The birthday edit · Dubai & UAE
You’ve sorted the cake, planned the games and counted the guests. Now for the party favors: something the kids will be excited to take home, and their parents will be happy to keep.
The best birthday party favors give children something to make, use or come back to. A little plant to care for. A story to read at bedtime. A puzzle they want to finish again. One thoughtful gift can be enough.
Whether you call them party favors, party favours or birthday return gifts, these six ideas are worth considering for your child’s next party in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE.
Our picks focus on play value, practical preparation and life after the party. We make the Kids Garden Grow Kits featured first; the other five are ideas you can put together or source to suit your guests.
Need a party activity and a favor? Kids Garden Party Packs give each child their own complete grow kit. Plant together at the party, then send everyone home with their little pot.
Which party favor fits your birthday?
Start with your guests’ ages, the space you have and how much preparation you want to do. Here’s a quick comparison.
| Party favor | Best fit | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Grow kits | An activity and a favor, with growing to follow at home | Water, a covered table and adult help |
| Mini art kits | Creative play with a flexible budget | A small pad and crayons or pencils for each child |
| Storybooks | A ready-to-give keepsake | Choose a book for the age group and add a message |
| Play dough sets | Children who enjoy making and remaking | A sealed tub and an age-appropriate cutter |
| Small puzzles | A quiet activity children can repeat | Choose suitable pieces and keep each puzzle together |
| Tote bag crafts | A craft party with something useful to take home | Plain bags, suitable fabric markers and drying space |
For purchased items, follow the manufacturer’s age guidance. For mixed-age groups, plan around your youngest guests and arrange adult help for craft and planting activities.
1. Kids Garden Grow Kits: a little garden for every guest
There’s something special about taking home a pot you planted yourself. The party might be over, but there’s still something to look forward to: the first shoot, a new leaf, and the moment a child says, “I grew that.”
That’s why Grow Kits are our first choice for a birthday party favor. Children get to do something together, then keep caring for their own little plant at home.
Our Kids Garden Party Packs bring together complete kits with Mimosa, Basil and Cherry Radish seeds. Each kit has an 8 cm bamboo pot, a peat-free coir growing disc and a seed bag, with instructions on the packaging.
Two easy ways to use them: make planting part of the birthday party, or give each guest an unopened kit to enjoy with their family later. The second option works well when your venue has limited time or space.
Best for: children aged 3+ with adult supervision. A good fit for garden, jungle, bug, science or simply colorful birthday themes. Families can start on a sunny windowsill; follow the instructions for the seeds in each kit.
Choose your Kids Garden Party Pack
| Complete kits | Pack price | Price per kit |
|---|---|---|
| Box of 9 | AED 315 | AED 35.00 |
| Box of 12 | AED 385 | AED 32.08 |
| Box of 18 | AED 559 | AED 31.06 |
| Box of 24 | AED 719 | AED 29.96 |
Prices checked on 13 September 2026; per-kit figures are rounded. Check the product pages for current prices and availability. All four packs qualify for free UAE delivery at these prices.
Count every child who will take part, including the birthday child and any siblings. Compare the boxes of 9, 12, 18 and 24 and choose enough kits for everyone.
2. Mini art kits: a small gift with plenty of possibilities
A small sketchpad and a useful set of crayons or coloring pencils make a lovely return gift. Children have everything they need to start drawing, and the kit can come out again at home or on a trip.
Keep it simple: one pad, a small set of colors and a paper band with each child’s name. Buying supplies in multipacks lets you adjust the size of the kit to your budget. Remember to count complete sets, not individual pencils, when working out the cost per child.
Make it part of the party: invite everyone to draw their own birthday garden, superhero or imaginary animal. Their first picture goes home with the kit.
Choose this if: you want a flexible DIY party favor and don’t mind assembling it. Pick chunky crayons for younger children and pencils for children comfortable using them.
3. A storybook: a birthday thank-you they can read again
A book feels like a proper little present. It can become part of bedtime, be read with a parent, or be passed between siblings. A short birthday message inside makes it personal without needing custom packaging.
Choose an illustrated story for younger guests or a short independent read for older children. In a group with different home languages, check which language each family would enjoy, or consider a wordless picture book.
Make it feel special: set out a small “choose your story” table as guests leave. Keep the options similar in size and value, with enough choice for the last children too.
Choose this if: you want an easy favor with almost no party-day setup. If you split a book collection between guests, make sure each book is a complete story.
4. Play dough and a shape cutter: ready for another round of play
A sealed tub of play dough and a sturdy shape cutter give children an activity they can repeat. Make a dinosaur today, squash it, and turn it into a flower tomorrow.
Party-size multipacks are useful for dividing between guests. Add one age-appropriate cutter to each tub, rather than lots of tiny extras. Keep the original product and ingredient information available for parents, and check it before choosing supplies for the group.
Make it part of the party: give children a simple challenge, such as making a pretend birthday cake. Send the dough home in its closed tub so it’s ready to use again.
