10 Goodie Bag Ideas for Kids Birthday Parties

Crafty Goodie Bags

If your little one loves arts and crafts, creating a goodie bag that reflects that is a fun way to theme the party favors. For a craft-themed bag, think items like coloring books, boxes of crayons, colored pencils and stickers.

Does the birthday fall near a holiday? Seasonal craft kits allow the children to make decorations for the event. Alternatively, you can make take-home jewelry kits by putting together small bags of beads and adding some elastic for a bracelet or necklace.

If the party itself involves arts and crafts, your gift bags can also piggy-back on whatever the children made at the event. For instance, if it was a low-maintenance project you can include the necessary supplies and instructions; that way the guests can enjoy the project again in their own homes. Or, if there are further steps that time doesn't allow for at the party, give each child the tools to finish them up on their own.

Literary Goodie Bags

For children who are avid readers, try sharing their passion with the guests by assembling a book lover's goodie bag. Include items such as a small and inexpensive book, a reading light and a bookmark. (Bookmarks are also a good option for craft parties.) To really give the gift of reading, complete the bag with library information so everyone can get their own library card. As a bonus, literary goodie bags are likely to be a hit with parents as well.

Another spin on this idea is to try using one of your child's favorite books as a theme for the bag. Borrowing details such as special foods and notable characters gives lots of room for imagination—your little one could certainly be of help in that regard.

Seasonal Gift Bags

An idea that's always fun and relevant is choosing a seasonal theme for your gift bags.

If your child has a summer birthday, for example, then their party favors can center on warm weather activities. This type of goodie bag is especially fitting if the party itself is something season-specific, such as a day by the pool or a trip to the beach.

Start with beach pails, which you can use as bags to hold all the rest of the items. Then, add in a colorful beach ball, as well as other small water toys like squirt guns or dive toys. Be sure to include sunscreen so everyone can safely enjoy the sunshine. Also, consider adding a pair of flip-flops or sunglasses as a summer party favor to top off the look.

If your little one has a spring birthday, make your party favor a gift that keeps on giving by including a small pot with seeds. The pot functions as the bag itself, while inside you can place seeds to grow flowers, herbs, fruits and veggies. Throughout the coming months, the children can enjoy watching their plants grow—and maybe they'll even end up with something tasty to eat.

You can also use the warmer weather as inspiration for fun outdoor presents like kites, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, pinwheels or frisbees.

Winter birthdays, meanwhile, can offer cozy gift bags that embrace the season—think packets of hot chocolate mix in an affordable mug, or candy canes if the birthday falls near the holidays. Instructions for making paper snowflakes will also keep the children entertained during the colder days.

For fall birthdays, season-specific food is a good way to give your goodie bags an autumnal touch. Treats like caramel apples and candy corn are sure to itch the kids' sweet-tooths, while pumpkin-flavored items are another option for something less dessert-ey.

Movie Gift Bags

For parties that involve going to see a movie in theaters or in your home, this is a go-to goodie bag idea to keep with the party theme. Pick up some paper popcorn bags to hold your party favors, or, if you want to go for a fancier option, you can find reusable plastic popcorn containers.

Inside, add a bag of microwave popcorn, some boxes of your child's favorite movie candy and a juice box. If the movie you watch at the party is particularly well-known, finish off the assortment with something specific to that film—stickers of the characters is one fun and creative option.

Outdoors Camping Party Favors

For birthday children who love nature, put together a fun outdoorsy goodie bag. These fit nicely with birthday parties themed around camping or similar activities out in nature.

In terms of camping-themed treats, s'mores scream the great outdoors like no other food. Making s'mores kits with graham crackers, marshmallows and a chocolate bar is as cute as it is delicious. In addition to this, or as an alternative, try including homemade trail mix. Attaching a label that says something like "Happy Trails" can add even more charm to the idea. Be sure to check whether any guests have nut allergies, however, as trail mix traditionally includes peanuts, almonds and other nuts. Letting the kids craft their own mix by setting up a "trail mix bar" is one option for accommodating allergies.

Aside from tasty treats, small items like flashlights, carabiners and compasses can prepare attendees for more outdoor adventures. Including small books about local birds, fish or other animals is another good way to get the youngsters interested in nature.

Tween Party Favors

If your daughter is getting closer to her preteen years, her goodie bags can include more mature items like a pair of socks, nail polish or lip gloss. These items tie in well with a spa-themed birthday party. You can also add a small containers of scented bath products.

For your son, try including a cool old-fashioned bottle of soda in a glass container. Add some gum and other snacks that feel a little more grown-up. To really get a laugh from your guests, throw in some silly pranks like a whoopie cushion or fake nose and glasses disguise.

Music Lovers Party Bag

If your child is musically minded, one fun gift bag idea is to help your child pick out some of their favorite songs and create a digital playlist. Play their chosen music throughout the event or let the little ones engage in a group dance party. Either way, include a list of the tunes in their party favors, so they can continue the fun at home.

For a retro touch, consider burn mixed CDs for all the birthday guests. You can even design your own CD cases, print labels and write on the top of the disc itself to give each one a personalized touch. Adding notes about the songs in the gift bags can give the gesture a handmade charm.

To allow each attendee to make some music of their own, add small instruments like kazoos, harmonicas, recorders or other noise makers to the bag. Or, if those sound a little bit too loud, inflatable instruments like guitars are a safe pick.

Animal Lover Party Bag

For a group of animal lovers, let each child “adopt” a small stuffed animal to take home. You can even print off adoption certificates to make the kids feel extra special.

Then, add some of your favorite animal shaped snacks or candies to complete the bag. Make a cute “doggy bag” label for your favors to keep with the animal theme.

Sporty Gift Bag

If your child is an athlete or big sports fan, try and find something related to their sport of choice that fans and non-fans alike will appreciate. Mini soccer balls and footballs are fun and simple options, especially fitting for spring and summer birthdays when guests can go use them in the sun. Items like finger footballs also appeal to guests who don't care as much for sports.

Another option is to include sports-related food items that everyone can enjoy. For example, try replicating a baseball game with your goodie bags by including Cracker Jacks, peanuts and mini helmets to use as ice cream bowls (from your child's favorite team, of course).

Future Foodies Goodie Bag

If your little one loves to cook or bake, send your guests home with a simple treat they can bake themselves. Brownies or cookies in a jar is a sweet and stress-free option.

Find a set of mason jars and decorate them with stickers or labels of your own. Then fill the jars with layers of all the ingredients needed to make the treats, add some basic instructions, and every guest is ready to bake. Alternatively, if you like baking yourself, then you and your child can make something together and gift it to all of the party's attendees. There are few gift bag items that have a more personal touch.

Or, for something more low-maintenance, simply gather some of your child's favorite snacks and send everyone home with something tasty to munch on. You can also let the guests choose for themselves by creating a mini candy bar. Give every child a bag and they can pick which candies to bring home with them.