Finding the perfect return gift ideas for birthday party guests can be quite hard, but it does not need to be that hard. Kids get very excited for birthday parties, not entirely because they look forward to having fun, but also because they are excited about the return gifts they will get at the end of the party.
To help you out and make your life a lot easier, we have curated a list full of some of the best return gift ideas for your birthday party so that every kid in your party leaves with the biggest smile. These gifts do not just offer something fun but also something of value and things that they can make actual use of in their daily lives. So, without further ado let us get right into it!
1. Return Gift Ideas for Birthday Party for the Creative Mind
When kids are growing up, we adults need to inspire them to be creative and learn new things. While some kids show more creativity than others, every kid can be just as creative with the right push. Here are some gifts for kids with a creative mind:
- Crayon Sets and Coloring Books
Crayon sets and coloring books have to be some of the best gifts for kids. Children are always overjoyed to receive a new set of crayons and coloring books. They love to mix and match different colors to let their creativity out on the coloring book. This makes it a great choice for a return gift.
- Playdough Kits
Children and playdough kits go hand in hand with each other. When was the last time you saw a kid that did not have their playdough? Probably never. This is a gift that allows children to make things and learn on their own. It is a great gift to inspire creativity in children.
- Origami Paper
Learning origami as a kid can turn into a great hobby as you are growing up. There are many benefits to learning origami, such as developing more creativity, learning new things, developing a productive hobby, and learning how to solve complex problems.
- Sticker Packs
Stickers packs allow children to express their imagination and develop their storytelling skills. It is something that improves their fine motor skills as well. There is educational value in this gift that helps learning be more interactive and fun for children.
- Mini Blank Notebooks and Pencils
A blank notebook is like having a blank canvas to doodle, draw, and write on so children can unleash their inner creative minds. Using a notebook regularly is also proven to be an effective way to improve handwriting and grammar in growing children.
Gift Items | Price Range |
Crayon Sets and Coloring Books | $15 – $30 |
Playdough Kits | $10 – $20 |
Origami Paper | $5 – $15 |
Sticker Packs | $10 – $20 |
Mini Blank Notebooks and Pencils | $10 – $15 |
2. Gifts for Active Kids
While it is imperative to promote creativity in growing children, we should remember to encourage them to go out and play. Kids nowadays spend more time on electronic devices than the side playing with their friends. These are gifts that will keep the children active!
- Jumping Balls
Jumping balls encourage children to go out and be active which is important for their physical growth and their overall health. Kids can develop better motor skills by jumping and balancing on the ball. If your kid is highly energetic then a jumping ball will surely burn some excess energy off too!
- Bubbles
Children love playing with bubbles and chasing after them. Even we adults do it and it is something that is just universally fun to do. This reduces their time on the screen as the kids are outside running around and getting a good amount of physical exercise in.
- Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalks encourage children not only to go out but also engage in more imaginative play. This is a good thing since the kids will be learning from large-scale art while enjoying the fresh air and being physically active. This also promotes social interactions with other children.
- Small Frisbees
Frisbees are a great outdoor activity and you see adults playing with frisbees all the time at parks. Giving children small frisbees allows for better physical development and lets them enjoy their time outside away from the screen. They can make friends and play along with those friends.
- Skipping Ropes
Right off the bat skipping ropes are great for physical activity which is helpful in the development of their health. It also allows children to build endurance and get stronger bones since jumping constantly can help with better bone health.
Gift Items | Price Range |
Jumping Balls | $5 – $15 |
Bubbles | $5 – $10 (per bottle) |
Sidewalk Chalk | $2 – $5 |
Small Frisbees | $10 – $20 |
Skipping Ropes | $5 – $15 |
3. Gifts for the Little Scholar
Not all kids want something that needs them to go outside and play with. Some kids are just naturally talented and want something that itches their brain and their inner creativity. Here are some ideas for those little scholars:
- Mini Puzzles
Puzzles are great when it comes to developing problem-solving skills and critical thinking ability. With puzzles, children also learn to have better hand-eye coordination which is important to learn. Children learn to have better attention span and patience when solving puzzles as well.
