Party planning
Children’s party bag ideas: 17 fun fillers to mix and match
See 17 fun children’s party bag fillers with pictures, prices and UK shopping links, from snacks and craft kits to tattoos and small games.
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Showing 17 of 17
Party bags are one of those small jobs that can suddenly become 20 tiny shopping decisions. Our favourite shortcut is:
Something to eat + Something to make + Something to wear + Something to play
Pick one from each section for a classic party bag. Or choose one bigger thing, add cake and call it done. There are no party-bag police.
Birthday cake absolutely counts as the edible bit. If there’s some left after Happy Birthday, pop a slice into a paper bag or cake box. Homemade cookies or fairy cakes are lovely too. Mary Berry’s butterfly cakes are still hard to beat.
If you’re adding food, use the allergy information you already have for the party. That’s the serious bit over.
The rest is designed for skimming. Every suggestion has a picture, a price and a link, so you can spot the good ones without reading an essay about raisins.
Something to eat
1
Under £10Physical giftOrganix Raisins Multipack 12 x 14g
£3.69
Best for: An easy multipack filler at about 31p per bag
Why parents might choose it: Small, sealed and easy to divide. There are twelve little boxes in the pack, so no late-night portioning session required.
2
Under £10Physical giftOrganix Strawberry & Apple Puffcorn 4 x 10g
£3.15
Best for: A fruity, individually bagged snack
Why parents might choose it: A handy little packet for party bags, with four in each multipack. It also avoids the hard kernels found in ordinary popcorn.
3
£25–£50Ages 3–12Physical giftFunfetti Biscuit Kit Party Bags, Pack of 10
£30.00
Best for: Combining something to eat and something to make
Why parents might choose it: Two parts of the formula in one bag. Each kit makes sprinkle-covered biscuits at home, and the ten-pack works out at £3 per guest.
Something to make
1
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftNinja Playdough Party Pot
£3.50
Best for: A ready-to-go creative filler for ages 3+
Why parents might choose it: A 100g pot of handmade playdough with a personalised label. It feels more substantial than a tiny sample pot and is ready to squish as soon as the bag is opened.
2
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftMake Your Own Superhero Peg Doll
£3.95
Best for: A craft that turns into a small toy
Why parents might choose it: This was one of our favourite ideas in the original list. Children choose the superhero's outfit, skin tone and hair, then the finished peg doll is ready for its first rescue mission.
3
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftDinky Doodler
£0.83
Best for: Mess-free drawing on the way home
Why parents might choose it: A pocket-sized wipe-clean drawing pad with its own pen. Scribble, swipe and start again, without crayons rolling around the bottom of the bag.
4
Under £10Physical giftTube of 12 Colouring Pencils
£1.00
Best for: A useful £1 creative filler
Why parents might choose it: Twelve short pencils in a tidy tube. Add a folded colouring sheet and you have a complete activity rather than three loose crayons heading in different directions.
5
£10–£25Ages 3–8Physical giftUsborne Sticker Dolly Dressing, 5-Book Set
£21.95
Best for: Splitting between five party bags
Why parents might choose it: Sticker books are big party-bag hits and this set gives five guests a whole book each. At £4.39 per book, it can replace several smaller fillers.
Something to wear
1
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftMake Your Own Heart Bracelet
£3.95
Best for: Something to make and wear
Why parents might choose it: Another useful two-for-one. The metal-tipped elastic makes the beads easier to thread, and the finished bracelet can go straight onto a wrist.
2
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftColourful Creatures Temporary Tattoos
£1.95
Best for: A small filler that comes out of the bag quickly
Why parents might choose it: Dinosaurs, unicorns and footballs all have their moment, but these cheerful animals work with almost any party. There are ten character tattoos across the two sheets.
3
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftChildren's Foldable Tiger Sunglasses
£4.95
Best for: Summer parties and instant dressing up
Why parents might choose it: Novelty sunglasses were in the original list for good reason. This tiger pair folds down small enough for a party bag and has UV400 lenses.
4
Under £10Physical giftWater-Based Children's Nail Varnish
£2.95
Best for: A colourful wearable treat
Why parents might choose it: Water-based, peelable and available in several colours. Choose the colour on the page if matching shades matters, otherwise a random one may arrive.
Something to play
1
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftMini Playing Cards
£1.25
Best for: Snap, Pairs and games invented on the spot
Why parents might choose it: A full pack in a tiny box. They fit the smallest party bag and can become Snap, Pairs, Go Fish or a game whose rules change whenever someone starts losing.
2
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftLanka Kade Mystery Spinning Top
£1.80
Best for: A classic pocket-money toy for ages 3+
Why parents might choose it: Small, colourful and surprisingly competitive once several children start spinning them at once. The design is a mystery, which saves trying to make every bag identical.
3
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftSchylling Tin Yo-Yo
£3.74
Best for: Older hands ready to practise a trick or two
Why parents might choose it: A proper weighted yo-yo in one of six designs. It may take a few goes before it comes back up, which is half the point.
4
Under £10Ages 3+Physical giftGames On The Go
£2.99
Best for: Car journeys and family games
Why parents might choose it: Thirty-six double-sided cards with Mini-Snap, Rhyme Time, Name That Tune and more. A useful option when the journey home needs its own entertainment plan.
5
Under £10Physical giftLanka Kade Wooden-Handle Skipping Rope
£7.50
Best for: Giving one bigger favour instead of a filled bag
Why parents might choose it: If four fillers feel like four jobs too many, one skipping rope can be the whole present. Add a slice of cake and the party bag is done.