Party packs have become synonymous with planning kid’s birthday parties nowadays. Some parents do not throw a big party at home but send party packs and cupcakes to school. Others may send something small to school, like a cupcake, and plan a birthday party to celebrate their kid’s birthday at home and inviting a few friends over. No matter what you decide on doing, here are some party pack ideas that you can look at, next time you are planning your child’s upcoming birthday.
***Disclosure -The links in this post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.***
Party Packs Ideas For Kid’s Birthday Parties
Party packs are a huge hit with kids and is a convenient option for parents. They also play a vital role in your party décor. However, deciding what to put in your party packs can be a tad confusing. If the intended purpose is for the party packs to be eaten at the party, you must try to cater for various children, paying attention to food intolerances and allergens. If your party is happening over lunchtime, you must include something food wise to sustain them, like a burger, or hotdog with a few treats like a cupcake, packet of chips and a small bag of sweets.
Some Guidelines And Ideas When Making Party Packs
- If you can, try to include sweets and foods that match your party theme.
- Avoid just giving them loads of sweets, there are plenty of healthier choices available too.
- Keep allergies in mind – ask the mommies beforehand whether their kids are dairy or gluten intolerant or have any food allergies.
- Choose creative party pack containers. It does not always have to be a bag. Foldable boxes, small lunchboxes or buckets work well and can be reused.
- It helps to personalise each packet because it makes it easier for every child to get one and eliminates confusion, especially if you have included foods for one or two kids that have food intolerances or allergies.
- Always make up a few extra because some kids might have siblings that come with or someone may have arrived without RSVP’ing.
The key to making child-pleasing party packs is to have fun and be creative. There are no specific rules as to what should go into them and what not. Work out your budget and them and work according to them.
Party Packs Ideas For 4 And 5 Year Olds
Kids in the 4 – 5 year old age group are a lot more adventurous and will be keen to have a wider variety of sweets in their party packs. Here are some ideas for some things to include:
- Slinky toys
- Slime
- Bubbles
- Party masks
- Party hats
- Biscuits
- Fizzers
- Chocolates
Cheap And Simple Party Pack Ideas
While party packs are often the highlight of the birthday party for most guests, it is often the biggest expense of the party and it can be quite a lot of work too. Here are some simple party pack ideas to include that won’t break the bank or be too hard to organise:
- Homemade popcorn – this is to easy and cheap to make
- Balloons – buy one pack of balloons and put on in each party pack. It is super cheap and kids love a balloon to blow up.
- Chips – kids love chips and they are not too expensive
- Marshmallows – buy a big bag and pop one or two in each party pack.
- Lollipops
- Jelly cups – make your own jelly cups and save a fortune
Healthier Party Snacks – Planning A Kid’s Birthday Party At Home
Gone are the days where a slice of cake and a few snacks on the side is sufficient. Nowadays, parents go all out when planning a birthday party, from huge fondant decorated themed cakes, to an array of sweet treats and savory snacks at the party itself and a party packet with more sweet treats to take home. We are the adults, and we can make better choices to make sure our kids eat healthier and are susceptible to health issues like obesity, diabetes, and more. All it takes, is making a few simple changes.
5 Guidelines For Hosting A Healthier Kid’s Birthday Party
- Start by offering healthier savory snacks first like breadsticks with hummus and veggies with a dip.
- Offer something with substance, like healthy mini sandwiches or homemade pizza snacks. There are loads of healthy recipes on the web from famous chefs like Jamie Oliver that strive to get kids to eat healthier from a young age.
- Lower the quantity of food, but rather increase the quality. Instead of buying sugar-laden hard candies, instead opt for quality chocolate.
- Make your own snacks instead of splurging on shop bought ones. For instance, popping your own popcorn is not just healthier, but a cheaper option too.
We are not saying that you should host a boring party with only sugar-free treats, even though it is possible. The idea is to be more mindful of what we give our kids at these parties and consider their future health. It might sound old fashioned, but you will thank yourself years along the line.
BONUS: Homemade Food Ideas For Kid’s Parties
Now let us get to the fun part. I am sure you are wondering what foods you can serve at your kid’s birthday party that they will love.
