Creating the Perfect Favor

When you move beyond passing out candy and trinkets, there’s a world of great favor ideas.  Here are some of our favorites, for boys and girls from toddlers to teens.

Art supplies
Notebooks, stickers, multicolor pens, blank books for kids to create their own stories -- children love art supplies and this provides an easy way to to help them be independently creative.  To make it simpler, you could choose an inexpensive craft kit that includes all the supplies that your guests will need to make their creation.  Older kids might like beading supplies or a kit of stickers, puffy paint, craft glue, etc. to customize their iPod case or other accessory.

Passes and Coupons
Extend the fun of the party by supplying passes for a movie theater or bowling alley.  Another option is a gift certificate for a local ice cream shop or restaurant.  An iTunes gift certificate makes a great choice, especially for older children.

Books
Whether you choose identical copies of your child’s favorite book to hand out, customize your selections for each of your guests, or just put out a basket of books so that your guests can choose their own, books as favors will make parents and kids happy.

Toys
From Hot Wheels to Legos to Beanie Baby Key clips for backpacks, there are a range of small, inexpensive toys that make a great way to start or grow a collection.  Local toy shops are happy to provide suggestions of what might be of the greatest interest to your group if your child is stumped.

Glow in the dark
Balls, necklaces, glow sticks, bracelets or stickers -- children in a wide range of ages love anything that glows in the dark.  To make the favor even more special, include a mini flashlight so they can do some impromptu recharging of those items that need to be exposed to light to renew their glow.

Plants
A tiny pot, a bit of dirt, and some interesting seeds or seedlings are a great way to send kids home with something that incorporates responsibility, science, and fun.  Possibilities range from zinnias to venus fly traps, so it’s easy to customize this idea to the group of children that you’ll have.  Be sure to include growing instructions in the box with your supplies!

CDs
Making a mix of songs that are relevant to your party’s theme can make a great favor.  The CD might include inside jokes between the child and his/her guests, songs relevant to memories they share, or simply some current favorites.  Creating labels for the CDs and the cases is a snap with precut labels and the provided templates, and is something that your child might really enjoy.

Puzzles
Puzzle cubes, interlocking puzzles, jigsaw puzzles -- there are puzzles out there for just about any age and interest of your party guests.  Gather an assortment to suit the inclinations and tastes of the children who will be in attendance.

Socks
I was truly surprised to see socks as such a huge hit as party favors.  Whether they are slipper socks to keep feet warm and safe or themed socks to provide a novel touch, there are lots of great ways to use this unusual favor. Thanks to retailers like LittleMissMatched and Solmate Socks, unique, mismatched socks can be a really fun way to build on this idea.

There you have it -- a round up of ideas that help keep clutter to a minimum and make food concerns a nonissue.  Leave a comment if you want to share your own ideas!
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Ask The Party Planner is a biweekly blog written by Laura Floyd, owner of Laura Floyd Events, LLC (www.LauraFloydEvents.com).