I’ve celebrated my two kids’ birthdays in small and big ways, so I’ve compiled a list of all the things I’ve found useful or fab. Essentially this is a big list of everything I love for my kids’ birthdays. I’ll organise by category: goody bags, gift ideas, and decorations.
Also, not for the kids, but the thing I recommend for you is Loop Engage Earplugs. Seriously. Wear them to all indoor play centres, confined party spaces, and concerts. You’ll thank me later.
Disclosure: I am linking to Amazon.co.uk for items and receive a small affiliate compensation if you buy something after clicking the link. I earn about €8/year from this because the links give you ideas, but whenever possible it’s great to buy from local shops.
I try to look for party supplies & goody bag items to be practical, reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Hosting a party for kids while festively polluting the earth with more plastic doesn’t sit well with me, but I acknowledge not everyone has the options or resources to make eco conscious purchases. However, that’s why I am linking to such items here.
• For goody bags, that’s pencils, erasers, paper bags, and bubble sets you can refill at home.
• For gifts, it’s mostly books because those can be enjoyed again and again.
• For decorations, it’s pieces you can put away and put up again for the next celebration.
Goody Bags
Same idea of eco friendly items for the goody bags, but this time I focus on reusability. Here are top contenders of things to add to a goody bag. Each ends up cost €0.25 per piece or less.
McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy or Book – This is an exception to the €0.25 or less, as it costs €0.80ea. An out-of-the-box idea for a goody bag is to give them one single McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy. You can buy them separate from the Happy Meal itself at any McDonald’s. At the moment, the toy is a little card box with several Pokemon cards inside. The alternative book is also a fun option. I buy both these every few weeks if I’m passing a McDonald’s then save them for long road trip rewards or stocking stuffers at Christmas. Also handy to carry in your purse to hand out when you need to occupy your kid quietly when waiting at a doctor’s office. Note: These are only available at the register/til, not from the self-serve ordering kiosk.
Pack of 24 rainbow stripe or dot paper goody bags – I’ve personally have used these for two parties AND for Advent calendar treats and they’re lovely quality. Shown above.
Pack of 40 solid color paper goody bags
Pack of 16, 32, or 46 poppet fidget keychains – I’ve included these in goody bags for two parties and you need to add the chain to the silicone, but it’s easy enough. They’re BPA-free and food-grade silicone.
Selection of 32 packs of animal-shaped sticky notes
Set of 24 fun pencils with eraser toppers
Set of 100 fun animal/fruit erasers
Set of 30 fun animal/fruit erasers
100 emoji erasers (older kids may prefer these to cute animals/fruits)
Pack of 12 mini bubble wands (you can refill these)
Gift Ideas
I love books for kids. For kids who don’t know how to read yet, it is a great start to a lifelong love of books. For kids who don’t seek out reading as a leisure activity, you can give them a great book that may change that for them. For kids who love to read and devour books, it’s an easy win. Here are some great books that are enjoyable for all three of these types of kids.
Babies & Toddlers (Board Books)
Pre-reading (Books to read together)
Dragons Love Tacos – we read this several times a week
Where’s Bluey: Search-and-Find Book – select words, but making books feel approachable
Bluey books – if they love a TV show, look for the related books
Early reader (Books to practice reading words & make them approachable)
Pip, Lop, Mip, Bop and the Stuck Star
Max and Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island! – There’s also Book 2 & Book 3
Reluctant reader (Books to ignite a love of reading books with more words than pictures)
The Treehouse Storey: Books 1 – 11 Set
Jamie Smart’s 4-book Flember Series
Blank Comic Book for a kid to draw & write their own
Questioneers Chapter Book Collection
Avid reader (Books for kids who love to read)
Dinosaur books by evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey: Two of the Greatest Stories Ever Told
Decorations
For home parties, the decor is all on you. I love these options because they last for years. I put them out for a birthday, fold them up carefully, and sure enough I take them out again and they bear witness to many happy occasions. Not all decorations last multiple uses, so I’m only linking to the ones that I’ve found good for reuse.
Multicoloured reusable decoration set
Macaron Birthday Party Decorations
Now that I’ve shared with you everything I love for my kids’ birthdays, what are your go-to party supplies, goody bag treats, gifts, or decorations?