The Backyard Olympics (Kids Budget Edition)
Kids party ideas on a budget: backyard relay events, handmade medals and an opening ceremony with adult supervision.
At home · Pocket budget
The Build-Your-Own Party Favor Station
Party bag, party favor and giveaway ideas with age-appropriate fillers, clear labels and a non-food choice.
PLAN
READY 6–12 people Low-key
READY 6–12 people Low-key
Best for6–12 people
BudgetPocket budgetEstimate: $15+
LocationAt home
EnergyLow-key
01
Why it works
Why The Build-Your-Own Party Favor Station works
Store-bought party bags are expensive and mostly end up in the trash. A favor station turns the bag into an activity: kids decorate their own, so the favor already means something to them before anything goes inside.
It also solves the end-of-party problem. The last half hour of a kids' party is when energy crashes and parents start arriving. A calm table activity gives children something to focus on while families trickle in, and each child leaves holding a finished bag.
Letting families choose the treats keeps allergies and parenting preferences out of the host's hands. A non-food item in every bag means no child goes home empty-handed.
02
Before you begin
Gather your supplies
Tick these off as you shop, borrow or pull them from the house. The list is a practical starting point, not a claim that every item is required.
03
The plan
How to run it
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Plan for Ages and Allergies
Ask families about choking hazards, allergies and dietary needs before buying. For children under three, omit loose small items and provide a large-format, age-appropriate favor instead.
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Label Every Filler
List ingredients prominently, especially nuts, dairy, gluten and egg. Keep products in original packaging where possible, separate them and prepare an allergy-safe bag before opening the station.
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Decorate First, Fill Second
Supervise children as they decorate a large paper bag with stickers and drawings, then offer parent-controlled quantities of labeled treats. Use child-safe scissors, set the decorating table away from the food table and keep the treats on a separate tray until the bags are done.
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Include a Non-Food Choice
Provide a sticker sheet, crayon set or other age-suitable item in every bag. Offer sealed non-food alternatives for allergy-sensitive children and let families skip the station entirely.
04
Keep the room moving
Run of show (30–40 minutes within a 2-hour party)
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1 week before
Ask families
Add an allergy and choking-hazard question to the RSVP, and note any child under three. Buy accordingly, and check every label before it goes in the cart.
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2 days before
Sort the fillers
Group treats by allergen in labeled bowls, keeping them in their original wrappers. Pre-pack one allergy-safe bag per child who needs it, with their name on it.
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1 hour before
Set the table
Cover a table away from the food with paper, set out bags, stickers and markers, and keep the treat bowls on a separate tray for later.
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Party, last 40 min
Decorate
Kids decorate their bags first while an adult helps with names and stickers. Twenty minutes is usually enough.
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Last 20 min
Fill
An adult hands out treats by number, such as three treats plus one non-food item, and parents can swap or skip items as they arrive.
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End
Send home
Hand bags to grown-ups, not just kids, so parents see the contents. Wipe the table and store leftovers.
05
Make it yours
Variations
Food-free station
Skip candy entirely and offer stickers, crayons, bubbles, temporary tattoos, seed packets or a small notebook. This works well for mixed-allergy groups and parents who limit sugar.
For toddlers
Pre-fill bags with one large, age-appropriate item, like a board book or chunky crayons, and let toddlers just add big stickers to the outside with a parent beside them. Leave out candy and small pieces.
Older kids
Let 8 to 12-year-olds decorate a canvas tote or a small box with fabric markers instead of a paper bag, and include one simple craft kit to finish at home, like a friendship-bracelet set.
Tiny budget
Use plain paper lunch bags, a single sheet of stickers per child, and bulk wrapped candy split across bags. Total cost can stay under a couple of dollars per child.
06
Food and drink
What to serve
The station is not a snack table, so keep food in a separate spot: a cake plus a few safe snacks like fruit and crackers, with popcorn only for kids over four. Plan on one slice of cake and two or three snack portions per child, with labels for the top allergens. Water and diluted juice boxes are the drinks.
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If it goes sideways
Troubleshooting
- Kids grab treats before decorating.
- Keep the treat tray out of sight until bags are done, and bring it out with an adult in charge.
- An allergic child feels left out.
- Make their pre-packed bag look just like the others, and give everyone the same non-food prize.
- Markers end up on clothes.
- Use washable markers and put out a stack of old T-shirts as smocks.
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
What should you put in a kids' party favor bag?
A good mix is one non-food item like stickers, crayons or bubbles, plus two or three individually wrapped, labeled treats. For children under three, skip small items and candy and give one larger, age-appropriate item instead.
Are party favors still expected at kids' birthdays?
They are common but not required. Many parents prefer one small, useful item, or none at all. A decorate-your-own station makes the favor part of the party rather than an extra expense at the end.
How do you handle food allergies in party bags?
Ask about allergies on the RSVP, keep treats in their original labeled wrappers, and pre-pack named bags for children with allergies. Make sure every bag includes a non-food item so the safe bag looks no different.
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