When it comes to party favors for kids, candy is a go-to solution, but it\u2019s not always the most fun, most thoughtful, or the most appropriate, especially given today\u2019s wide range of food allergies and dietary concerns. So just what birthday party favors should you consider when looking for a way to thank your guests for coming? Something non-food and affordable. Like these seven party items:<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re hosting a birthday party based around a theme, give kids party favors that reinforce it. For princess parties, think classic fairytale books. For a superhero party, go with comics. And for a pure play party (one with no theme), hand out activity or coloring books and crayons or colored pencils. This way, the kids can continue the fun once they\u2019re back home.<\/p>\n
Give your guests a gift that celebrates the season. For instance, if you\u2019re hosting an autumn birthday party, give them a mini pumpkin, for winter, consider a special cocoa packet and mug, in the spring, give them each a packet of seeds that they can use to grow their own fruits, veggies or flowers, and for summer, give them party items they can use at the park, beach or pool.<\/p>\n
No matter what the season may be, kids love to write on chalkboards, chalkboard walls and tables, and sidewalks, so give them birthday party favors that encourage their creativity, like colorful chalks and a portable chalkboard, or just a bucket of sidewalk chalk that they can use on their front walks, driveways or sidewalks. If you\u2019re feeling particularly crafty, you can even decorate the buckets with ribbon, and a custom-made sticker featuring each child\u2019s monogram or name.<\/p>\n
This is particularly useful if you\u2019re hosting an all-girls tea party, slumber party, or other feminine and frilly celebration. And as far as kids\u2019 birthday party favors go, it\u2019s also one of the least expensive. Just let your little one choose a bouquet of flowers at a supermarket or flower shop, then as her guests leave let her hand a single flower out to each child. The girls can go home and enjoy flower for days, then throw them in the trash or compost once they\u2019ve wilted.<\/p>\n
It may be unconventional, but if you\u2019re hosting a small party and many of the guests are siblings (or even if they\u2019re not), you could consider giving each child (or family) a gift card to a restaurant \u2013 like a pizza place they love, a book store, an ice cream shop or another local spot where they can treat themselves to some family time.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re hosting a party and you want an organized activity for the kids to participate in, consider making the activity a crafty one. This way, the kids can make their own birthday party favors \u2013 all you\u2019ll need to do is purchase the supplies. Superhero masks, princess or wizard hats, paint-your-own pottery, jewelry making, and make-your-own modeling clay are always fun ways to pass the time and give the kids something to take home.<\/p>\n
If your child and his or her friends are active and love to play, consider picking up jump ropes, hula hoops, soccer balls, basketballs or footballs, or even just yo-yos and bubbles, and give the kids something they can enjoy outside at home \u2013 with their parents, brothers, sisters or friends. If you know each child\u2019s favorite color, you can even buy the favors according to their likes. Best of all, many of these items can be found on sale at big-box, sporting goods, and even dollar or discount stores, making them easy on your budget.<\/p>\n
Party favors for kids\u2019 parties run the gamut from simple to extreme, and while there\u2019s a movement against distributing favors and reducing waste (and clutter), most kids would still like something they can take home. So why not compromise \u2013 and give your guests something they\u2019ll use, like a gift card, book, jump rope or modeling clay? This way, you can send them home with something special that their parents will also appreciate.<\/p>\n