Hand Sanitizer
- Harmonica
- Homemade Slime
- Hot Chocolate Pack
- Inflatable Beach Ball
- iTunes Gift Card
- Jump Rope
- Kazoo
- Key Chain/ Key Ring
- Lip Gloss
- Lollipop
- Loom Bands
- Manicure Set
- Marbles
- Masks
- Mini Cereal Box
- Mini Flashlight
- Fancy Kleenex Pack
- Mini Lego Set
- Tiny Notepad
- Mini Puzzle
- McDonald’s Gift Card
- Small Stamping Kit
- Nail Polish/Nail Art
- Novelty Straw
- Trading Cards
- Parachute Toy
- Pez Dispenser
- Photo Frame
- Plastic Cookie Cutters
- Plastic Flute
- Toy Telescope
- Playdough
- Princess Crown
- Fairy Wand
- Ring-Pop
- Sand Toys
- Secret Message Pen
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Silly Putty
- Slinky
- Slippers
- Stickers
- Sunglasses
- Temporary Tattoos
- Tiny Kaleidoscope
- Toothbrush
- Toy Car
- Wand
- Water Bottle
- Water Squirt Toy
- Whistle
- Yo-Yo
Not enough kids birthday party favors for you?
Come check out our growing list on Pinterest!
10 Alternatives to the Classic Goodie Bags
Looking for cheap alternatives to the typical party favor that’s still fun and exciting? You’d be surprised what can constitute as a good party favor for kids.
Below we offer just 10 simple alternatives that come to mind:
A piece of birthday cake and a balloon
Simple, cheap and effective with young children. It also helps with cleaning up some of the extra food and balloons you have sitting around after the party.
Seeds or Bulbs with a Flower Pot
Teach the kids a new skill and all about responsibility! Growing a small plant is a great way to boost a kid’s morale as they watch and take care of something.
A Book
Books help expand the mind and learning of children’s vocabulary while letting them experience new fictitious adventures! Pass along cheap children’s books you collect or find on clearance.
Charitable Contribution in Guests Name
Sometimes the best party favor is one of giving to someone else. This may not work for younger children, but some older children may understand the significance of giving to a great cause or organization.
DIY Take-Away Craft
Let the kids take home what they make! It’s easy to turn macaroni art and other simple crafts into a party favor worth keeping. They’ll even get to show off what they made to their parents.
Personalized Item such as a Towel, T-Shirt or Mug
Personal items that can be worn or used for years to come will have a special place in any child’s heart. Tie-dye T-shirts, or have them paint their own mugs. Bigger projects make for better rewards!
Small Toy That Matches the Party Theme
A rubber duck for a pool party. A Lego man for a Lego party. Or maybe even binoculars for a zoo or explorer party. Cheap little toys can be bought by the dozen in party packs and dollar stores.
Gift Certificate
Are your guests having fun at your party venue? Then give them a chance to come back and do it again with a gift certificate. Some venues may include these in their party package, so it’s all inclusive!
Comic Book or Age Appropriate Magazine
Share the legends of your kid’s favorite super heroes with old comic books. Or maybe bring out other age-appropriate magazines like Highlights or High Five. It’s hours of fun, games and reading to be had.
Photo with Birthday Child
As they always say, a picture is worth a thousand words. And memories last forever! So pass along a framed little picture of the guest with the birthday child to reminisce on when they’re older.
So What Loot Bag Should You Go With For Your Kid’s Party?
We’ve given you a lot of direction so far, but you should consider these last few things as well when choosing party favors.
- For DIY goodie bags and favors, make sure you have enough time to make them before or during the party.
- Always make sure to have extra favors in case unexpected or last-minute guests show up. Nothing worse than a grumpy kid with no goodie bag.
- If your budget runs dry before you get to the party favors, think about what you can use from your decorations, entertainment, or at home. Don’t unnecessarily go out of your way if you can’t afford it.
- And finally, keep in mind allergies and dietary restrictions for snack bags. Have alternative favors on hand just in case!
PIN THESE 80+ KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY FAVORS FOR LATER!
