Simply The Best Kids’ Birthday Party Favours

ByLuci McQuitty Hindmarsh Last updated:
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Don’t love the idea of having to find a bunch of fillers to stuff into party bags for your child’s birthday party?

How about giving a single party favour to each child instead?

There are several things I like about giving out single party favours as an alternative to filled goodie bags:

  • It takes less time to organise
  • It takes less time to prepare (unless you choose to wrap each favour!)
  • It means you won’t be sending kids away with a bunch of brightly coloured landfil
  • It means the favour stands a chance of being something that will actually get used
  • Parents will love you for not filling their homes with loads of mini tat!

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So, now I’ve sold you on the idea, here is a list of some of the best kinds of things to give as kids birthday party favours.

14 Party Favours That Make Great Alternatives to party bags

You will love some of the clever and cute alternatives to fillers that I’ve put together.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Or… if you have time, how about putting together your own grow your own gift?

Grow Your Own Seed Kit
Yield: Seed Kit Party Favour

HOW TO MAKE A SEED KIT PARTY FAVOUR

Here’s what you’ll need to create a set of beautifully presented grow-your-own seed kit party favours.

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Instructions

This is a list of all the items you will need to assemble some super cute seed kits for party favours.

    • Seeds – cress seeds are a great idea for little kids because it’s super easy to grow cress, AND it grows quickly.  Pansy seeds are a lovely idea for older kids, as are peppers. 
    • Terracotta pots – I love these from Hobbycraft because they’re classic and great value for money. 
    • Paper napkins – napkins are the perfect size to wrap seeds in, whether they’re in a packet or loose.
    • Ribbon – I’ve got a thing for grosgrain ribbons for gifts.
    • Paper gift tags –  I suggest using traditional paper tags because they come with a tie and are the perfect size for writing kids’ names. 
    © Luci McQuitty Hindmarsh

    I hope you’ve found something that will work for your child’s party.

    BEFORE YOU GO…

    But what if you do want to give out party bags? What can you put in them that isn’t just junk?

    In fact, I’m a little obsessed with finding creative, unique, junk-free party bag fillers and party favours for kids. So browse the complete archive of Kids Party Favours posts for inspiration.

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