14 Single Gifts that make perfect park birthday party favours
Planning a child’s birthday celebration at the park is a brilliant move in so many ways. You’ll avoid the chaos of hosting at home or in your backyard, save money on venue hire, and let the playground equipment do the entertaining for you.
But there is one potential downside… lugging dozens of stuffed party bags across the park while juggling cake, decorations, and everything else.
That’s the last thing you need on party day.
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Which is where the single party favour works a treat… a bunch of single gifts is so much easier to transport!
Plus! Instead of filling bags with numerous tiny things that often end up forgotten or broken, one thoughtful gift can actually be more likely to be used andf loved.
I’ve rounded up the absolute best single party favour ideas that will simplify your park birthday planning without disappointing a single child.
These picks are parent-approved for practicality and kid-tested for that all-important “wow” factor.
14 Party Favours That Make Great Alternatives to party bags in The Park
These Simple Party Favours and Party Bag Alternatives are perfect for anyone looking to keep things streamlined and stress-free at a park birthday party.
1. Story book box sets
My favourite budget-friendly party favour hack is to buy a set of books and divide the books up as individual party favours.
If you’ve got the time and the inclination, you could gift wrap each book for an extra flourish.
Here are three box sets that are super popular with Mums Make Lists readers for use as party favours.
- Horrid Henry Complete Collection – 30 books
- Mr Men Complete Collection Box Set – 48 books
- Diary of A Wimpy Kid Box Set – 12 books
- Hairy MacLarey & Friends – 10 books
2. A Journal to write in
Journaling is a great way to encourage kids to write when they spend so much of their time on screens.
So, giving journals instead of party bags is a great way to please both kids and their parents.
My ten-year-old daughter received a gorgeous All About Me journal as a party favour and started writing in it immediately. This journal is now a favourite party favour idea with Mums Make Lists readers.
The You Are Awesome journal is another good one. It’s full of fun stuff to help each kid to be awesome!
3. Notebooks
Girls in particular seem to love a notebook to doodle and write their thoughts in or to use for homework.
There are some really cute looking notebooks around and they usually don’t cost very much, so they make a great cost-effective party favour.
- Thoughts, Dreams & Positive Vibes – 240 pages
- Rainbow notepad (can be personalised) – 50 pages
4. Sticker Books
Three and four-year-olds LOVE stickers, and sticker books are a great way to keep the stickers off of furniture, so fellow parents love them too!
Here are some of the loveliest sticker books around for little kids.
- First Sticker Book Jungle – the first sticker book my daughter had, it has 100+ stickers and an array of jungle scenes
- Galt Toys Sticker Fun Pad – 12 pages to stick and restick 300 reusuable stickers on
- Little People Big Dreams Sticker Activity Book – 100+ stickers that are inspirational as well as lots of fun to stick!
- Magical Shiny Sticker Art – We’ve had a couple of these mosaic sticker books, they offer a different level of creativity for kids and are really rather beautiful. This unicorn book will be a winner for many kids’ parties and the dinosaur version is also really gorgeous.
5. Sweet Treats
I know that sweets/candy can be a little controversial, but it’s hard to deny that it always goes down well with kids!!
Prefilled also equals TIME-SAVING, so what’s not to love?!
So, if you are happy to risk a post-party parental WhatsApp tirade, how about thrilling little party guests by giving them a party cone choc full of goodies or yummy special treat?
The Little Lulubell boutique on Notonthehighstreet has the most gorgeous prefilled party cones and keepsake tins.
- Pre-filled Party Cones – several themes/designs to choose from and you can add a thank you note (min. order 15)
- Chocolate Gaming Controller – individually presented in a gift box
- Unicorn Coated Oreos – two cute Oreos in every box
- Treat Pots – cute candy pots that can be personalised
- Gingerbread Dinosaurs – individually wrapped (in sets of 10)
- Retro TV Candy Treat Box – containing penny sweets from yesteryear, so kids will have to fight to keep their parents’ hands out!!
6. Grow your own kits
Grow-your-own kits are delightful alternatives to party bags. They are perfect for kids ages five years and older.
I love the Grow Your Own Mini kits from Clockwork Soldier on Notonthehighstreet.com
7. Craft Kits
Craft and baking kits are great to give out instead of party bags. You can even use them as an activity at the party, and the party guests get to take their creations home.
- Make Your Own Model Aeroplane Kit – This model aeroplane kit is a lovely party favour for boys and girls who love planes and crafting.
- Make Your Own Birdcage – It’s SO EASY to make; there’s no need for glue or scissors and it’s made from recycled cardboard.
- Craft Bead Necklace Kit – 120 pretty wooden beads and five cords
8. Baking kits
Baking kits are also a great idea, you can either put them together yourself in a jar or buy ready-made kits that can be personalised, like these fab Personalised Biscuit Mix kits by Zac & Lily.
9. Write your own story book
This Write Your Own Storybook is another party gift that my daughter was given at a birthday party.
It’s a delightful book that helps kids flex their imaginations and write stories.
10. Fun mini games
I am fond of portable games kids can take when travelling or playing at the table when eating out. They also happen to work really well as party favours!
- Pass The Pigs – The aim is to be the first to 100 points by throwing the pigs and seeing how they land. All the kids I know LOVE it.
- Dobble – A speedy observation game, where players have to race to match the identical symbol between cards
11. Mini activity kits
Parents will always appreciate their kids receiving something to keep them gainfully occupied.
There are some brilliant art, craft and science kits around that kids will be excited to receive as they leave a party.
- Bubble Science Lab Kit – How about this as a great alternative to simply giving a bottle of bubbles? It’s a complete bubble-making lab.
- 4M Lemon Clock – These lemon clock-making sets are great little science projects and great STEM party favours.
12. A pice of birthday cake and a balloon
Now, this is super old school, but also a great way to double up on party decorations and favours.
Use the balloons to decorate the party space and then hand one out to each child with a slice of cake in a napkin as they leave the party.
The key is to go for fancy balloons if you really want the wow factor.
13. Water bottles & insulated cups
The water bottle and insulated cup trend is still going strong. So you can’t go far wrong gifting one as a party favour.
You can either personalise them, like these Stanley Style insulated cups.
14. Grow your own kit
Grow your own seeds gifts make a lovely alternative party favour for kids of all ages, plus they’re the gift that keeps on giving.
- Grow Your Own Sunflower Kit – The kit is eco-friendly with a bamboo seed tray and peat-free compost.
- Pre-filled Bee Party Bags – (Set of ten) Each party bag contains a pulp paper pot, a compost pellet, a wildflower seed ball, a personalised ‘Bee Happy’ tag, a leaflet with instructions and interesting information about the components, and a bee-shaped chocolate treat.
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Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.