Kanika Banwait
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Kids' party bags are the bane of every parent's life. How much do you spend on them? Do you have to give them out? And what on earth can you put in a party bag? From DIY kits to playdough, here are some creative party bag ideas that won't break the bank ...
1. The lowdown on party bags
Party bags are a great way of thanking someone for coming to your shindig.
But with mounting costs and the usual gifts seeming a bit tired, a less common replacement might be more appreciated by your guests – and their parents!
Read on for some original party bag filler ideas as well as traditional options ... that won't cost a fortune!
2. Decorate your own bag
You can buy (or even make) some plain fabric bags to give to guests at your child's party.
In fact, you could even use this as an idea for a party activity and save yourself the trouble of making them.
Lay out some feathers, buttons, biodegradable glitter, pom-poms and a big bowl of PVA glue. Then, let the kids decorate a party bag in any style they'd like. You could then add the traditional party bag fillers: whistles, bubbles and sweeties galore!
This fabulous assortment of feathers, pom-poms, buttons and more is just perfect! It comes with 1,220 pieces and you can find it at Amazon for £15.99 .
...and don't forget the glitter! This 10-pack comes with a variety of fun colours and you can get it at Amazon for £2.99 .
3. Books
A book is a great gift for children of any age.
They'll be able to benefit from reading it, they can keep it forever as a memento and, as a bonus, their parents will appreciate you swapping sweets for a good read.
Try looking for wholesale or 'job lot' book offers online to really bring the price of this gift down. Just remember to double check the books you find are age-appropriate.
Check out our roundup of the best kids' books for every age.
4. Keep it traditional
What's the saying? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And there's nothing wrong with the bells and whistles – literally – of the good old traditional party bag.
Party blowers, balloons and bubbles always bring a smile to children's faces, and most supermarkets tend to have a good selection of party bag toys on special offer.
Here are some traditional ideas for party bags .
5. Chocolate coins
Chocolate coins aren't just for Christmas! These inexpensive treats are ideal to put in a pirate party goody bag, too.
6. Paint a picture
Painting a picture may seem like an everyday thing to do, but it's a great activity to keep kids entertained at a party.
Alongside the paint, you could also provide them with a few fun and unusual accessories to stick on the picture, like beads, buttons, coloured paper or biodegradable glitter – better still, tell the kids Tinkerbell paid a visit and left some magic dust just for them to add to their paint!
The kids can take the picture home with them as a memento of the fun they've had.
7. Make a sock puppet
Children love sock puppets , so why not have them make their own?
Some funky socks and colourful bits and bobs (and lots of googly eyes) to decorate them with are all you need, and you've got a fun, eco-friendly activity.
The best part? It won't cost you a fortune.
8. Fairy cake kit
A 'cake in a jar' kit is a great idea for a party favour.
Simply measure out the dry ingredients to pop into a jar and attach a little note with what else they'll need.
Finally, decorate with a ribbon to make it look extra fancy. Perfect for a plastic-free party!
Easy and fun!
Try our easy fairy cake recipe or one of these cake recipes .
9. Art supplies
What's easy, fun and requires minimal effort to pack?
We know! Art supplies. Kids can get stuck in on a rainy 'I'm bored' Sunday with a little pack of felt tips, a small colouring book and a mini art gift set.
Anything artistic is great for children to flex their creative muscles.
Fancy adding a little more fun to the mix? Print out these summer pictures for them to colour in.
These acrylic paint marker pens are eco-friendly, non-toxic AND fast-drying and you can get them at Amazon for £12.99 .
10. Personalise some pens and pads
Getting something personalised is always going to be a great gift – a way to show your guests that you really appreciated them coming along.
While young children may not find this as exciting, older kids will love personalised pens and pads.
Or, why not look for funky personalised placemats and bookmarks?
11. Grow your own plants
A packet of seeds or a 'grow your own plant' kit from the supermarket is a fun activity for your guests to take away with them.
Unlike traditional party bag fillers, it's a useful gift that keeps on giving!
Older kids especially will relish the thought of growing something for themselves.
12. Marbles
Good old-fashioned marbles are a great gift for an older child to find in their party bag (but avoid for five year olds and and under as they can be a choking hazard ).
Marbles can be used for so many different games at home or in the garden, or as a marble-in-a-jar reward system.
The simplest game is to scatter marbles across an isolated part of the floor, set up a goal on the other side and take turns trying to shoot marbles into the goal. The most goals in 30 minutes wins!
13. Sweets
Not that we advocate feeding children lots of sweets, but a party can be an exception.
