20 Creative Kids Party Bag Fillers Your Guests Will Love

By Stefan · 2021-09-16

Good kids party bag fillers do one job. They send every guest home happy. So the trick is not quantity, but choice: three or four things a child will actually use beat a bag stuffed with tat. This guide sits alongside our other party planning guides, and it covers 20 fillers, a budget, and the mistakes parents make most often.

Good kids party bag fillers do one job. So they send every guest home happy. However, the trick is not quantity. Instead, pick three or four things a child will actually use.

Below you will find 20 fillers, grouped by type. Also included: a budget, allergy and safety notes, plastic-free swaps, and the party bag ideas parents keep coming back to.

Kids party bag fillers work best in small, useful sets.

How to choose kids party bag fillers

First, set the age range. For example, a four-year-old and a ten-year-old want very different things. Next, look at the party theme, because one themed item pulls the whole bag together. Then think about the parents too. Of course, nobody thanks you for glitter, slime or a whistle.

So use this four-part rule, and the bag builds itself:

One keepsake, because it outlasts the day.
One activity to do at home, so parents get a quiet hour.
One small toy for the journey home. Also, keep it light.
One treat, because a single sweet is plenty.

Budget: what to put in a party bag

Most parents spend £2 to £5 on birthday party bags. However, you can spend far less without it showing. So buy in bulk, split multipacks, and put the money into one good item. For example, here is a guide for 15 guests.

Budget per bag	Total for 15 guests	What to include
£1.50	£22.50	Colouring sheet, crayons, bubble blower, one sweet
£3	£45	Short story book, seed pot, bouncy ball, one sweet
£5	£75	Craft kit, printed group photo, mini game, chocolate bar

Cheap party bag fillers under £2

Cheap party bag fillers still land well, as long as they get used. So stick to printed colouring sheets, stickers, bubbles and one sweet. Also, supermarket multipacks beat party shops on price nearly every time.

20 kids party bag fillers that get used

Keepsakes

1. Short story books. For example, charity shops sell them for pennies. Also, add a bookmark.
2. A printed group photo. So take one early, then print it during the party.
3. Glow-in-the-dark stars. Cheap and unisex. In fact, they stay on a bedroom ceiling for years.
4. A seed pot. Garden centres sell mini pots for pennies. Then add seeds, and the plant becomes the memory.

Creative party bag ideas

5. Colouring sheets. First, print your own for free. Then add a small pack of crayons.
6. A mini craft kit. For example, pom-pom animals and bead kits sit under £2.
7. Playdough. Instead of buying pots, make a batch with flour, salt and water.
8. Stickers. In fact, younger guests rate these above almost anything else.
9. Jigsaw puzzles. However, match the piece count to the age range.

Active and outdoor fillers

10. Bubble blowers. However, check the label, because some brands stain clothes.
11. Bouncy balls. Kids own ten already. Still, they want an eleventh.
12. Water pistols. So save these for a summer birthday. Also, run a water fight at the end.
13. Skipping ropes. Cheap in bulk. Also, they get used all summer.
14. Yo-yos. They suit every age. Besides, multipacks bring the price right down.

Calm-down fillers

15. Mini games. For example, snakes and ladders, a spinning top or a travel puzzle.
16. Mini torches. So keep these for a sleepover. Also, discount shops sell them for about a pound.
17. Hair clips or slap bands. Useful and wearable. Also, they cost very little online.

Sweet treats

18. One chocolate bar. Of course, fun size is enough after a party tea.
19. A lollipop. Simple and cheap. Also, it survives the journey home.
20. A slice of birthday cake. So wrap it well, then label it clearly.

Party bag fillers for toddlers

Party bag fillers for toddlers need a different edit. So drop the marbles, the balloons and anything with small parts. Instead, use board books, chunky crayons, bath toys and stickers. Also, check the age mark before you buy.

Allergies and toy safety

Party bags travel home unsupervised, so labelling matters. First, write the ingredients on any wrapped cake or homemade treat. Also, if a guest has an allergy, pack their bag separately and hand it to the parent. The NHS guide to food allergy explains why even a trace matters. In addition, the Food Standards Agency lists the 14 allergens you should flag.

Toys need the same care. For example, small parts choke under-threes, so check the age mark on the packaging. Balloons stay dangerous even when popped. Therefore, keep them out of bags for younger guests. RoSPA publishes clear advice on both.

Eco-friendly kids party bag fillers

Plastic tat has a short life. Fortunately, the plastic-free swaps cost about the same. So use a paper bag or a cotton drawstring pouch. Then fill it with things that last.

Seeds and a plant pot, instead of a plastic figure.
Wooden yo-yos and spinning tops. Also, they outlast moulded toys.
A book, instead of a novelty gadget.
Beeswax crayons and recycled paper. Also, skip the plastic pencil case.

Party bag mistakes to avoid

Overfilling. However, ten cheap items impress nobody, and most get binned by Monday.
Ignoring the age gap. Instead, split the bags into two piles by age.
Forgetting siblings. Also, keep two spare bags by the door.
Loose sweets. Otherwise, the bag arrives home sticky.
Leaving it to the night before. Instead, fill the bags a week early.

Let the venue do the work

Plenty of venues include birthday party bags in the package price. So before you buy anything, check what the booking already covers. For example, our guides to soft play party venues in London and the best trampoline parks for parties show what sits inside each package. If bags are covered, then top them up with one keepsake.

In short, treat kids party bag fillers as a small edit, not a shopping spree. So pick four things, check the labels, and hand them out at the door.

About the authors

Stefan

Writer — Co Founder at PartyFind

Stefan is a big kid at heart who loves a good celebration! As a Co-Founder and our resident Party Finder expert, he’s the brains behind helping you discover the coolest venues across the UK. Stefan believes every child deserves a legendary birthday, and he’s dedicated to helping parents skip the stress and go straight to the fun.