When kids have so many differences, picking out presents for holidays or birthdays can be a little tricky. When you throw a birthday party and want to do party favors for everyone, how do you find the right balance of what to get for so many children who aren’t yours? What do you get that might appease most of them? Would the parents be okay with what you send their child home with? When looking for party favors for teens to take home at the end of the event, we have ideas that should satisfy most of the kids and keep the parents happy, too.
How to pick party favors for teens
Party favors have long been a way to thank your guests for showing up for your child. Throwing a birthday party for your kiddo is hard, but having party favors to tell your child’s friends thank you is a lovely gesture they will remember. Parents know from their own children that most party favors are the child’s favorite part of leaving the party. And sometimes, the only way to get them to leave the party is with a parting gift. So, when buying party favors for teens, you want them to be a hit for the kids who show up.
The key to shopping for party favors for your teen isn’t that far off from creating goodie bags in the younger years. When looking for party favors for teens, think usefulness and longevity. Top party favors are the ones teens don’t toss on the kitchen table and leave there forgotten. Yes, there are cool party favors that fall into that category and they’re usually not what you think of at first. The best party favors for teens are actually keepsakes or everyday items, and we have some easy picks for you to grab.
Best party favors for teens
No matter what is trending on social media or is popular in school that week, you can find items that will keep their attention long after the party ends. We have fun party favors for teens that aren’t just cool, but are items they’ll use.
LED string lights
String lights have been popping up in dorm rooms across college campuses and are a hot item among teens. LED string lights are considered a must-have decor item and are reasonably priced. Some styles include photo clips to hand their favorite pictures that are considered extra awesome. LED string lights are easily hung up anywhere since most of them run on batteries. For something even simpler to hang up, look for curtain lights.
Key chains
Learning to drive is something teens really look forward to and are super excited about. While not all of them will get a car for that special I-can-finally-drive birthday, having a key chain of your own is still noteworthy. Take the key chain idea a step further and have it personalized with each party guest’s name, high school, or team. You can even look for key chains featuring school colors. Even if there are kids who don’t drive at the party, they could clip it on their backpack or gym bag.
Water bottles
Whether the teenage guests are all part of the same sport, cheerleading, dance, or gymnastics team, water bottles are commonly used items that always seem to be in demand. Water bottles in team or school colors make for a fun party favor for teens that will get a lot of use. Add names to make the favor more personal, but without is still a perfect pick.
Blank journals
Many teens use journals to express their feelings, make notes about shows or movies they want to watch, or to make lists of what they want to do or need to do, making a stylish bound notebook a treasured party favor. Add in colored gel pens to go with each journal if you have the budget. Even if the party guest doesn’t keep a journal, a blank one may inspire them to start writing. The blank journal can also be used for sketching or, at worst, a school planner.
Slipper socks and sleeping masks
If the party is a sleepover, warm slipper socks are a can’t-miss. Pair the super soft socks with a cozy sleeping mask, and you have a party favor fitting the sleepover theme and one that teenage girls will like. These are also practical favors, as teens can never have too many pairs of socks, so parents will appreciate this one.
Personalized pillowcases
Another great party favor for a teen sleepover is a personalized pillowcase. All you need is plain pillowcases, fabric paint, and/or fabric markers. Each guest can design her own pillowcase at the start of the party. Allow the new pillowcases to dry overnight, and the girls have a keepsake favor to use on their beds at home.
Colorful hair ties
Teenage girls and hair ties have a love/hate relationship. Hair ties tend to travel with teens to school, sports, and other activities and never seem to make it back home. They are in and out of the hair a lot, so like socks in the dryer, hair ties seem to have legs, too, and disappear without a trace. Teenage girls (or anyone with longer hair) can never really have enough hair ties. A gift bag of colorfully crafted hair ties in school, team, or juts fun colors and styles make a gift that rocks.