Also, there is now a wide range of low-sugar sweets and sweets without additives in the supermarkets, that won't harm children's teeth if eaten in moderation.
It's an easy, low-cost option, what more could you want?!
This delicious assortment comes with 120+ mini sweet treats and is available at Amazon for £19.95 .
14. Birthday cake
A birthday party is NOT complete without a traditional cake and candles, but how do you deal with leftovers?
Send each child home with a piece of birthday cake, that's how.
Not only will you save fridge space, but you'll also have less mess to clean up. And less temptation to eat the lot!
Fancy making the cake yourself? Check out our top birthday cake recipes.
15. Bouncy balls
Bouncy balls are cheap to buy and great fun for for children to play with (although make sure you don't give them yo young children as they're a choking hazard).
Plus, it's always quite entertaining to watch them bob up and down as the balls escape their grasp.
Just make sure you've laid down some rules about 'outside only' play to prevent any broken crockery!
16. Bubbles
Who doesn't like bubbles?!
Add these party favourites to the bag and watch as kids – and adults – take turns blowing the biggest bubbles.
The added bonus is that older children will chase them while babies will stare at bubbles in curious bewilderment.
17. Playdough
Playdough is one activity children never seem to get bored of. From throwing it around like it's a frisbee to creating abstract pieces of art, this is a winner game for all kids.
It's not only a fun activity though, as it's also good for children's motor skill development.
Plus, it strengthens muscle tone in little hands.
You can even save money by making your own. Learn how to make your own playdough here .
This Play-Doh mega pack comes with 36 different dough colours for little ones to experiment with. You can get it at Amazon for £19.99 .
18. Balloons
What's not to love about balloons? They float, bounce, are colourful and keep the kids entertained for ages.
You can't have a kids' party without them and kids love hitting them across the room, creating their own games.
Plus, once the party is over you could tie the balloons to their party bags when the kids are ready to leave.
19. Stickers
Stickers are one sticky treat that doesn't leave loads of mess to clean up after.
There's something oddly satisfying about peeling them and sticking them onto just about anything, too.
Plus, we all know kids love stickers, which makes you the best parent in the world!
20. Pound Shop purchase
Pop along to your nearest pound shop for some party bag filler gift inspiration.
From toy helicopters and packs of cars to stuffed dolls and key chains, there's a little something for kids of all ages.
Plus, you'll be surprised by how much you can get by just spending £1 per child.
21. Hot chocolate
If the weather is a little dreary and you're not sure what 'sweet' thing to include in the gift bag, consider hot chocolate.
Make up a sweetie cone using cellophane and, instead of sweets, fill it with hot chocolate powder and top it with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips.
Write a tag explaining to add one tablespoon to a cup of warm milk, add the sprinkles and enjoy!
Don't forget to buy a big tub of hot chocolate powder. We love this one from Cadbury that can be bought at Amazon for £7.49 .
Don't forget to bulk buy your toppings! This 1kg mini marshmallow pack is just what you need and you can get it at Amazon for £7.69 .
22. Colouring books
Colouring books are always handy for kids to have stashed somewhere – in the car, backpack, at grandma's ...
They come in about a million different themes too, from gardens to Spiderman.
Add crayons if you're feeling generous!
Or simply print out some of our free colouring pages for kids !
23. Nail varnish
Mini bottles of kids nail varnish make a great party bag filler. They're particularly fitting if you're having a pamper party .
24. Medals and trophies
Who doesn't love getting a medal to show off their successes?
Give your kids' friends their very own awards to take home for being great friends to your child.
If you're feeling extra generous, personalise them with their names printed on the front.
25. A pet
We all know kids love cuddly toys, so why not grab a stack of stuffed animals from the Pound Shop, add a tag to each one's collar.
As the kids leave the party, you could allow each child to choose what to call their new 'pet' and write its name on it.
Just be sure to get small enough cuddly toys to fit into your party bags ...
26. Footballs
Mini footballs are perfect for a party bag.
There are so many different games kids can play with them, from catch to juggling.
It also means encourages kids to spend time outside. Win!
This 12-piece pack comes with a variety of soft foam sponge footballs, basketballs, baseballs, tennis and soccer balls and you can find it at Amazon for £10.59 .
27. Water bottle
Kids are never without their own water bottle these days, whether it's for school use or home, and every household could do with a spare.
Buy a colourful one to match the party theme, or just different colours – any kind will be handy and well used!
See our pick of the best kids' water bottles that don't leak.
28. Lucky dip
Let's be honest, as kids we ALL loved sticking our hand into a bag to pick some exciting, unknown gift out.
