Kids' party favors that aren't junk are small toys that do something, bought in one pack so every child gets the same thing. The test that matters is whether the kid is still playing with it a week later. Light up spinning tops, jumping poppers, foam finger rockets and water growing animals are the four kinds of toy that pass it. They come in twelve different packs, all listed below and all in our party favors collection.
What makes a party favor junk?
It breaks in the car, it does nothing, or it is one of five things in a bag that nobody asked for. Party favors that are not junk pass three tests. The toy has a verb: it spins, jumps, lights up, flies or grows. It survives the ride home. And it comes in a pack big enough that every child at the party gets the same one. The same tests work for goodie bags: one good toy in the bag beats five fillers, and it takes less effort to buy.
12 packs kids keep: four kinds of toy
Light up spinning tops: two 12-packs
Twist and press, and the spin sets off the LED. No batteries to buy or charge. The spin activates the lights. Both packs are rated for ages 3 to 9 and hold twelve.
- Light up spinning tops, 12-pack: twelve blue tops. The no-saucer version, and the pick for the youngest guests.
- Light up flying saucer tops, 12-pack: attach the saucer disc to the top, wind, release. Twelve sets.
Jumping poppers: five packs of 24 and 25
Press a popper down and wait for the jump. Rubber, nothing to set up. Four of the five packs have no batteries. The LED pack has the lights built in and nothing to install.
- Jumping poppers, 24-pack: 24 funny faces, rated 3 to 12.
- LED rocket poppers, 24-pack: 24 emoji faces that flash when they bounce. The evening-party pick.
- Safari rocket poppers, 25-pack: lions, zebras, monkeys, elephants and giraffes, 2.5 inches each.
- Sport ball rocket poppers, 24-pack: footballs, basketballs and baseballs, about 2.5 inches. For an end-of-season team pizza party.
- Rocket poppers, 24-pack: rocket shaped with a soft tip, 1.5 by 4 inches, rated 3 to 12. Pair them with the saucer tops for a space party.
Foam finger rockets: one 12-pack
Put one on a fingertip, pull back the elastic band and let go. No pump and no batteries. The backyard pick.
- Foam finger rockets, 12-pack: about 5 inches long, sturdy foam, twelve to a pack.
Water growing animals: four packs, 25 to 67
Drop one in a cup of water and it grows over time. The 52-pack page puts it at several hours. Three of the four packs are reusable, noted below, which is what keeps them out of the trash. Growth figures are each pack's own page.
- Water growing sea creatures, 52-pack: 52 mini sea animals, each one individually wrapped, so they go straight into a bag. Up to three times their size.
- Water growing sea creatures, 67-pack: sharks, turtles, octopuses and more, up to six times their size, reusable.
- Water growing dinosaurs, 25-pack: up to six times their size, and they shrink back when dried and grow again.
- Water growing dinosaurs, 67-pack: assorted dinosaurs in the biggest pack, same growth and same shrink-back.
Which pack fits which age?
Where a product page carries an age rating, use it. Four of the twelve do: both spinning top packs (3 to 9), the jumping poppers and the rocket poppers (3 to 12). The rest carry none, and the bands below are our suggestion.
- Ages 3 to 5: the light up spinning tops, rated 3 to 9. The jumping poppers and rocket poppers are rated from 3, but a 3-year-old may need an adult to press them down.
- Ages 6 to 8: the saucer tops, any of the poppers, and the finger rockets. Each one has a step to get right: wind, press, pull back.
- Ages 9 to 12: all five popper packs (the two rated ones go to 12), and the water growing packs as a windowsill experiment. The spinning tops are rated to 9, and we would keep the finger rockets for younger guests.
- Under 3: nothing on this list. The four rated pages all start at 3, and the CPSC small parts rule bans small parts in toys intended for children under 3. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to follow the age recommendations on toy packages and to avoid toys with small or detachable parts for infants and young children. Keep these packs out of a bag going home with a toddler sibling.
How many party favors to buy
A rule of thumb: one per invited child, plus two for the older siblings who turn up. So a pack covers two fewer guests than its count. A 12-pack covers 10 guests, a 24-pack covers 22, a 25-pack 23, and the 52 and 67-piece packs cover a big party with spares for the prize box. If you are within two of the pack count, buy the next size up. The spares become classroom prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What party favors do kids actually want?
Pick party favors that do something. A top that lights up when it spins, a popper that jumps, a rocket that flies, an animal that grows in water. One of those beats a bag of five small things, and it comes in a pack so every guest gets the same one.
What should I put in goodie bags?
One toy the kid keeps. Pick a single pack, and add one sea creature from the individually wrapped 52-pack if you want a second item. If the party had cake, skip the candy.
What are useful party favors for kids?
Useful party favors for kids are the ones kids use after the party. A spinning top on the kitchen table, a popper on the kitchen counter, a water growing dinosaur in a cup on the windowsill. Pick something that moves: it spins, jumps, flies or grows.
Do you have to give party favors at a birthday party?
No. Skipping them is fine. If you do give one, one toy per child beats a bag of small things, and a single pack takes less effort than assembling bags.
How many party favors do you need for a kids' party?
Count the invited kids, add two for older siblings, and pick the pack that clears that number. If you are within two of the pack count, buy the next size up. Spares go to the prize box.
All twelve packs are in the party favors collection. Buying for a trick-or-treat bowl instead? The packs that work in a bowl are in our post on non-candy Halloween treats for kids.