- Brain Teaser Games
Another return gift that enhances intellectual growth and cognitive abilities in children. Since brain teaser games involve remembering different patterns and sequences, children also get to develop better long-term and short-term memory. These games also help them solve problems on their own and be more independent!
- Memory Card Games
Children nowadays have extremely small attention spans due to electronic devices. With memory card games the kids need to focus, which can help them gain a better attention span. Their visual discrimination skills are also improved since this game involves distinguishing between cards that look similar as well.
- Activity Books (word search)
Activity books are great for children in general but the ones that involve searching for words are even better. It helps the kids to learn new words and get a better understanding of spelling. Children also get better reading skills because they need to scan for words from grids.
- Magnifying Glasses & Bug Catches (For Natural Exploration)
Of course, we want our kids to still go out and develop their skills with nature. This is why a set of magnifying glasses and bug catches are great.
Kids are as curious as cats and a magnifying glass promotes that curiosity to learn. Since many kids love playing with and collecting bugs, having a bug catcher also lets them enjoy their time outside while learning from nature itself.
Gift Items | Price Range |
Mini Puzzles | $5 – $15 |
Brain Teaser Games | $10 – $30 |
Memory Card Games | $10 – $20 |
Activity Books | $5 – $15 |
Magnifying Glasses & Bug Catchers | $15 – $30 |
4. Practical Yet Fun Gifts
If the gifts listed above are not practical enough for you then do not worry. We understand that fun is not always practical so here are some gifts that combine the two. These are gifts that are both practical for daily use and also fun for the children.
- Personalized Water Bottles
With everyone buying almost the same water bottle there is not much personal about it. Owning a water bottle that is personalized specifically for each kid can be joyful and fun for the kids. They get to have a water bottle just for themselves with their favorite designs or with their names engraved on it.
- Snack Containers
If you have ever felt bad seeing a kid open their snacks from ziplock bags or other plastic bags then this is the return gift for you. Give them some snack containers so that the kids can carry their snacks safely to school and outside to play and eat.
- Fun Bandanas
Kids are already the most adorable things ever and they just become more adorable with fun clothing accessories. Fun little bandanas are pretty cheap and can be great return gifts. They work as a little fashion accessory and make the children look so much cuter in their little outfits.
- Hair Accessories (Clips or Bands for Girls)
This gift is mainly aimed towards the cute little girls who come to your birthday party. Give them some adorable hair accessories such as bands or clips that they can wear out to school or anywhere to keep their hair up. This is a very practical yet cute gift for the girls.
- Cool Keychains
One thing kids like is collecting things that look cool. Especially the young boys love it. If you choose this gift then even though kids usually do not own a lot of keys, they can wear the keychains on their backpacks and brag about it at school.
Gift Items | Price Range |
Personalized Water Bottles | $10 – $20 |
Snack Containers | $5 – $15 |
Fun Bandanas | $5 – $10 |
Hair Accessories | $5 – $15 |
Cool Keychains | $10 – $15 |
5. Return Gift Ideas for Children
While all the gifts that are listed above are curated for children based on their specific likes and hobbies, here are some that are more generalized. This list contains gifts from pencil boxes to rubiks cubes so that you can look through and find something that you like the most!
- Pencil Box
A pencil box is a very general and practical item for kids as they grow up. It is a fun time for any kid when they get new stationary items so a pencil box fits the criteria. This also allows them to show up to school with a new and fun box to store all their cool pens and pencils.
- Fancy Lunch Box
This is a very practical gift that is going to be useful to any kid. Owning a fancy lunch box is something to brag about at school. Moreover, a fancy lunch box usually has several sections to sort out all your lunch items properly.
- Coloring Book
Children love to play with coloring books because it lets them express their imagination in a very fun and visual way. This is something that is appealing especially to kids below the age of 4 so if your party includes kids of that age then a coloring book is a great choice!
- Finger Puppets
Kids have some of the most innovative minds so they can have fun playing with whatever they have on hand. This makes finger puppets a very fun gift for children. They can just put them on their fingers and make a complete storyline out of their imagination.
- Pin Badges
Pin badges allow children to express themselves in a fun way with their favorite designs or characters. Many children also love collecting pin badges so it can become a fun little hobby that teaches them to be more organized and learn how to categorize better.