Choose this if: your guests enjoy making things with their hands and you have a wipe-clean surface. Follow the age rating on both the dough and the cutter.
5. Small puzzles: a little challenge to take home
A compact jigsaw is a useful birthday party favor when it has sturdy pieces, an appealing picture and a box to keep everything together. Children can finish it, break it up and try again.
Choose the difficulty for the child, not just the birthday theme. Younger guests may enjoy a simpler puzzle with larger pieces; more confident puzzlers may want a bigger challenge. Check the age guidance rather than assuming a small box means a puzzle is suitable for small children.
Make it feel thoughtful: pick animals, gardens, space or another interest your child and their friends share. Give each guest a complete puzzle in its own box or pouch.
Choose this if: you want a tidy, ready-made gift for quiet play after an exciting party. Good storage is part of what makes it worth keeping.
6. Decorate-your-own tote bags: the party bag becomes the present
A plain child-sized cotton tote bag can become a little work of art. Children draw their own flowers, bugs, rainbows or initials, then use the finished bag for books or small treasures.
Provide suitable fabric markers, put a piece of card inside each bag to help stop color transferring through, and follow the marker instructions for drying or fixing the design. Add the children’s names before the activity so everyone takes home the right bag.
Plan for the setup: you’ll need table space, adult help and somewhere to lay the bags flat. Include markers and preparation in your budget. If your party schedule is already full, give the materials as a craft to do at home.
Choose this if: you’re planning a craft birthday and want a favor children can use afterward. The finished bag is the gift; it doesn’t need to be filled with more things.
How much should you spend on birthday party favors?
There’s no amount you have to spend. Set a total you’re comfortable with, then divide it by the number of children receiving a favor. Include packaging, delivery and any extra materials.
A useful comparison: if you have 12 children and a combined activity-and-favor budget of AED 400, the current AED 385 Kids Garden Box of 12 fits within it. That works out to about AED 32.08 per child, with free UAE delivery. Allow separately for any table covering, trays or decorations you need.
If that’s above your budget, a smaller art kit, a book from a multipack or a simple play dough set may be a better fit. The aim is a gift children will enjoy, within a budget that works for your family.
Before ordering, check four things: the final guest count, what each child actually receives, the total delivered price and whether the items will arrive comfortably before the party.
How to turn your party favors into a planting activity
If you choose Grow Kits, a little preparation makes the activity easy to run. Try one kit beforehand, then allow a relaxed slot in the party schedule for planting and tidying up.
- Set up a planting table. Cover the surface, have water ready and use trays if you want to contain the mess. Check that your venue is happy for you to plant there.
- Give each child a kit. Keep the instructions nearby and add a name label to each pot. Arrange adult help for younger guests.
- Plant together. Follow the kit’s instructions to expand the growing disc with water, fluff it and plant the seeds. Let the children do the hands-on parts with help as needed.
- Get ready to take them home. Keep pots upright and send the growing instructions with each family. Have everyone wash their hands before returning to the birthday snacks.
- Give them something to notice next. Ask the children to watch for their first shoot, draw what changes or tell a parent when a new leaf appears. Sprouting times vary with the seeds and conditions.
“And every child left with their own pot to take home.”
Sarra S., parent feedback shared on Kids Garden
For more ideas to keep the experience going, explore what children can discover through gardening.
Birthday party favor questions, answered
What can I give instead of a traditional goodie bag?
Give one complete gift: a grow kit, a small art set, a storybook, play dough, a puzzle or a tote bag craft. Add a short thank-you message and you have a party favor without needing several fillers.
Are Grow Kits suitable for a party in an apartment?
Yes. You can plant on a covered table indoors, and each kit starts in an 8 cm pot. Families need a suitable bright growing spot at home, such as a sunny windowsill, and should follow the care instructions. You don’t need a garden to get started.
What are good party favors for 3- to 5-year-olds?
Simple choices include picture books, chunky art supplies and grow kits with adult help. Kids Garden Grow Kits are for ages 3+ with adult supervision. Check the age rating and parts of any other favor you choose, especially if younger siblings are attending.
Can I buy Kids Garden party favors in bulk?
Yes. Our Party Packs currently include boxes of 9, 12, 18 and 24 complete grow kits. Choose one kit for every child taking part.
Do you deliver party packs across the UAE?
Yes. Kids Garden currently delivers within the UAE. Delivery is AED 15, or free for orders of AED 150 or more. Most orders arrive in approximately two days; delivery runs Monday to Saturday. Order ahead for a birthday and check our shipping policy for processing details. If your party is soon, ask us about timing before ordering.
Do we have to plant the kits at the party?
No. Give each guest an unopened kit to plant at home with a parent, or run a planting activity at the party. Either way, every child takes home their own complete grow kit.
This might be their first ever plant.
A little pot they planted themselves. Something to water, watch and feel proud of. Give every guest a birthday memory they can keep growing.
Complete grow kits · Ages 3+ with adult help · UAE delivery
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