Non-candy party favours kids actually use (2026)
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Our quick picks
| Pick | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Mini crayon packs | Best for younger kids | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
| Bubble wands | Best outdoor favour | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
| Flower or vegetable seed packets | Best for spring and summer parties | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
| Mini books and activity books | Best for readers | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
| Sticker sheets | Best budget favour | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
| Sidewalk chalk | Best for active kids | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
| Mini play dough tubs | Best hands-on favour | Amazon.caAmazon.com |
1. Mini crayon packsBest for younger kids
- What we like
- Cheap in bulk, useful at home, and free of food allergens in the usual sense. Pairs well with a colouring page or mini colouring book.
- Watch out for
- Check the age grading on the package; some small crayons or sets are labelled for ages 3 and up. Cheap crayons can break easily.
Crayons are a favour that actually gets used after the party. Add a printed colouring page with the birthday child's name for a personal touch.
2. Bubble wandsBest outdoor favour
- What we like
- Bright, inexpensive and fun right away at an outdoor party. Small wands fit easily in a favour bag.
- Watch out for
- Bubble solution can spill in favour bags, so tape the caps or hand them out separately. Not great for indoor winter parties.
Bubbles turn the end of a party into one more activity instead of a sugar crash. Buy a multipack and keep a few spares for siblings.
3. Flower or vegetable seed packetsBest for spring and summer parties
- What we like
- A favour that grows into something. Many seed packets are sold in multipacks, and you can add a small note with planting tips.
- Watch out for
- Some seeds and plants are not safe to eat, so this suits kids old enough not to put seeds in their mouths. Check that the plants suit your local climate.
Seed packets are a lovely, low-waste favour that gets kids outside. Sunflowers and easy herbs are a good choice for first-time growers.
4. Mini books and activity booksBest for readers
- What we like
- Puzzle, colouring and sticker activity books keep kids busy long after the party, with no batteries or small parts.
- Watch out for
- Pick the reading level for the age of the guests. Very cheap bulk books may have thin pages.
A small book is one of the few favours that grown-ups are always happy to see come home. Look for packs with a mix of titles so kids can trade.
5. Sticker sheetsBest budget favour
- What we like
- Very cheap per child, flat and light, and easy to match to a party theme. FARE lists stickers among its non-food treat ideas.
- Watch out for
- Small stickers can be a choking risk for toddlers who put things in their mouths. Some kids will stick them on furniture.
Stickers are the simplest crowd-pleaser and work for almost any age above toddler. Tuck a sheet into a card or book for an easy favour.
6. Sidewalk chalkBest for active kids
- What we like
- Gets kids outside drawing and playing games like hopscotch. Washes off with water.
- Watch out for
- Dusty and messy indoors, and thick chalk can break into small pieces. Best for warm-weather parties.
Chalk is cheap, colourful and gives kids a reason to play outside after the party. Bundle two or three sticks with a ribbon for each guest.
7. Mini play dough tubsBest hands-on favour
- What we like
- Kids can play with it straight away, and small tubs fit in any favour bag.
- Watch out for
- Many play doughs are made with wheat, so they're not safe for kids with wheat allergy or celiac disease unless labelled wheat-free. Dries out if the lid isn't closed.
A classic favour for preschool and early-grade parties. Check the ingredients if any guest has a wheat allergy, or choose a different favour for that party.
Party favours don’t have to be a bag of candy. A small, useful item often lasts longer, works for kids with food allergies, and means one less sugar rush at the end of a party. This guide collects non-candy favour ideas that are cheap, easy to find and actually used at home.
How we chose
These are general ideas, not specific brands, and we didn’t test them ourselves. We chose them because they are:
- Easy to buy in multipacks in the US and Canada, so the cost per child stays low.
- Useful after the party, not just something to throw away.
- Free of food, so they work for guests with food allergies, diabetes or dietary rules.
- Simple to match to an age group, with safety notes for each.
Always check the age grading and warnings on the package you buy.
Why skip the candy?
Kids often already have cake, juice and treats at a party. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 2 and older have less than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) of added sugar a day (HealthyChildren.org), and cake, juice and candy can add up quickly. A non-food favour means guests leave with something fun without more sugar on top.
Non-food favours are also more inclusive. FARE, a US food allergy organization, encourages non-food treats such as stickers, bouncy balls and art supplies for Halloween (FARE), and Food Allergy Canada suggests stickers and pencils. The same thinking works for birthday and class parties.
Matching favours to ages
Under 3: Keep it very simple. Health Canada advises not giving toys with small parts or accessories (such as beads, marbles, buttons or magnets) to children under 3 (Health Canada). Board books, large crayons labelled for toddlers and bubbles (handed to a grown-up) are safer choices.
Ages 3 to 6: Crayons, chalk, play dough, sticker sheets and bubbles all work well. Follow the age range on each package, since Health Canada notes that a toy that’s safe for an older child may be dangerous for a younger one.
Ages 7 and up: Activity books, seed packets, small craft kits and fun pencils or erasers go over well with older kids.
Safety notes
- Balloons. Health Canada recommends a warning that children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons, with adult supervision required (Health Canada). Skip uninflated balloons in favour bags.
- Glow sticks. Popular at evening parties, but don’t let young kids chew them. Poison Control says the liquid inside can irritate the mouth, skin and eyes, and suggests contacting a poison centre if someone swallows it or gets it in their eyes or on their skin (Poison Control).
- Craft supplies can contain food allergens. Food Allergy Canada notes that modelling clay may contain wheat and finger paint may contain egg (Food Allergy Canada). Check labels if a guest has allergies.
- Magnets. Avoid small, strong magnets. Health Canada warns that swallowing more than one can cause serious internal injury.
Ideas to make favours feel special
- Theme it. Dinosaur stickers for a dinosaur party, seed packets for a garden party, chalk for a summer backyard party.
- Add a name tag. A handwritten tag makes even a pack of crayons feel personal.
- Use a paper bag or reusable pouch instead of a plastic favour bag.
- Give one good thing instead of a bag of small items. One book or bubble wand often goes over better than five trinkets.
Halloween too
All of these work for trick-or-treaters as well. See our guide to non-candy Halloween treats, and if you’re buying candy anyway, our nut-free Halloween candy and low-sugar Halloween candy picks. For homemade party treats, try our fruit popsicles. More ideas are in parties and gifts.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: How to reduce added sugar in your child’s diet
- Health Canada: Toy safety tips
- Health Canada: Industry guide to safety requirements for children’s toys and related products
- FARE: How to be food allergy safe this Halloween
- Food Allergy Canada: Reading food labels and Halloween tips to keep kids safe
- Poison Control (US): Are glow sticks dangerous?