- Bubble Wand
As we already mentioned the importance of reducing screentime and encouraging kids to play outside is important, bubble wands are gifts that help with that. The children can all come together to chase the bubbles and have fun together as a group.
- Finger Paints
Depending on the age of the children, using brushes and other painting tools can be hard for them. Finger paints remove all those limitations and allow kids to express their creativity with unique and fun artwork. Finger paints are also a great sensory experience for children.
- Snow Globe
Children are mesmerized by the smallest things and a snow globe fits that category very well. Snow globes have almost a magical quality that can capture the imagination of children. It also works as a great decorative item for a kid’s room.
- Rubik’s Cube
Rubik’s cubes help children develop better logical reasoning and just enhance their overall cognitive skills. Solving a Rubik’s cube requires memorizing certain sequences which can also help improve both long-term and short-term memory. It also teaches children about perseverance when faced with a difficult problem.
- Pop-Up Book
Kids love to play with things that are interactive and immersive. Pop-up books are great for capturing attention. Since kids love to learn about new things, pop-up books are the best way for kids to read new stories and develop a habit of liking books.
- Comics
Since comic books are visually appealing, children love reading them. This is something that motivates children who are reluctant to read, to read more. Comics can also boost the understanding of a narrative structure in children and teach them new vocabulary.
- Globe
Globes are some of the best and most interactive educational tools out there. It is handy when teaching kids about the geography of our world. They get to learn about all the different continents, oceans, and countries. Globes are easier for children to understand since it offers a three-dimensional perspective of our world.
- Alarm Clock
Alarm clocks can promote punctuality and teach children how to manage their time more efficiently. Since the kids wake up on their own with an alarm clock, it also gives them a sense of independence. It can also encourage kids to develop a consistent daily routine.
- Birthday Treat Bags
Children get super excited about surprises and treat bags contain surprise treats, toys, and other fun goodies which can make it a memorable return gift. There is always something enjoyable for every kid since there are a variety of items.
Gift Items | Price Range |
Pencil Box | $5 – $15 |
Fancy Lunch Box | $20 – $40 |
Coloring Book | $5 – $10 |
Finger Puppets | $10 – $20 |
Pin Badges | $5 – $15 |
Bubble Wand | $5 – $10 |
Finger Paints | $10 – $20 |
Snow Globe | $15 – $30 |
Rubik’s Cube | $10 – $20 |
Pop-Up Book | $15 – $30 |
Comics | $5 – $15 |
Globe | $20 – $40 |
Alarm Clock | $20 – $30 |
Birthday Treat Bags | $5 – $15 |
Personal Opinion
Birthday return gifts need to be fun and engaging for the children since they are always looking forward to it at the end of the party. This is the reason why it can be hard to choose something when you have so many options. In order to help you out even more, here are some of my personal favorites from the entire list:
- Pin Badges: Pin badges are great as collectibles and also give kids a sense of achievement. It is great for building a productive hobby that encourages organization.
- Mini Puzzles: This is a great gift that helps children develop better cognitive skills. It also promotes patience and attention span in kids. Mini puzzles also improve hand-eye coordination in growing children.
- Small Frisbees: Frisbees are an enjoyment for people of all ages. Small frisbees are easier to play with for little kids and they can engage in group playtime with all their friends.
Conclusion
Birthday parties are a fun event for everyone and handing out fun return gifts after is what makes you a good host. This list contains some of the best ideas for return gifts that are not only fun and engaging but also practical and useful. Make yourself the best host in the neighborhood by choosing any of the items in this list. We hope it was helpful!
FAQs
What are good return gifts for kids?
Good return gifts make kids feel excited, for example, pin badges or mini puzzles.
What is the concept of a return gift?
Return gifts are small tokens of appreciation to show your guests that you are grateful for their presence at your party and you appreciate the gifts they got for you.
What can I do instead of birthday presents?
Instead of birthday presents you can get them a handwritten letter and a small gift such as a coloring book to show your gratitude.
What is the concept of returns?
The concept of return is to give people something in return for their time and presents.
Are return gifts necessary?
Return gifts are not a complete necessity but show you are thoughtful and appreciative of others’ efforts.