Ideas for Goodie Bags at a Kids Party

They’ll think they struck gold

No goodie-goodies here

By Virginia Frischkorn

You've made it this far—you hosted a kids party and you. Have. Almost. Made. It. Through. There's just one last step: the goodie bags. What if you saved yourself a step (okay, we're listening...) and switched things up from your standard pre-packed party favors?

Introducing: the goodie bag station

Effective for three reasons:

1. Save yourself one more bit of time instead of pre-stuffing bags before the party. 
2. It helps when the guest headcount changes… because last-minute RSVPs are still real
3. Kids get to fill their bags with goodies they actually want.

Genius. So here are some fun, functional ways to do it:

Goodie bag station

Give kids the gift of DIY goodie bags. Set up a table with clear bins or bowls of goodies for them to pick and choose from. The key here is to create a system that keeps it organized—because the last thing you need is a crowd of kids swarming with empty bags. If you're doing a craft-themed party, release kids in pairs or small groups to select 3–5 items from the station. One of our favorite tricks? Ask kids to take only one item per basket. That way, they can skip items they don’t want, and the most popular picks don’t run out too soon.

Ideas of goodie items:

• Candy (still a classic)
• Toy cars
• Temporary tattoos
• Stickers
• Sunglasses
• Mini notebooks
• Crayons
• Hair clips
• Bouncy balls
• Mini Slinkys
• Gooey grabbers
• Slime
• Playdough
• Mini water guns

Piñata

Doubles as entertainment and a goodie bag source. Here's the setup:

• Kids take turns swinging at the piñata.
• Once it breaks, the scramble begins!
• Everyone collects their goodies and drops them into their bags.

Simple, exciting, and mess-contained. Just make sure to clear the area before go-time.

Scavenger hunt edition

Make them work for it—in the most fun way. A goodie bag scavenger hunt adds movement and excitement to the party flow.

• Scatter goodies around the designated area—tie each with a colored ribbon to indicate they belong to the goodie bag scavenger hunt.
• Kids are released to scour the area and find items.
• As they find items, they collect items in their bags.
• Have kids trade, mix, and match after the hunt to solidify their goodie takeaways.

Pro tip: Keep a small stash of backup goodies hidden away for the kids who come up short. It’s an easy save and ensures no one leaves empty-handed.

 Not feeling the goodie bag thing? We're all about switching things up, and sending kids home with less sugar or—dare we be frank—"junk".

Alternatives to goodie bags:

• Balloons: Not that you want the other parents to hate you...but every kid does love walking home with a helium balloon floating from the ribbon in their hand.
• Picture books: Pick up from your local thrift store or $0.99 store.
• Craft: keep kids busy with a guided craft during the party. At the end of the party, their completed painted picture frame, playdough cupcake, or is theirs to keep.
• Take home activity: Give them something to keep them busy at home, like cookie cutters to use for playdough, pipe cleaners to make shapes out of, or stickers and felt pieces to arrange.
• Charity: the real ‘feel good’ moment. Pick a charity of choice and have kids draw pictures or write notes to kids in said charity. Send kids home with charity stickers or a  postcard to reflect on what they did and remind them what they were part of.

Remember, if you’re sending kids home with something, you’re already winning. Honestly, most of it might vanish under the car seat or in the toy bin by tomorrow—but if it brings joy for a moment, that’s enough. Give them a little something to smile about, and you're golden. Their bag will be full… and so will their heart. We’re not crying, you’re crying!