Fruit And Marshmallow Kebabs
You can get really creative by making magical fruit wands with marshmallows and fruit. You can also dip the marshmallows in chocolate and roll them in hundreds and thousands beforehand.
Popcorn
There are so many fun variations that you can try. From caramel popcorn to savory popcorn. Fairy popcorn is a definite children’s favorite with white chocolate drizzled over the top, decorated with rainbow sprinkles, and left in the fridge to set.
Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are a classic party treat and have been used for generations. They are super easy to make and enjoyed by young and old alike. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 x Tablespoons butter
- 4 x Cups of miniature marshmallows (or 1 x packet large marshmallows)
- 6 x Cups of Rice Krispies
Method:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and keep stirring until they are melted completely. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Add the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until everything is coated.
- coat a two-inch pan with cooking spray and use wax paper or a buttered spatula to press the mixture inside.
- Allow to cool.
- Once cooled, cut into two-inch squares.
Microwave method:
- Heat the marshmallows and butter on high in a microwave-safe container for three minutes (stir after two minutes). Stir the mixture until smooth. Once done, allow to cool and follow the rest of the instructions mentioned above.
Jello Cups
There are so many ideas for jello. You can layer different colors and you can even try jelly oranges which the kids will love.
Toffee Apples
I am not sure if toffee apples are still a thing nowadays, but I have fond memories of digging into toffee apples when I was a kid.
Cupcakes Or Cake Pops
Even the humble vanilla-flavored cupcake can be decorated in various ways with cupcake toppers, icing, lollies, and sprinkles. If your child is still a toddler, and you are worried about wastage, you can consider bitesize cake toppers.
Cookies
Who does not love cookies? This is such an easy party snack to make and you can decorate them according to your theme. Sugar coated cookies have become a novelty these days and you can make them according to any theme, even Paw Patrol and Mickey mouse. And kids love them!
Mini Quiche
Mini quiche is an excellent savory treat and can be made with different flavor variations. Ham and cheese are usually a favorite among kids, but you can use any flavor you want or even make a few different flavor options.
Mini Pizza
Mini pizzas are so versatile, because you can make one big pizza and use cookie cutters to make different shapes or you can make rolled pizza pinwheels with puff pastry, a little more exciting and inviting.
Sausage Rolls
Sausage rolls are another classic dish that has been served at not only kid’s parties, but also baby showers, adult birthday parties, and more. They are super easy to make, but you can also buy frozen sausage rolls and pop them in the oven a few hours before the party.
Mini Hamburgers Or Hotdogs
Need I say more? Even with all the sweet and savory treats served at the party, it is always a good idea to have something that adds more substance. Mini hamburger and hotdogs are always a go-to-meal for kids and easy to prepare.
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed our article and that you will take some of our ideas and tips on board the next time you are planning your kid’s birthday party. There is no question about the popularity of party bags, and I do not think they will go out of fashion anytime soon.
Wow… great ideas for kids parties, especially for healthier snacks..
Amazing ideas!
Awesome ideas. Thank you.
Amazing ideas will deffs be doing some
Great ideas. I recently attended a party where custard and jelly cups formed part of the dessert table. The mum then said that instead of packing yogurts in her little ones lunch box, they get custard and jelly tubs. Seems its quite a hit!
My daughter loves custard and jelly – she always begs me to buy the big ones at Checkers 🙂
Great snack ideas .. definitely worth a try!!
I love this so much. Definitely going to use these ideas for my sons third birthday in January.
Thanks. Great ideas
Good ideas. Love to see the little ones faces lit up at a party
Wow I never thought of all these fantastic ideas. My son’s birthday is in 2 weeks going to be using some of these🎂
How exciting Claudine, enjoy the birthday!
Thank you for the rice krispies treat recipe, this one is so clear. My kids have been asking for this. Best wishes🤗
Wow This is such a great and helpful article.
Such a lovely post related to kids party idea. and the home made food Idea was really an awesome Idea Thanks for posting keep posting such amazing post.
This is helpful since I will be preparing for one
These are great ideas considering using some of them in May for my sons 2nd birthday. Thank you Lynne.
This article gave me so many ideas!!! Love it
Great ideas thanks for the tips
These are all great ideas and the kiddies would love them thank you for sharing this useful guide