Lovely birthday

Birthday Gifts for Friends That Elementary School Kids Will Love

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Once kids start elementary school, they often get invited to friends’ birthday parties.

Here are some gift ideas for elementary schoolers that their friends will love!

We’ve gathered a variety of options—classic stationery, popular character goods kids adore, and everyday items that lift their spirits when they use them.

Feel free to use this as a reference.

Even a small gift can become memorable with thoughtful wrapping!

Think about what your friend likes and have fun choosing a present!

[For Elementary School Students] Birthday Gifts That Will Delight Friends (11–20)

alarm clock

How about giving an alarm clock—a must-have for everyone, kids and adults alike—as a gift? Even people who are great at waking up in the morning still need an alarm clock, and for those who struggle to get out of bed, it’s the perfect present! Maybe choose an alarm clock featuring a character your friend loves, or for someone who has a hard time waking up, go for a powerful, loud one.

Let’s give a mood-boosting clock that makes even gloomy mornings a little more fun!

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message board (with group messages), group card, or collective autograph

Surprises that you’ll want to look back on later are wonderful, aren’t they? With that in mind, I’d like to introduce the idea of giving a group message.

It’s a very simple concept, but it warms the heart, and you can revisit it later or even display it.

You can write on a standard message board (shikishi), or on a handmade message card, or even on the gift itself.

Try arranging it freely with your own ideas.

Another recommendation is to paste photos into an album and add group messages there.

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Candy backpack

Do you know about “candy backpacks”? They became popular mainly among high school students in South Korea and are gaining attention in Japan as a new way to surprise someone.

The idea is to make a backpack by attaching snack bags together.

For the shoulder straps, recreate them using snacks that come in small packets linked together.

With this surprise, the overall color scheme and sense of unity are also important.

Decide on the design carefully before assembling it.

By the way, you can also make the backpack by combining boxed snacks.

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candy umbrella

A surprise that’s gone viral on social media is the candy umbrella.

The idea is to decorate a clear vinyl umbrella by attaching candy bags to it and give it as a gift.

The charm is that when you open it, it creates a cute, girly vibe.

If the candy bags are too big, you won’t be able to close the umbrella, so adjust that part.

Also, decorating the edge of the umbrella with chenille stems (pipe cleaners) is recommended.

It gives a more fairy-tale-like impression.

Try finishing it in your favorite design.

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A message from the box of sweets

A message surprise from a box of sweets♪ <How to make it> Takenoko no Sato version

A message from the box of sweets

Hiding a message card inside a snack is a great surprise because you can hand it over naturally without raising suspicion.

Simply open the package from a spot different from the main opening, slip the card in, and use double-sided tape to restore it so it looks unopened—easy, right? Just be careful: if the box looks warped, it’s more likely to give you away.

If a casually given snack contains a congratulatory message, the birthday person will probably feel twice the joy.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Handmade album

A handmade album filled with memorable photos is perfect for a birthday surprise for a priceless friend.

Simply arranging the photos is lovely, but crafting it with vibrant cut-and-paste decorations reminiscent of a yearbook can make it feel extra special.

Adding a message to each photo is sure to deepen your friendship even more.

And of course, decorating not just the contents but the album itself will make for a festive, one-of-a-kind surprise.

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Hoshino Takashi

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In conclusion

How did you like the birthday present ideas? Have you decided on the gift you were struggling with? If you’re having trouble choosing, I recommend picking a theme and giving several small items.

I hope your friend will be delighted!