What to put in Halloween goodie bags comes down to three toys: one that moves, one to squeeze, and one small surprise. That gives every child something to play with right away and something for later. It fills 12 or 24 bags from 4 to 7 bulk packs.
Below is the formula, how many packs it takes, what to check for preschoolers and younger siblings, and how to pack the bags the night before. Everything here comes from our Halloween goodie bag stuffers.
What should go in a Halloween goodie bag?
We suggest three toys per bag. One looks thin. Five turns into a bag of loose pieces. Three toys that each do something different feel like enough.
The three jobs are simple:
- A mover: something that spins, jumps, or lights up.
- A squeeze: something soft to hold, stretch, and squish.
- A surprise: something small that does its trick later, at home.
Put the same three toys in every bag, so no bag feels different from the one next to it.
A toy-only bag has no food in it, which helps with food allergies and with classrooms that do not allow candy. If you are going fully candy-free, our list of non-candy Halloween treats covers what to hand out at the door.
Best Halloween goodie bag fillers: a mover, a squeeze, a surprise
The mover: spinning tops or jumping poppers
Light-up flying saucer spinning tops come 12 to a pack. You twist, press, and launch, and the spinning motion turns on the LED lights. They need no batteries and no charging. The pack lists ages 3 to 9. The tops also come in an Individually Wrapped style.
Jumping poppers are the other choice. You press one down on a flat surface and it leaps into the air. The safari rocket poppers come 25 to a pack, each 2.5 inches, with animals like lions, zebras, and giraffes. They need no batteries.
The squeeze: squishy eggs
Super solid squishy eggs come 6 to a pack. Each egg is 2.5 inches, clear with a yolk inside, and made from a stretchy, rubbery material. It returns to its shape after it is squashed. More options are on our squishy toys page.
The surprise: water growing dinosaurs
Water growing dinosaurs come 67 to a pack. Drop one in water and it grows up to 6 times its size. Once it dries, it shrinks back and can be used again.
Put one dry dinosaur in each bag. At home, an adult drops it in a cup of water, so this toy does its trick after the party. Keep the dry dinosaurs away from children who still put things in their mouths.
How many goodie bag stuffers do you need for 12 or 24 bags?
Count by pieces, not by packs. Here is the math, with the spinning tops as the mover so every bag matches and every mover lists an age:
| Bags | Mover | Squeeze | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 pack of 12 flying saucer tops | 2 packs of 6 eggs | 1 pack of 67 dinosaurs |
| 24 | 2 packs of 12 flying saucer tops | 4 packs of 6 eggs | 1 pack of 67 dinosaurs |
The tops and eggs match the bag counts exactly. If you expect an extra guest, add one more pack of eggs and one more pack of tops. If you use safari poppers instead, one pack of 25 covers 24 bags with one to spare. Extra dinosaurs store easily and fit a teacher's prize box.
Goodie bag stuffers for kids 3 to 5, and what to leave out for under 3
For kids 3 to 5, build the bag around the flying saucer tops, which list ages 3 to 9. The popper, egg, and dinosaur pages do not list a minimum age. The egg page says "kids of all ages," which is not a specific minimum age. Check the age on each product page before you buy, and on the box when it arrives. If you cannot find an age for the egg or the dinosaur, give preschoolers the top alone.
For younger brothers and sisters, be more careful still. Federal small parts rules cover toys intended for children under 3, and none of these product pages list an age under 3. As a precaution, skip the toy bag for a child under 3.
How to pack Halloween goodie bags the night before
- Line up the bags in rows.
- Drop one dry dinosaur in each bag, down the row. No need to count the pack.
- Add one egg to every bag.
- Put the mover in last, on top, where it gets pulled out first.
- Store the bags away from sinks and drinks until the party, so the dinosaurs stay dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good goodie bag?
A good goodie bag has something a child can play with right away and something that does its trick later. Three toys that each do something different, the same in every bag, cover both.
What are good goodie bag stuffers for kids 3 to 5?
Start with the light-up flying saucer spinning tops, which list ages 3 to 9. For the squeeze and the surprise, check the age on the product page and on the box. If no age is listed, give preschoolers the top alone.
Do the flying saucer spinning tops need batteries?
No. They need no batteries and no charging. The spinning motion turns on the LED lights.
How big do water growing dinosaurs get?
They grow up to 6 times their size in water. After they dry, they shrink back and can be used again.
Ready to build your bags? Start with our Halloween goodie bag stuffers and pick one mover, one squeeze, and one surprise.