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In the good old days, we could give out sweets and other titbits as prizes but in these days of allegies and over-protection (IMHO) that could be a 'no-no', What do you give as prizes? Stickers?

Well I know you can buy mini wands for pretty cheap for like 25-50p from some shops just give those out to kids

Just ask the parents/organisers beforehand. Not all parents are overprotective, and allergies from sweets don't exist/are very rare. It's just the media like to make a big deal out of sweets making kids hyperactive (bless their cotton socks)

But if you don't want to hand out sweets, what about balloon animals?

I've always thought sweets were a bit of a useless gift if your performing at a party the kids are going to get tons of sweets.
I usually make some pendulums from coins with a hole in them and red string. The pendulums are then used firstly to find a magic circle and are then worn as protective charms for an effect I do later. I let them keep them after the show.
It does depend on the age but I try to give away a 'magical' item. A card with their name on it, a magic ring (check gumball machines), a bent coin or even a lightly decorated wooden stick.
If I'm ever in a situation where I can't get hold of any small magic items I make some origami figures and do something magic with that.

Balloon animals are actually far more dangerous than sweets. In North America they make a great big fuss about them. Some daycares and hospitals won't allow them on the premises.

A child can choke on a broken or uninflated balloon.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:I've always thought sweets were a bit of a useless gift if your performing at a party the kids are going to get tons of sweets.

I've yet to meet a child that did not value sweets above nearly anything else (despite an abundant supply).

the only thing that can improve a kids view of sweets, is more sweets...

thats what my uncle gary used to tell me...

IAIN wrote:
thats what my uncle gary used to tell me...

Ted wrote:
I've yet to meet a child that did not value sweets above nearly anything else (despite an abundant supply).

I think your confusing enjoying a sweet with valueing one. Think back to the last christmas that you were a child, what was your favourite present that year? Was it one of the many sweets you got? Do you evan remember any specific sweets? Do you still have the wrapper for that sweet and do you pick it up now and again and reminisce? If your answer to any of those questions is yes you're either crazy or your one of those people who had to walk twenty miles in the snow to go work down the mill as a child.