Beyond candy: party favors kids will love (& parents do too)

One of my absolute favorite parts of planning a child’s birthday party isn’t the cake or the decorations—it’s curating the party favors. There’s something so satisfying about sending little guests home with a goody bag that’s not just fun but also practical, creative, and free of the usual sugar overload.

Let’s be honest: kids are already swimming in sweets after a party. While candy may be the traditional filler, I’ve found that both kids and parents truly appreciate favors that are a little different—things they’ll actually use, play with, or enjoy for more than a few seconds.

My Party Favor Philosophy

I believe a good party favor should:

  • Spark joy or curiosity

  • Be age-appropriate and safe

  • Avoid excess sugar

Over the years, I’ve built up a “go-to” list of favor ideas that check all those boxes. And the best part? they are affordable and usually more memorable, too.

Table of contents:

  1. Frozen

  2. Tangled

  3. Toy Story

  4. Mickey Mouse / Minnie Mouse

  5. Mermaid

  6. Bluey

  7. Peppa Pig

  8. Animals

  9. Unicorn

  10. Ice Cream

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Frozen theme birthday

Tangled theme birthday

Toy Story theme birthday

Mickey Mouse / Minnie Mouse theme birthday

Mermaid theme birthday

Bluey theme birthday

Peppa Pig theme birthday

Animals theme birthday

Unicorn theme birthday

Ice cream theme birthday

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