Looking for the best stocking stuffers for kids? Here’s you go!

Stocking stuffers DO NOT need to be junk.

They don’t need to be filled with extra stuff to clutter your house, even more candy, or whatever you could find on Christmas Eve in the Target dollar section (wink).

Stockings can be filled with awesome gifts kids will actually use – without breaking the bank and without overfilling your house.

RELATED: Looking for the best toys for kids? Check out my lists – broken apart by ages.

What are the best stocking stuffers for kids?

I have three kids. Three stockings adds up – on top of a holiday of presents and a month of activities that also add up. It’s an expensive month…

So I came up with a plan to “combat” the cost of stockings, without having to sacrifice the tradition OR buy a bunch of dollar section stuff that’s meaningless and will just clutter up the toy bins.

RELATED: Need some book ideas for kids? I have a list of super cool books to gift!

What am I filling my toddler’s stocking with?

I fill them with things we “need.”

I put in supplies that we can use in our activities and my kids love it. Believe it or not, Santa brought my kids a new stack of construction paper last Christmas and THEY LOVED IT.

Kids don’t need even more flashy toys.

I can give them things that will make life around here even more fun without breaking my budget. It’s the old two birds, one stone thing.

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Best stocking stuffers for kids

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Flashlights

Oh the fun of a simple flashlight. And to have one that is “yours” – this is a 10/10 for kids. We let our kids keep them in their rooms to help with darkness, reading at bedtime, and trips to the bathroom.

Color My Bath

Turning the bath water a different color? It’s basically kid magic! We have had these for 3ish years and haven’t had any issues with staining tubs or kids.

Stickers

Here’s another great deal for siblings – grab a value pack of stickers and give them each a few sheets or books. It makes for GREAT activity supplies later on!

Hand Counters

Go with me on this one: these are in my kids’ stockings this year. Why? We went on a field trip and the leader gave each kid one. Said, “Click every time you see a spider web.” For the ENTIRE HIKE, the kids were entertained above and beyond. Kids love small devices, they love numbers, they love autonomy. These are gold.

There was a three year old on the hike who was arguably the most excited by this so definitely solid for 3+.

Card Games

These card games are perfect for toddlers on up. I love that this is a multi pack which works great for multiple stockings.

• Spot-It (an easy I-spy game for all ages)
• Uno (let this be the Christmas you get Uno – the best for a reason)
• Rat-A-Tat Cat (great for Kindergarten and up)

Tempera Paint Sticks

Stockings are where I put the specialty, fancy art supplies to get us through the winter. Paint sticks are AWESOME.

• Gel Crayons (these are so much fun)
• Oil Pastels (remember these from grade school?)
• Bees Wax crayons (still using these from last Christmas)

Twistable Crayons

A new year, a new box of crayons – that’s my forever motto! This year, I’m going with some fun twistable crayons.

Paint Brushes 

Another that my kids need every year so why not put them in their stockings. Who doesn’t love a new paint brush?

• This set is AWESOME (I love these)
• A great set of BIG brushes

Pom Pom Balls

One of my favorite activity supplies – oh there’s so much you can do with pom pom balls and kids LOVE them.

Chap stick

Love that my kids still go wild for their own chap sticks.

Bath Letters

I always put a new pack of these into someone’s stocking – perfect for bath time and for alphabet activities.

Dot Stickers

There’s nothing better than dot stickers and a fresh pack is just full of possibilities!

Roll of Paper

Giving a roll of paper is like giving a blank canvas. So many possibilities with this.

Multi-colored Pen

You remember this from childhood and you loved it. It’s their turn now…

• Gel Pens (oh my gosh, my kids feel so fancy with these)
• Flare Pens (also these are on my wish list)
• More Multi-colored Click Pens

Watercolor Paints 

Another great stocking tradition – a fresh set of paints for the fresh new year.

• A fancier watercolor set (we upgraded to these as the kids got older)
• Our favorite washable tempera

Band-Aids

As long as my kids are young enough to think fancy Band-Aids are awesome in stockings, I’m going to keep on adding them. I give each sibling a different pack.

• Unicorns
• Tie-Dye
• Outer Space

Pipe Cleaners

What a perfect, open ended supply for a Christmas stocking!

Stop Watch

I put this in a stocking a few Christmases ago on a whim… one of my best whims ever. Guess what kids love to do? Time stuff. Have fun!

Post-It Notes

These little sticky gems occupy my kids for hours – I always buy a bulk pack like that and put 1-2 colors in each stocking.

Bath Bombs

Last Christmas, I tucked a few of these in each stocking (saved the rest for later). I was perfect and made for a great excuse for a mid-Christmas morning calming bath.

Plastic Tongs

One of our favorites – plastic tongs. A simple but amazing activity supply – for sensory bins and transfer activities. They are so versatile!

Doodle Pads

We love a small pad of paper around here so I tucked one of these into each stocking last year. They are perfect sized (6×9 inches).

Magnetic Wands

This is an amaze and amazingly random gift – magnetic wands. There’s so much kids can learn and do with these. They typically come in a six pack, so I put 1 in their stocking (and save others for random birthday gifts throughout the year)

Water Beads

Have you played with water beads yet? Oh they are the best BUT please use good judgement as these are NOT taste safe.

HERE’S A LINK TO SOME WATER BEAD ACTIVITIES IF THESE ARE NEW TO YOU.

Dice

Obviously these are a choking hazard so think thoughtfully if having dice will work for your kids. For mine, they love nothing more than tossing the dice around and making up games – now they don’t have to steal from Monopoly to do it!

Decorative Tape

My kids love this stuff for their art so I make sure to include rolls from a set like this in everyone’s stocking (I put a few rolls in each stocking).

Googly Eyes

It’s a “specialty item” which is why it’s a fun treat to get in their stocking!

The best stocking stuffers for kids!

You don’t need to buy more expensive toys or clear the dollar section aisles for filler gifts.

Stockings are a great way to get kids the supplies they need for amazing activities to come.