Birthday Party Favors: 20 Ideas Kids Will Actually Keep

Personalized Water Bottles

Kids lose water bottles constantly, which means they always need new ones. A colorful, reusable bottle with their name on it becomes their new favorite accessory. Bonus: parents will actually appreciate this one.

Choose BPA-free plastic or stainless steel options with fun designs. Add each guest's name with vinyl stickers or custom printing. They'll use it at school, sports practice, and playdates for months.

Mini Succulents in Decorated Pots

Give kids their first plant responsibility with tiny succulents in colorful pots. They're nearly impossible to kill, which makes them perfect for beginner plant parents.

Let kids decorate their pots with acrylic paint markers during the party. They go home with something they made themselves, plus a living thing to care for. It teaches responsibility while looking adorable on a bedroom shelf.

Custom Temporary Tattoos

Temporary tattoos featuring the birthday theme or each child's name become instant treasures. They're inexpensive, easy to customize online, and kids genuinely get excited about them.

Order sheets with the party theme, each guest's name, or fun designs related to the celebration. Kids will wear them proudly and ask for more. At pennies per tattoo, you can give each kid a whole sheet.

Art Supply Kits

A small pencil case filled with quality markers, colored pencils, or gel pens gets used immediately and repeatedly. Skip the dollar store variety and invest in supplies that actually work.

Package six to eight good markers or pencils in a clear zippered pouch. Add a small sketchpad if your budget allows. Creative kids will use these until they're completely worn down.

Glow Sticks and Glow Accessories

Kids love anything that glows. Glow stick bracelets, necklaces, and glasses create instant excitement and work especially well for evening parties.

Buy them in bulk for maximum value. Mix colors and styles so each kid can choose their favorite. They'll wear them home, use them at bedtime, and save extras for future adventures.

Seed Packets for Kid-Friendly Plants

Sunflowers, snap peas, and pumpkin seeds give kids something to grow at home. It's hands-on learning disguised as a party favor.

Choose fast-growing varieties so kids see results quickly. Attach simple growing instructions to each packet. In a few weeks, they'll have plants to show off, creating a lasting memory of the party.

Personalized Notebooks or Journals

A small notebook with each child's name on the cover becomes a diary, doodle pad, or secret keeper. Quality paper and a fun cover design make all the difference.

Choose spiral-bound notebooks with colorful covers. Add names with custom printing, stickers, or hand-lettering. Kids use these for everything from homework to treasure maps.

Bubbles in Fun Containers

Bubbles never go out of style, but the container makes them special. Skip generic bottles and choose animal-shaped containers, character designs, or wearable bubble necklaces.

Large bubble wands create impressive bubbles that kids love. Look for no-spill containers if you're sending them home in car seats. It's simple, classic, and universally loved.

Cookie Decorating Kits

Send kids home with plain cookies and small containers of frosting and sprinkles. They'll have another activity waiting at home, extending the party fun.

Package sugar cookies in clear bags with small frosting containers and sprinkle pouches. Include a plastic knife for spreading. It's a favor and an activity in one.

Friendship Bracelets

Pre-made or DIY bracelet kits work for all ages. Younger kids love wearing colorful bracelets, while older kids enjoy making their own.

For ready-made options, choose adjustable bracelets in various colors. For DIY kits, include embroidery floss, beads, and simple instructions. Either way, kids wear them until they fall apart.

Sports Balls in Miniature

Mini basketballs, soccer balls, or footballs are perfect for active kids. They're not just decorative—kids actually play with them.

Choose foam or rubber balls in fun colors. They're great for indoor and outdoor play, gentle enough for inside, and durable enough for rough play. Kids incorporate them into games immediately.

Silly Putty or Thinking Putty

Stretchy, moldable putty provides endless entertainment. Upgrade from classic silly putty to color-changing, glitter, or scented varieties for extra appeal.

Package in small tins or egg containers. Kids squeeze it, stretch it, and play with it constantly. It's quiet, mess-free (mostly), and surprisingly long-lasting.

Reading Books

Age-appropriate books make thoughtful favors that kids will return to repeatedly. Choose popular series starters, picture books, or activity books.

Match books to your party theme when possible. For mixed ages, have a few options available. Books never feel like throwaway gifts, and parents genuinely appreciate them.

Hair Accessories

Scrunchies, headbands, and colorful hair clips in party-themed colors become everyday accessories. They're practical, fun, and kids use them constantly.

Create sets with multiple pieces in coordinating colors. Package in small organza bags or clear pouches. Even kids who usually resist accessories often enjoy choosing their own pieces.

Science Experiment Kits

Small DIY slime kits, crystal-growing sets, or volcano experiments give kids educational fun at home. The activity continues long after the party ends.

Choose experiments with minimal mess and clear instructions. Package all supplies together in labeled bags. Kids love the hands-on learning, and it feels like getting a whole new activity.

Customized Stickers

Kids never have enough stickers. Custom sheets featuring the party theme, the birthday child's name, or fun designs related to the celebration become instant collectibles.

Order personalized sticker sheets online or print your own. Include a variety of sizes and designs. Kids stick them on water bottles, notebooks, laptops, and bedroom doors.

Play-Doh in Individual Containers

Small containers of Play-Doh provide hours of creative play. Choose fun colors or scented varieties for extra appeal.

Give each child two or three small containers in different colors. Add a plastic tool or cookie cutter if your budget allows. It's affordable, engaging, and parents don't mind finding it around the house.

Sidewalk Chalk

Jumbo sidewalk chalk or chalk sets in fun shapes encourage outdoor creativity. Kids use them on driveways, sidewalks, and patios until they're tiny nubs.

Choose dust-free chalk in bright colors. Package three to five pieces in clear bags tied with ribbon. It's seasonal fun that gets kids outside and active.

Reusable Snack Bags

Eco-friendly reusable snack bags in fun patterns serve a real purpose. Kids use them for school lunches, road trip snacks, and storing small treasures.

Choose washable, food-safe bags in colorful prints. Kids feel grown-up using something practical, and parents love the sustainability angle. They'll see daily use for months.

Homemade Treats in Jars

Layer cookie or brownie mix in small jars with instructions attached. Kids help their parents make treats at home, creating another shared activity.

Use small mason jars and colorful ingredients for visual appeal. Attach recipe cards with clear instructions. It's thoughtful, homemade, and delicious—everything a party favor should be.

The Bottom Line

The best party favors aren't about spending more money. They're about choosing items kids will genuinely use or enjoy beyond the first five minutes. Think useful over disposable, creative over generic, and quality over quantity.

Your guests will remember a party where they received something meaningful far longer than one where they got a bag full of plastic junk. And isn't that the whole point of celebrating together?