Cozy blankets
Who doesn’t like to cuddle under a snuggly blanket to read, listen to music, or watch television? A personalized cozy blanket is a party favor teens will definitely get a lot of use from and is another noteworthy keepsake, especially for a Sweet 16. If you don’t want to personalize, go for a cuddly fleece flannel throw instead.
Beach towels
A colorful or personalized beach towel is a great party favor for teens, even if you don’t live near the water. Just like water bottles, towels are always in demand around the house, and it’s nice to have a go-to towel for the beach or picnic that is just for you.
Drawstring bags
Drawstring bags have been a thing for a while, whether it is for school, practice, workouts, sleepovers, camp, or just because. There never seem to be enough around the house. A drawstring bag in fun styles or colors makes a useful and cute party favor. Personalize with names beforehand or have teens decorate their own at the party using fabric markers and/or fabric paint. An adorable tote is another perfect pick.
Mini succulents
A lot of people love plants but aren’t the best at keeping them alive. Having mini succulents for a party favor is a way to bring greenery to everyone’s lives without them having to worry about overwatering it. Succulents come in all kinds of beautiful shapes and colors, and they make an adorable addition to any teens room.
S’mores kits
If your child’s party is in the summer, a campfire at night would be a great way to celebrate. If you were going to make s’mores anyway, grab a little extra and create goodie bags with the ingredients for each teen to make their own s’mores once they get home.
Movie night supplies
Movie theater candy is always appreciated, and no one says no to popcorn. If the party theme has anything to do with movies or is a sleepover where the kids will be watching movies, your party favor can piggy-back off of that. Grab a few different movie theater snacks and present them nicely on a table and let the teens grab which ones they want for their party favor.
Other fun ideas for teen party favors you should consider
Depending on the number of teens coming to the party, how well you know them, how well your child knows them, or what your budget is, think about using these other party favors for teens.
- Lip gloss or lip balm
- Emery boards and nail polish
- Lotions, shampoo, conditioner, homemade soaps, and other toiletries
- Friendship bracelets
- Anklets
- School supplies
- Bath bombs
- Assorted candies
Best places to shop for teen party favors
Picking out cute favors doesn’t have to mean going over budget. Here are stores you might want to consider when looking for good party favors for teen girls. Don’t forget to check the clearance sections to see if there is anything there you could use.
- Dollar Store/Dollar General/Dollar Tree
- Five Below
- TJ Maxx
- Marshalls
- HomeGoods
- Target
- Walmart
- Trader Joes
- World Market
- Costco
- Walmart
- Ocean State Job Lot
Creating a fun favor bag for teens
Once you have the fun party favors for teens purchased, it’s time to decide how to present it. The go-to choice is usually a gift bag in bright colors with tissue paper or ribbon accents. Some party favors, like a water bottle, can stand alone. For party favors the teens will be creating themselves, such as a personalized pillowcase, have gift bags on hand with names already on them for the teens to put in them. The local dollar stores are budget-friendly places to get gift bags and tissue paper in bulk.
However you decide to gift the gifts, as long as you keep an upbeat and positive attitude about it, the kids will think it’s fun. A little goes a long way and the teens will appreciate the effort to make the event more special. Even putting the items arranged nicely on a table with a customized and funny sign would be enough.
Final thoughts on party favors
Keep the items neutral and as basic as possible so anyone can use the item. When deciding on party favors for teens, don’t give in to the temptation to put Susie’s Sweet Sixteen on it. Teens may not want to wear a hoodie that says Paige’s bat mitzvah or Claire’s 17th.
It can be tough to find something for a group of teens that everyone will like. Instead of trying to figure out what the latest trend is, stick with party favors that teenagers can use and will stand the test of time. One of these party favors will definitely be a hit at your teenager’s next party. Fun favors are a lot more personal than a gift card, and something like a personalized key chain or water bottle will be a keepsake for years, while others like blankets and socks will be a cozy reminder of friendship. Don’t overthink it, keep it simple, and set the items up in a clean presentation and the kids will be sure to think the world of your party favors.
