Most party bag ideas end up as the same handful of plastic bits that break in the car and get quietly binned by Monday. Parents know it, and honestly so do the children.
The good news is that better party bags don't have to cost more. Often it's about buying one decent thing rather than six rubbish ones. Here are ideas sorted by budget, from the thriftiest to a little more generous.
The one good thing approach
Our favourite tip: skip the bag of bits and give one useful thing. A book, a pack of seeds, a nice pencil set. Add a slice of birthday cake wrapped in a napkin and you're done.
It's less work to put together, there's less rubbish, and parents tend to appreciate it. Children like it too, as long as the one thing is something they'd actually want.
Charity shops and book swaps can be a goldmine for nearly new children's books, especially if you start collecting a few weeks before the party.
Party bag ideas on a tight budget
Keeping costs low is completely fine, and nobody is comparing. The trick is choosing things that get used rather than things that fill space.
- A slice of cake and a homemade biscuit
- Packet of seeds, such as sunflowers or cress, with a little pot
- A colouring sheet and a couple of crayons
- Bubbles (always popular with under fives)
- Chalk for drawing on the pavement
- A sticker sheet linked to the party theme
Mid range ideas
With a bit more to spend per bag, you can pick things that last longer and feel like a proper present.
- A paperback book, picked for the age group
- Play dough in a reusable tub
- A notebook and a nice pen or gel pens
- A small puzzle or card game
- A craft kit, like a bead bracelet or keyring set
- A skipping rope or a ball
If you'd like to spend a bit more
Some parents like to make the party bag the gift. If that's you, choose something lasting rather than lots of little things.
- A hardback picture book or a first chapter book
- A simple magic trick set, perfect after a magic show
- A water bottle or lunchbox with their name on
- A plant in a pot they can look after
- A small art set with proper pencils
Ideas by age
For toddlers and under threes, avoid small parts completely, as they're a choking risk. Bubbles, board books and chunky crayons are safe bets.
Five to eight year olds love anything they can use straight away: stickers, small puzzles, joke books and magic tricks. Older children prefer things that feel grown up, like a notebook, a fancy pen or a voucher for something like a hot chocolate.
Theme your bags without the plastic
If there's a party theme, link the bag to it in simple ways. A dinosaur party could give out a dinosaur book. A magic party could send everyone home with a single trick to practise. A space party could give a glow in the dark star sticker set.
Paper bags with the child's name written on are cheaper and nicer than plastic ones. Children love seeing their own name.
Let the entertainment do some of the work
Here's a thing a lot of parents don't think of. If your entertainer does balloon modelling, every child usually goes home holding a balloon animal or sword, and that becomes the thing they're excited about. You can keep the party bag very simple.
Prizes from games help too. Most of our entertainers bring small prizes for the winners, so children go home with something already. Ask what's included when you book, and if you're still deciding, a kids party magician is a lovely fit for a party where the bag has a small magic trick in it.
A few practical tips
Write names on the bags and keep them by the door, so you can hand them out as children leave rather than mid party. Check for allergies before adding sweets. And make one or two spare bags in case a sibling turns up unexpectedly. They often do.
If you're short on time, don't stress about bags at all. A balloon from the entertainer and a slice of cake wrapped in a napkin will send every child home happy, and their parents will thank you for the lack of clutter.