50 Stocking Stuffers For Kids (2024 Top Picks)

Choosing stocking stuffers for kids is always one of my favourite things about Christmas and the holidays.

It’s so fun to spend time picking out just the right item and watching the kids’ faces as they reach down to see what is next.

In the past, I was definitely guilty of going for quantity over quality. I would panic at the last minute and end up buying junky little stocking stuffers from the dollar store.

Half the time my kids played with their stocking stuffers for a few minutes and then they just joined the junk at the bottom of the toy box.

If you are looking for stocking stuffer ideas for kids that don’t break before new year and don’t break the bank either, keep reading for my top picks for 2022. 

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This list of 50 useful stocking stuffers for kids will give you some ideas for all ages.

Choosing things that your children will actually use and appreciate will mean less waste – both of your money and of resources in general.

If you have a younger baby and are looking for some good ideas for their stocking, make sure to check out my list of 20 Baby Stocking Stuffers which is perfect for newborns to toddlers. 

MORE CHRISTMAS IDEAS FOR KIDS

25 Cute Christmas Snacks for Kid Parties

10 Ways to make baby’s first Christmas special

If you want to to cut back on the junk this holiday season, one way to control your holiday spending is to have a clear idea on what you are planning to buy your kids.

In our house, we love to do the 4 gift giving plan:

• Something to wear

• Something to read

• Something they want

• Something they need

In fact, if you want to use this idea yourself, you can grab my free printable want, wear, read, need letter to Santa. 

I’ve used the idea of the 4 gifts to create the list so you can choose a couple of things from each section for a well-rounded stocking.

This plan also stops me going overboard on Dollar store junk which I have done in the past. 

50 Useful Stocking Stuffers For Kids

 

Something to Read

• A Magazine (or subscription card)

• A bath book

• A cloth book – this one was a huge hit at our house.

• An audiobook (cd?)

• Water Wow! Pads 

These travel friendly coloring books are perfect for car journeys or restaurants.

You simply fill the pen with water and then the “color in” the pages with your water pen.

My kids have used these since they were 2 and still love them at age 5.

The other great thing is that they are totally reusable as once the paper dries, the pages go white again. 

• Wordsearch/Puzzle books

• Sticker Books

These Sticker Dolly Dressing books are awesome.

I have actually already bought 2 for each of my daughters for this Christmas as they will spend hours working on them. Once they are complete, you have a new storybook too! 

They come in many different topics from professions to ballets to animals. 

 

• A journal or notebook to write in.

I love giving a special holiday journal that they can use to record their favorite Christmas memories and things we did over the holidays.

My stocking stuffer journal is a free bonus when you buy the Christmas Planner for 2021 and it makes an awesome gift for kids. 

Something To Eat

• The traditional clementine

• Small box of raisins

• Bag of Goldfish crackers

• Fancy cookie

• Hot Chocolate packages like these

• Gold Chocolate Coins at the very end of the stocking

• A favorite chocolate bar or candy

Something To Play With

• Bath crayons

Let the kids get messy without ruining the couch with these bathtub crayons from Crayola.

• Markers

• Stickers

• Sidewalk Chalk

• Play silks 

  Play silks are great for imaginative play and dancing around the living room! 

• Glow sticks/Glow bracelets

• AquaDoodle

My kids got this Aquadoodle for Christmas a few years ago and they still use it weekly.

It’s another mess-free solution that I am a fan of.

Sometimes when the kids want to do painting but I can’t handle it, I get this out and they go to town “painting” with water. 

• Character duct tape

What child doesn’t love tape? A roll of fun duct tape is always a hit in the stocking. 

• Fun Post-it notes

These ones that come in different shapes. 

• Mini Play-doh

• A mini coloring book

Something To Wear

• Cute new socks

• Winter hat

• Mitts

• Hair Bows or clips

• Underwear

• Sunglasses

• Cozy Slippers

Something Useful

• Name tags for clothing and toys

 I love these birthday party favor packs from Mabel’s Labels – get 30 labels and a metal bag tag in each set, they make great stocking stuffers. 

You get 6 sets in each package and have a different design in each one. I gave them to all of my nephews last year as holiday add-ons and they were really well-received. 

• A toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Sippy Cup or travel mug

I love Funtainers – you can choose from a range of characters and they really do keep drinks cold all day.

 

• Bubble Bath

• Lip balm

• Water Bottle

• Mini packet of tissues

• Fun Band-aids like these Pokemon band-aids

• Dental Floss

• Headphones 

We got these Disney Princess Headphones and they were one of her favorite gifts last year.

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Something For Another Day

Keep the fun going after Christmas day with a special gift or outing that you can plan for.

• • • • A cookie cutter in a fun shape

      • Cupcake liners

      • Cookie or cupcake mix

      • Tickets to a show (local theatre, movie tickets)

      • Personalized Thank you notes – check Vistaprint or Shutterfly for ideas.

      • A small gift card for a special drink out

      • Groupon for a local attraction such as bowling or the zoo

You might also like:

25 Cute Christmas Snacks For Kids

How to Make an Easy Snow Globe Ornament

Free Printable Christmas Scavenger Hunt for Kids