One of the scariest parts of being a mum is last minute birthday parties. I’m kidding, of course, but it’s still pretty stressful! It seems like you always find out about these parties about one hour before they start, and you never know what to bring! One of my most favorite things is my emergency gift storage. These are simple, ready-to-wrap gifts that you can have on hand for an unexpected occasion. I thought I’d share a glimpse into my storage of favorite gifts for a kid’s birthday party!
This full list is available on my Amazon storefront.
Favorite Toys
Toys are always a great idea for a kid’s birthday party. However, for stocking a gift closet, you’ll need toys that would be appropriate for a wide variety of kids. This way, when you’re getting ready for a party last minute, you have something available for that particular child. The gifts for my gift storage are “greatest hits” — classic toys that area always a crowd pleaser. These are my favorite toy gifts for a kid’s birthday party:
Melissa and Doug Food Toys
Learning Resources Puzzle Globe
Favorite Books
Books are always a good gift, especially for babies and toddlers who may not be quite old enough to enjoy every toy. There are millions of incredible children’s books out there, but these are some of my favorite book gifts for a kid’s birthday party:
- Harold and the Purple Crayon
- Peek-a-Who?
- What Do You Do With an Idea?
- First Big Book of Why
- Last Stop on Market Street
- You Are (Not) Small
Favorite Activities
This is the special summer section of the gift closet. I always like bringing activities that all of the kids can enjoy. That way, if the host needs a little extra entertainment — you’ve got it! It also helps eliminate some of the kid squabbles that can happy when the birthday baby is getting a present, but the birthday guests are not.
These are my favorite summer gifts for a kid’s birthday party:
- For toddlers – try a big set of blocks (like these magnetic ones!) that all of the kids can play with together.
- For kids 5-10 – try a splash pad or sidewalk chalk
- For older kids – try these reusable water balloons.
I find that having group activities in your gift storage is a huge lifesaver if you get stuck with a boring summer day or you want to surprise your little ones without spending a lot.
Remember: you won’t be prepared for every moment that comes up as a mom. But keeping a gift closet can help you be the hero of the last-minute birthday party invite. And we’ll take the wins we can get!
xoxo Fil
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