What to Put in a Party Favor Box: Candy and Small Gift Ideas by Age
What to put inside is one of the most common questions as a party gets close. The box is sorted; now it's time to decide what goes in it. This guide collects candy and small gift ideas by guest age, sized for a 15.7 × 11.7 × 9.9 cm lunch-box-style treat box.
For little kids (ages 1 to 5)
Choose soft, safe treats: gummies, marshmallows, cookies, small chocolates, raisins or dried fruit. Avoid hard candy, whole peanuts and toys with small parts, which are a choking hazard at this age.
As a little extra: crayons, bubbles, a small coloring book or large stickers.
For school-age kids (ages 6 to 12)
This is where Mexican classics shine: lollipops, gum, spicy candy, tamarind treats, mazapanes, chocolate, small bags of chips and gummies. As an extra, a small toy, a bracelet, a bouncy ball or stickers with the party's character.
Stickers with the character or the birthday child's name are one of the longest-lasting extras: they stay on notebooks and water bottles for weeks after the party.
For teens and adults
Better chocolates, snacks, gourmet candy, mini bottles of hot sauce, a keychain or a logo item for a company event. At weddings and quinceañeras, candied almonds or fine chocolates work very well.
How much to fill and how to avoid problems
There's no need to fill the box to the top: 8 to 12 pieces of candy plus one extra looks full in a box this size. Put together a test box before buying everything so you know how much you need.
Ask about allergies if you're inviting kids you don't know well (peanuts and chocolate are the most common) and, if in doubt, keep a few boxes without those ingredients marked separately.
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