So, instead of giving out party bags, try making a lucky dip of little gifts for the kids.
They'll be so excited to pick their own that they won't even mind what it is!
29. Hair accessories
Slides, bobbles and hair bands make great party bag fillers and you can guarantee they'll come in handy for your guests, too.
To reduce costs, buy multipacks of hair accessories and split them up so each child gets one each.
30. Tiaras and crowns
If your party has a princess theme, tailor your goody bags to match. Tiaras, crowns and wands are all good ideas.
31. Water pistols
Ideal for a summer party, buy some mini water pistols for your party bags. If you want, give them to the kids a bit earlier and let them have a water fight to cool down.
Just make sure their outdoors and no special party outfits get ruined.
32. Toy cars
Toy cars are relatively inexpensive and you can easily pick them up at the supermarket or order online.
A small car is definitely going to get played with so pop one in your bags for your guests.
33. A whoopee cushion
A whoopee cushion is never not funny. Kids will love slipping them under each others bums and playing tricks on their parents when they get home.
Other joke shop finds will go down well, too.
More on parties
If you're hosting a kids' party, you're probably planning on giving your guests a party bag to take home.
Party bags are a little gift to say thank you for coming and are a nice way to remind kids what fun they had. But knowing what to put in a party bag without spending a fortune can be tricky.
Before you start planning your party bags, here are a few things to consider:
How much do you want to spend on party bags?
It's easy to get carried away when shopping for party bag fillers so set a budget per head and stick to it!
As a general rule, the more kids you have at a party, the less people are going to expect you to spend on gift bags.
Make sure you add the price of party bags into your overall party budget so you're not left with additional costs once you've paid for entertainment , food and prizes for games .
If you want to keep costs down, there are plenty of bargains to be had when you bulk buy low-price items at supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco. Shops like Poundland and 99p shops can be an amazing place to find cheap bulk buys and original party bag ideas.
Hobbycraft also has some fun, crafty items that kids will love and, importantly, won't break the bank.
If budget is really tight, don't stress, most kids will be perfectly happy with a slice of birthday cake, a balloon and some sweets!
What age kids are your party bags for?
Are you creating party bags for toddlers, five year olds or tweens? Make sure you choose party bag fillers that are age appropriate.
Check any items for age guidelines and safety warnings if you're buying for younger kids – particularly if you're making party bags for two or three year olds, as anything you put in there is bound to make its way into their mouths!
What can I give instead of party bags?
While lots of people give out party bags at the end of a get-together, that doesn't mean you have to. There are plenty of alternatives to party bags for kids.
Gifts like a cone of sweets, giant bubble wand or helium balloon will go down well with younger children. Older kids will love grow-your-own kits and journals.
You can even make gifts yourself by creating a certificate of attendance themed to match your party, or taking polaroids during the party and putting them in a small frame for kids to take home.
Alternatively, why not set up a crafting table during the party and have the kids make their very own keepsakes? Friendship bracelets, decorated photo frames, jewellery, bookmarks, slime... there are loads of simple and easy crafts for kids that make great gifts, too.
The kids'll have fun making them, and will love swapping them with their friends, or taking their own handicrafts home, for a truly special and original memento of the party.
How much time do you want to spend?
If you don't want to spend time trawling the shops for party bag fillers, you don't have to! You can buy pre-filled party bags online.
From cheaper options containing toys and sweets to more bespoke bags based on age or party theme such as Peppa Pig, Harry Potter, or a dinosaur or unicorn party, check sites such as Etsy and specialist party supplies shops.
There are plenty of plastic-free options for an eco-friendly party , and sweet-free options if you prefer to keep things healthy, too.
What kind of bags do you want to use?
You can buy cheap, plastic party bags in bulk, but that's not great for the environment. Why not try paper bags instead (you could even have your child personalise them by decorating them with each child's name)?
If you have a bit of extra cash, fabric bags also work well; and what's more, the kids will be able to keep and re-use them, making the bag part of the present!
Do you have any great party bag ideas, or are you looking for ideas from other parents? Join in the party bag chat in our forum, below …
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For more tips and ideas, check out our birthday planning guides by age:
1-year-old birthday • 2-year-old birthday • 3-year-old birthday • 4-year-old birthday • 5-year-old birthday • 6-year-old birthday • 7-year-old birthday • 8-year-old birthday • 9-year-old birthday • 10-year-old birthday • 11-year-old birthday • 12-year-old birthday • 13-year-old birthday • 14-year-old birthday
