What to Put in a Children's Party Bag: 20 Ideas Kids Will Actually Use
Deciding what to put in a children's party bag can be a bit of a minefield. You want to find something the kids will actually play with long after the cake has been eaten and everyone has gone home and ideally something their parents won't mind either. After all, the last thing most parents want is another bag full of plastic tat!
Finding party bag fillers that are fun, affordable and a little kinder to the planet can feel like a tough brief. So, we've pulled together 20 party bag ideas that kids will actually want to use.
20 party bag filler ideas kids will actually use
A little note on sustainability: Not every idea in this guide is completely plastic-free. We've included a mixture of options because we believe choosing things children will genuinely use and enjoy is important too. Look out for the 🌍 symbol for our plastic-free picks.
1. Stickers 🌍
Kids of all ages love stickers! They're a brilliant party bag filler because they can carry the party theme through into the take-home gift, or even become the main party bag activity themselves.
At Little Green Vibes, our eco-friendly party bag stickers are colourful, fun and full of vibrant characters, with themes including dinosaurs, unicorns, diggers, mermaids and more.
2. Temporary tattoos
Temporary tattoos are small, inexpensive and easy to match to your party theme. We love Meri Meri's beautiful designs, with plenty of fun options to choose from.
3. Colouring pencils
A little set of colouring pencils is a great party bag staple, especially when paired with a colouring activity. Our favourites are the tubes of colouring pencils from REX London, which come in lots of different themes.
4. Colouring activities 🌍
A crowd favourite with both kids and parents: creative, mess-free and potentially 20 minutes of quiet time after the party!
At Little Green Vibes, we have nine colouring postcards to choose from, which pair perfectly with the colouring pencil sets mentioned above.
5. Books 🌍
Books are always a crowd favourite with parents and are a lovely, long-lasting party bag gift. They can be enjoyed again and again long after the party is over.
The Works is well known for its children's book multi-buy offers, which can make books a surprisingly affordable option when you're buying for a group.
We've also written a separate guide to our favourite book party bag fillers if you need more inspiration.
READ: BOOK PARTY BAG FILLERS
6. Toy cars
If it fits your party theme, a small toy car can be a brilliant party bag filler. Hot Wheels cars or small pull-back vehicles are easy to pop into a bag and can provide hours of play after the party. Pop in a sheet of Car stickers too bulk out the party bag.
7. Seeds 🌍
A packet of seeds is a lovely eco-friendly option and gives children an activity to continue at home.
We especially like the Mr. Men and Little Miss seed packets, which add a fun, colourful twist and make growing something feel that little bit more exciting.
8. A helium balloon
A simple helium balloon is always a hit, especially with younger children. Choose one that fits your party theme and tie on a beautiful ribbon or thank-you card for a personalised finishing touch.
It also means you can skip filling a traditional party bag altogether.
9. Cake wrapped in a themed napkin
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the nostalgic option of sending every guest home with a slice of birthday cake.
Wrap it in a fun themed napkin to make it feel extra special. We love Meri Meri's napkins for their gorgeous designs, prints and bright colours.
10. Slap bands
Another nostalgic favourite, particularly with younger children.
My son is still playing with a Superhero slap band weeks after receiving it at a party, which is always a good sign that a party bag filler has passed the test!
11. Make-your-own craft kits 🌍
For crafty kids, a small make-your-own activity can make a lovely party bag gift.
Think bracelet-making kits, make-your-own necklaces or decorate-your-own peg dolls. They're fun, creative and give children something to do when they get home.
12. Personalised key rings
If you're hosting a smaller party and your budget can stretch a little further, a personalised keyring can feel really special.
We love the bespoke key rings from Rosie Meringue. They're personalised for each child and almost feel like a little birthday gift in their own right.
13. Pick 'n' mix sweets
A small bag of sweets is always going to be popular.
You could create your own pick 'n' mix station and let children fill a bag themselves during the party, or prepare little sweet bags in advance.
Just make sure anything you choose is age-appropriate and check for allergies before handing them out.
14. Baking kits
Craft & Crumb's baking kits make a brilliant party bag gift. They offer everything from cookies to cakes, with lots of different themes available.
You can even personalise some kits with the birthday child's name, which is a lovely finishing touch.
15. Sticker & Colouring Activity Packs 🌍
Why not skip the traditional party bag altogether and hand out one themed activity pack instead?
At Little Green Vibes, we've created Sticker & Colouring Activity Packs containing two sticker sheets, a colouring activity, a postcard and a themed scene for children to decorate with their stickers.
It's one complete activity rather than a bag full of little items — and something children can actually sit down and enjoy after the party.
SHOP STICKER & COLOURING ACTIVITY PACKS
16. Re-home a bear
This has to be one of the sweetest party bag ideas.
Each child gets to choose or "rehome" their own little teddy to take home after the party. It works particularly well for a teddy bear's picnic-themed celebration and can become an activity during the party as well as the take-home gift.
We love this idea so much that it deserves a separate post of its own.
READ: HOW TO CREATE A REHOME-A-BEAR PARTY FAVOUR
17. A stationery bundle
A little stationery bundle can be both fun and useful.
Try combining a themed pencil with sticky notes, an eraser or a roll of washi tape. We love the affordable options available at Sostrene Grene that have lots of playful designs that work beautifully for party bags.
18. Bubbles
Bubbles are a party bag classic for a reason. They're inexpensive, easy to hand out and almost always a hit with younger children.
We love these themed bubble wands especially if you want to match them to the rest of the party.
19. Nail stickers
Nail stickers are another fun little activity and can be a great option for children who enjoy decorating and dressing up.
REX London has some lovely designs that feel a little more special than a standard novelty party bag filler.
20. Bookmarks 🌍
A bookmark is a simple, useful party bag gift that can be enjoyed again and again.
We particularly like the make-your-own bookmark kits from Baker Ross, which combine a little craft activity with something children can actually use afterwards.
How many items should you put in a party bag?
When it comes to party bags, we're big believers in quality over quantity.
It's also lovely when the contents have a little nod to the party theme. We think 2–3 well-chosen items is usually plenty particularly if they're things children will genuinely use after the party.
You definitely don't need to fill a bag with ten different things for it to feel special.
How much should you spend on party bags?
There's no right answer here. It depends on your budget, the age of the children and how many guests you're inviting.
As a rough guide, £2–£5 per child can be plenty for a lovely party bag.
If you're hosting a smaller group, you might decide to spend a little more and choose one personalised or higher-value gift instead, such as the key rings mentioned above.
What can I use instead of a traditional party bag?
You don't actually need a party bag at all.
One larger or more substantial gift can work really well and often means less packaging and fewer throwaway items.
A book is a lovely example. It feels like a proper gift, can often be bought affordably in a multi-buy and can be enjoyed long after the birthday celebrations are over.
You could also hand out a single activity, craft kit, balloon or slice of birthday cake with a personalised thank-you tag.
Our Little Green Vibes Sticker & Colouring Activity Packs are designed with exactly this in mind. Each themed pack can be handed directly to a child as their take-home gift, so there's no need to add another party bag or lots of extra fillers.
SHOP STICKER & COLOURING ACTIVITY PACKS
Final thoughts
The best party bags don't have to be the biggest or the most expensive.
Choosing a few thoughtful fillers that children will genuinely play with, read, make or use can make the party bag feel much more special — while helping to cut down on the pile of forgotten plastic toys that inevitably ends up at the bottom of the toy box.
Whether you choose stickers, a book, seeds, a craft activity or one personalised gift, fewer, better things is always a good place to start.