Parties can be a wonderful time to get creative with kids. Here are some fun ideas from the Family Food Patch community on how to avoid the 'lolly trap'

Mini Gift ideas

• Stickers
• Fun & colourful fridge magnets
• Animal stamps
• Temporary tattoos
• Crayons and colouring pencils
• Glitter pens
• Badges
• Balloons (normal or helium)
• Curly straws
• Blank colouring in sheets
• Hair clips/bobbles
• Handmade bead bracelets and necklaces
• Packet of plant seeds (herbs and vegies)
• Bouncy balls
• Fruit & vegie play dough cutters
• Novelty hats and glasses
• Mini colouring pads

Crafty Party ideas

• Plant pot to decorate – sow with seeds
• Placemat to colour in/decorate and laminate
• Recipe cards – perhaps food they try at the party: dips/watermelon slushies or fruit smoothies/rice paper rolls etc
• Mini photo frames to decorate (you could take instant photos of each child at the party and present them with a picture to put in their frame)
• Handmade paper windmills
• Wishing wands made from dowling sticks and cardboard stars with ribbons
• Finger puppets (knitted or made from felt)
• Beads and thread

Packaging ideas

• Cardboard noodle boxes-decorate them yourself
• Mini fabric drawstring bags made from odd scraps and offcuts
• Brown paper bags- decorate with crayons, stamps, stickers