DIY Party Favors & Gift Ideas That Kids Actually Love
Let’s be honest about return gifts. Kids want them. Parents fear them. We worry about where they will end up. I mean, most of them end up under car seats or stuffed behind study shelves or in the hands of a younger cousin who immediately loses the crucial piece. As Indian parents—juggling WhatsApp RSVPs, party menu mix of Indian for the relatives and Western for the kids, and the occasional nudge from Nani about what we used to do in her day—we want to give party favors that mean something. Or at the very least, don’t become landfill by Tuesday.
So how do you pick party favors that are meaningful, budget-friendly, fun, and—let’s say it—not embarrassing when the other parents see them?
Here’s what’s worked in my house, and in dozens of others I’ve shamelessly copied from.
Ages 1–3: Sweet, Sensory, and Safe
This age group doesn’t care about party themes. They care about texture, sound, bright colors. Things they can hold and mouth and drop and pick up again.
Custom cloth books with the birthday child’s name stitched in. Bubble jars with animal-shaped wands. Handmade plushies—ask your local tailor auntie, she probably knows someone. Scented dough or beeswax crayons. Safe if they chew it, fun if they don’t.
Zapigo has these “Wishbox Jr.” favors curated by theme and age. Bonus: no midnight packing sessions.
Ages 4–6: Curious Explorers
This group is delightfully chaotic and full of questions. Why is the sky blue? Can we keep this caterpillar? Where does the moon go during the day? The favors should match that energy.
Grow-your-own-plant kits—think mint, methi, sunflowers. Animal masks with a DIY kit so they have something to do the next morning when the sugar high wears off. Personalized water bottles or snack boxes, which the mothers appreciate almost as much as the kids. Mini craft kits with cut-stick-sparkle potential.
One year, we gave mini magnifying glasses with a “junior explorer” card. The kids spent an hour hunting ants and pebbles in the garden. Worth every rupee.
Ages 7–10: Too Cool for Cutesy
They’re in that in-between stage. No longer babies, not quite teens. Give them something that makes them feel grown-up without actually requiring them to be grown-up.
Bookmarks with quotes they can understand—or jokes they’ll giggle at. DIY slime with glitter, which is messy but beloved. Mini journals with stickers, surprisingly popular at this age. Friendship bracelet kits, nostalgic for us, trendy for them.
On Zapigo, you can add a “Return Gift Note” inside the invite flow now. Which means no missed bags, no frantic “Did Aryan get his gift?” texts three days later.
Ages 11–13: The Cool Teens
The ones who roll their eyes but still show up for cake.
Gift cards—hundred or two hundred rupees—for apps they actually use. Personalized socks, tote bags, phone stands. Polaroid-style photo magnets, especially if the party had a photo booth. Mini-scented candles or clay diffusers. Yes, even the boys like them, though they won’t admit it in front of their friends.
One friend of my son once called to say, “Aunty, that was the best party bag ever.” It had a book, a bookmark, and a chocolate bar. That’s it. Sometimes simple wins.
Final Thoughts
The best party favors aren’t the most expensive. They’re the ones that feel personal—the ones that say, “I thought of you.” And in fact, parents appreciate the thought. Kids love them.
So ask your child. Let them brainstorm. Maybe even DIY a few things together on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Or if time is tight—and when is it not?—browse Zapigo’s themed collections where return gift ideas are part of the flow. You pick the age and vibe, they show you curated options from indie Indian brands to Pinterest-worthy packs.
No stress. Just smiles.
Now excuse me while I figure out if nine glow sticks and four erasers count as a decent party bag.