Non-junky Party Favors for Kids’ Birthdays

All children love a goody bag. After years of trial and error, I’ve found that these inexpensive trinkets delight most partygoers without annoying their parents.

Express Pencils Neon Half Pencils With Erasers, 48-pack for $11

Because I personally do not need any more broken crayons lying around the house, I opted for these neon half-pencils last year. I was imagining kids drawing quietly or pretending they were detectives jotting down clues.

Hardcover Sketchbook, 3-pack for $19

A friend bought these hardcover sketchbooks for her daughter’s artthemed birthday party, where the kids would be creating their own books. The cover is great for drawing on.

Miniworldfood Felt Banana, $12

For a smaller party, consider these felt bananas that Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo recently gave out at her son’s 1st-birthday party. My kids, who attended, were happy to receive them—especially because the banana comes out of its peel.

Mudpuppy Bengal Tiger Mini Puzzle, $5

When my younger son turned 1 last year, I got a bunch of these mini tiger puzzles from Mudpuppy to go with the party’s tiger theme—the Chinese-zodiac sign of the year he was born.

Efrutti Mini Burger Gummi Candy, 60 pieces for $17

Novelty candy, as long as you don’t give out too much (lest other parents resent you), is another fun favor. I like these gummy burgers. I had a hard time holding myself back from eating them before finishing the gift bags for my 5-year-old.