Party Bags | The Complete Guide - The Event Book (2024)

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No children’s birthday party would be complete without some party bags to look forward to at the end! But what should you put in a party bag? And how much should a party bag cost?

We’ve got a list of the best party bag fillers, from classic ideas to unique suggestions. Read on to find out how much to spend, where to buy everything and how to make party bags on a budget! These ideas work for a range of ages and are sure to impress your guests.

Take a look at ourultimate children’s birthday partychecklist to find out everything you need to know about planning a kid’s party. And don’t forget to check out the best15 children’s party ideas!

You should always consider your party theme when choosing your party bag fillers and packaging. Themed party bags are a great way to finish off the party and give the kid’s a cool present to take home.

So what are some popular kid’s party themes and how can you incorporate them into your party bags? Here’s some children’s party themes to get you started and some party bag fillers that work really well!

• Pirate party: pirate hat, black eye patch, gold coins
• Princess: princess party wand, pearl bracelets, tiara
• Sports: mini foam football, medal, mini trophy
• Jungle: animal mask, small cuddly animal toy, face paint
• Superheroes: superhero mask, comic book
• Unicorn: bubble wands, unicorn toy, sparkly slime

It can be a good idea to fill your party bags with some tried and tested classic ideas that you know your child’s friends will love. Here are our list of the 10 best classic party bag fillers and ideas!

Stationary:Rubbers, pencils and notebooks are classic party bag fillers that might not sound too exciting, but they don’t have to be boring either! You’ll find loads of fun themed stationary party bag fillers online. They’re great low-cost options, and classics for a reason!

Mini games and puzzles:Mini maze games, jigsaws and puzzle watches make great party bag fillers. Little brain teaser games can keep children entertained long after the party is over. Just make sure the pieces aren’t too small!

Cups and Straws: Keep to the theme with some curly straws and cups that the kid’s keep for the party and take with them at the end. These aren’t the cheapest on the list but are a practical yet fun option.

Arts and Crafts: These make a really cute party bag filler and are brilliant for keeping children entertained on rainy days. You can purchase kits that are the perfect size for party bags. But just make sure they are age-appropriate and avoid small pieces.

Face Paints: This is a great idea for parties that have a jungle or zoo theme, but can work well for any children’s party. Just make sure there are no allergies you need to be aware of first.

Books: Colouring books and story books are perfect party bag fillers. They’re not too cheap but can be bought in bulk and are sure go down a treat at any children’s birthday party.

Cuddly Toys: Soft plush toys make for an amazing party bag filler for a range of age groups. They can be really cheap to buy in selection packs and the kid’s will enjoy having their own unique toy to take home with them.

Stickers: These are really cheap to buy and can be a brilliant filler to bulk out your party bags. They’re also a great option for themed parties are there are plenty of options out there to suit any type of party.

Bookmarks: This is a great idea if you’ve chosen a book franchise for your party theme. They’re super cheap, so perfect for smaller budgets.

Bouncy balls: Another excellent budget option that keeps kid’s entertained for ages. Just be careful not to put them in party bags for younger children and choose larger bouncy balls to be on the safer side.

As well as adding some classic party bag fillers, it can be a great idea to have some alternative ideas too! Here is our list of the best unusual party bag fillers that will go down great at a kid’s party!

Sports Games: Soft small foam footballs, frisbees and Yo Yo’s are great cheap alternative party bag fillers. They’re perfect for sports themed parties and can be bought in selection packs.

T-Shirts: Kid’s can create their own design using a blank t-shirt either at the end of the party or at home. It’s a unique party filler idea that kid’s really enjoy. Personalised t-shirts are also a great gift to take home.

Flower Pots: Giving your guests a little flower pot and seed to grow their own plant is a great unique idea for a party bag filler. It’s not the cheapest idea, but definitely bulks out the party bag.

Squishes: These are super-cute party bag fillers that are really cheap when bought in packs. There are loads of different kinds so you’ll have no trouble finding some to suit the theme!

Slime: It’s all the rage recently and is a really fun party bag idea. There’s plenty of colours to choose from so you can get an assortment to keep it interesting.

Baking Kits: Miniature baking kits are a great party bag option that can provide plenty of entertainment after the party. They’re great for getting the family involved in a fun activity, just watch out for any allergies.

Paint-By-Numbers: A paint by number kit is a great unique party bag idea that provides the perfect rainy-day activity. Pick a picture that matches your theme for added party bag bonus points!

Planes, trains and cars: Model trains planes and cars are great little gifts that are perfect for party bags. They can be bought in selection packs to keep the cost low.

Water Balloons: This is a really fun one for older children’s party bags. Kid’s will love this idea for summer parties and it’s a super-cheap party bag filler idea.

Costume Jewellery: A perfect option for a princess party. Bracelets are perfect for older children, just be careful they aren’t too small and won’t be choking hazards.

There are plenty of cheap party bag ideas to choose from to make sure your party doesn’t go over budget. Our favourite cheap party bag ideas are: stickers, bookmarks, squishies, stationary and face masks.

You can also purchase pre-made party bags which have a good selection of fillers. Buying these in bulk is the best way to keep the cost down and is an easy way of sorting everything out.

If you’re purchasing your party bag fillers seperately, check out your local party store for cheap ideas. There are plenty of party bag supplies on Ebay and Amazon too. Just remember that you don’t need to spend loads. They are after all, only a small component of your party. The children will most often appreciate any gift that they can take home with them. So don’t stress if you have a small budget! And don’t forget to check out our quick budget party planning tips!

Shindigz is a great online party supply store that you can use to find great party bag ideas with over 34,000 party supplies for every occasion and next day delivery!

There are tonnes of options for packaging your party bag fillers. The classic choice is a small plastic bag. Everywhere sells them so they are really easy to find. They’re also really cheap to buy in packs and there’s loads of colours and style options. If you want something eco-friendly, go for small paper bags. They’re also very cheap, and sometimes even less expensive than plastic party bags. But the main bonus is that they’re recyclable.

If you want to be a bit original, try and pick some party bag packaging that ties in with the theme. A cardboard treasure box is a great idea for a pirate themed children’s party. Or get a little bucket and spade set from your local pound store if you’ve gone for a beach party theme. You can pack it with your party bag fillers, but its also a cute gift too! Keepsake tins are also a great option for older children. They’re a lovely gift to take home and can be filled with small party bag items. You can also get some personalised tins if you want something a bit more special

So should you put sweets and chocolate in a party bag? There’s no doubt that candy is a great low-cost party bag filler that kid’s usually love. But we don’t think it’s the best idea for a party bag filler. There are loads of other classic and alternative options that we think kid’s love more than sweets. After all, parents can buy candy and chocolate for their children anytime.

Food can be a risky choice because some parents might not like their child being given sugary snacks. You also have to be really careful about any allergies your guests might have. So although sweets have been a staple in party bags since they were created, we think you should be more original! So include some of our classic and unusual party bag fillers that we mentioned earlier instead.

There’s no denying that party bags are a great gift for the kids to take home after a really fun party. There are loads of options which can tie in with a theme to create an amazing party for your child and their friends. They also act as a little thank you to the guests that is often very appreciated. But they can definitely add to the cost of the party. They’re also only worth doing if the items in them are actually good. Otherwise they’ll just end up in the bin a few hours or days after your child’s party.

So should you ditch the party bag tradition? It honestly depends on your budget. It’s much better to prioritise things like the entertainment and decorations over party bags. So if your budget doesn’t stretch to it, then don’t worry! The kid’s will enjoy the party with or without party bags, so they’re definitely not essential! But if you have plenty of cash to spend, party bags are always a great addition to any children’s party.