Smart, Age-Appropriate Ideas for Memorable Party Moments
Party packs are a must-have at kiddies' parties — but not all party guests are the same! What excites a toddler might bore a tween, and what works for a 4-year-old could be a choking hazard for a 2-year-old.
To help you create fun, age-appropriate goodies for your child’s next celebration, we’ve broken down what to include in party packs for toddlers, preschoolers, and tweens — using items that are affordable, fun, and easily available in South Africa.
🍼 1. Toddlers (Ages 1–3)
Toddlers are curious little explorers, but they still need simple and safe options.
✅ What to Include:
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Snack Packs: Safari fruit sticks, Flings, mini Marie biscuits
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Soft Toys: Plush keychains, finger puppets
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Board Book or Flashcard: Small animal or shape books
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Stickers: Big and easy to peel
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Crayons & Colouring Sheet: Jumbo crayons preferred
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Bubbles: Always a hit!
❌ Avoid: Small sweets, hard candy, anything with small removable parts (choking risk)
💡 Pack in a colourful paper bag or soft zip bag with their name on it!
🧸 2. Pre-Schoolers (Ages 4–6)
This age group is full of energy and loves creative play. Party packs can be slightly more diverse.
✅ What to Include:
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Snacks & Sweets: Fizzers, Zoo biscuits, mini Nik Naks
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Stickers & Temporary Tattoos
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Mini Puzzles or Games
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Craft Items: DIY mask, pipe cleaners, googly eyes
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Stamps or Stamp Pads
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Small Toys: Mini cars, slinkies, plastic rings, whistles
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Colouring Booklet + Crayons
💡 Tip: Match these items to your party theme (e.g., Peppa Pig, Unicorns, Dinosaurs)
🎧 3. Tweens (Ages 7–12)
Tweens are a bit trickier — they’ve outgrown “baby” things but still want something cool and fun.
✅ What to Include:
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Edgy Snacks: Ghost Pops, mini chocolate bars, jelly sweets
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Activity or Puzzle Book: Sudoku, word search, or riddles
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Cool Stationery: Gel pens, mini notebooks, emoji erasers
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DIY Keychains or Bracelet Kits
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Phone Holder or Pop Socket (budget-friendly options!)
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Lip balm or nail stickers (for girls’ parties)
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Slime or putty tubs
🎒 Bonus Idea: Use drawstring bags or reusable fabric pouches instead of paper bags.
🛒 Where to Shop in South Africa
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Pep Stores – budget toys, snacks, crayons
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The Crazy Store – stationery, puzzles, party fillers
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West Pack Lifestyle – bags, containers, sweets in bulk
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Makro / Pick n Pay / Checkers – snacks and sweet treats
✅ Final Tips for Party Pack Success
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🎂 Match the contents to your theme and guest age group
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💰 Keep it simple: 4–6 items are more than enough
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🏷️ Personalised tags or name labels make each pack extra special
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🌱 Go green where you can – reusable bags, fewer plastics, healthier snacks