Sending kids home with some goopy DIY silly slime they made is always a hit! Photo by Ally Noel

Make and Take Goody Bags  

Plan an arts and crafts project for the party, and have the children take home their creations—party activity and party favor in one fell swoop!  Another option is to send kids home with a follow-up craft such as a recipe attached to a cute cookie cutter or rolling pin.

• Picture frames (include a group photo to remember the day by)
• Tie-dyed shirts or pillowcases
• Fairy wings
• DIY silly slime
• Popsicle stick monsters

Book Goody Bags 

Books are great keepsakes and can be a terrific way to tie in the party’s theme, too. Another idea: ask your guests to bring a copy of their favorite book to the party and organize a swap in lieu of favors, or donate everything to a book drive.

• Mr. Men and Little Miss Books are timeless books that delight kids in deciding who should get which book
• Little Golden Books cover a variety of topics and are affordable 
• Coloring books with a pack of crayons 
• Customize book favors with a sticker or stamp that says “From the Library of ________ “ 
• A pack of stickers with a sticker book 
• Mad Libs come in almost any theme to complement your party

RELATED: 100 Classic Toys for Kids

 
Throwback to the toys of your own childhood. Photo courtesy of the Neoact store on Amazon

Flashback Goody Bags 

Everything old is new again! Redefine the goody bag "classics” by introducing them to the next generation of partygoers. 

• Squirt toys 
• Whistles 
• Fidget spinners
• Mini board games
• Travel puzzles
• Mini Rubik's Cubes 
• Silly Putty
• Invisible ink books
• Yo-yos 
• Slinkys 
• Mood rings
• Mini Frisbees 
• Trolls dolls 
• Mini erasers 
• Bouncy balls 
• Jump rope 

RELATED: Irresistible Dessert Board Recipes for Kids

Kids will have fun making these kits to give friends to take home.

Edible Goody Bags 

The way to any kid’s heart is through their stomach. These delicious treats can be wrapped up in a favor bag and sent home with your guests. They're sweet enough to please kids, but manage to avoid Halloween or Easter levels of mainlining sugar that parents hate. Sugar cookies or caramel apples can be made at the party and taken home to enjoy later.

• S’more kits  
• Caramel apples 
• Cotton candy 
• Gourmet popcorn
• Doughnuts 
• Decorative sugar cookies 

Gift Card Goody Bags 

This is a great way to support local businesses. Consider doling out gift cards to a neighborhood toy store or restaurant as a way to say “thank you for coming to my party.”  It’s easy to match the party theme to a gift card favor. 

• Ice cream gift card 
• Movie ticket gift card 
• Gaming gift card
• Streaming apps gift card 
• Toy store gift card

Environmentally Friendly Goody Bags

Traditional goody bags are filled with so much plastic and single-use stuff that just gets tossed in the trash. When it comes to goody bags, try to think green and have fun with some of these earth-friendly ideas. 

• Easy to care for plants like succulents, cacti, and air plants  
• Build a bouquet to take home
• Give packets of seeds with a small pot (and a baggie of dirt, to make things really easy!)
• Homemade recycled crafts 
• Seed bombs

Homemade Goody Bags 

If you're crafty, make party favors by hand to add a personal touch to the celebration. 

• Homespun crayons
• Friendship bracelets
• Playdough
• Rubber stamps 
• Dream catchers 
• Ornaments for the holiday season

RELATED: How to Plan a Kids' Birthday Party

These goody bags will get loads of use all summer long. Photo by Ally Noel

Seasonal Goody Bags 

When it comes to thinking outside the box for favors, it really helps to sync with the seasons. Winter, spring, summer, or fall—all of the seasons lend themselves to the perfect goody bag. If your buddy was born in the winter, consider putting together a winter survival pack, or a pail filled with flip flops and sunglasses for summer days. 

• Bubble wands 
• Sidewalk chalk 
• Sporting equipment
• Hats 
• Gloves 
• Scarves 
• Beach toys 
• Towels
• Flip flops 
• Sunglasses 

Donations for a Charitable Cause

Include a little thank-you note with a brief description of the charity you've donated to in the names of each partygoer, and attach it to a balloon or lollipop. There are lots of organizations to pick from that cater to kids. 

• The Birthday Party Project raises funds for homeless children to celebrate their birthday 
• Gifted allows guests to donate to a cause that is meaningful to them 
• That’s Caring offers products that support children in need across the country  
• Rescue Chocolates raise funds for dog rescues nationwide

RELATED: Outdoor Party Games for Kids' Birthdays at Home

What better way to remember a party than with a personalized keepsake, made with love?

Personalized Goody Bags 

This is the perfect way to get the birthday boy or girl involved—even little ones can help by picking their favorite songs for a party-packed playlist to send their squad home with. Add a personalized touch to each favor by adding initials with stencils, stickers, or even iron-on patches. 

• Make a mix tape /Spotify playlist/iTunes gift cards 
• Chef hats and aprons 
• Tote bags 
• Customized coloring books or sheets 
• Name bracelets 

A version of this article first published in 2014, and is updated periodically

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