Simple Stocking Stuffers for Kids

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I have always been surprised by some of the things I see people sharing on social media about what they put at stocking stuffers in their kids’ stockings. Some of them are like $10 gifts! Or more! I guess it is all just what you grew up with…or which tax bracket you live in now! But when I was growing up, it was always just candy and a chapstick. Occasionally you might get something else small, like a travel lotion or hand sanitizer. But it was always simple. My husband’s family always got their breakfast in their stocking! I’m not saying a full-on egg casserole was dumped in, but they got prepackaged donuts, an orange, a banana, and maybe a little candy too. Either way, I am saying that my husband and I grew up with very simple and practical stocking stuffers. And I liked it that way. But as a parent I feel like we are always reinventing the wheel. I think that the amount of candy I ended up with at Christmas time was absurd. Along with the fact that I usually had a lot of leftover candy from Halloween still, too. But thinking about my husband’s route of just donuts and a couple of fruit didn’t sit well with me either. I don’t think my kids would be excited to open a banana in their stocking. BUT I did like the idea of breakfast in the stocking. As a kid, I hated waiting 2 hours after waking up to have breakfast and 3 hours before we got to tear into the presents. So this is what we have come up with together for our kids’ stockings. It doesn’t break the bank. It is practical. And the kids still get excited about it.

Bubble bath– Last year we bought a big bottle and then we put it in two travel size containers for each of my kids. Then they each had their own and we just refilled it when it got low. They thought it was so fun and are hoping Santa will bring them more bubbles this year since we ran out. Bath bombs are fun too.

Chapstick– We are a Carmex family, although my husband recently made the switch to Burts Bees which isn’t allowed. But it is what it is. This time of year, my kids are constantly licking their lips and fighting me about putting chapstick on. But they were a lot more willing once we got them their own chapstick.
Lotion– Same thing with the lotion. They loved putting it on every night and it helped keep their hands moisturized through the winter.
Travel hand sanitizer– This was emptied probably faster than it should be, but hey, at least they were clean?
Fun toothbrush– There are so many out there. Last year we got our daughter a toothbrush that sang baby shark for as long as she was supposed to brush her teeth. Super annoying, but she loved it. They also have cool ones that suction to the counter or the mirror. Or the ones that light up for as long as you are supposed to brush. Your kids probably need a new toothbrush anyway, so why not in their stocking.

Temporary Tattoos– My kids are obsessed with these. They always ask to put one on their face like right before church. This variety pack comes with so many themes that could fit different kids’ personalities.

Donuts/mini muffins– This is the breakfast part of Christmas. We do an egg casserole after presents, kind of as a brunch. But this helps our tummies feel better while we open presents together. Costco has a good deal on this if you want 20 pouches.
Good to grow juice/YooHoos– We have also done apple juice boxes as well. But the Good to grow juices are my kids favorites. And by that I mean we never get them, but they ask to get one every time we pass them in the store. So Christmas is a fun time that they can have something we don’t normally get.
Mints– My kids eat these like candy. I guess they are candy. I try to keep them in my bag during the year for church, but they just get demolished. So it is nice to have their own box that they can decide when and how many they want to eat. The strawberry ones are the favorite at our house.

Gum– Ditto to the mints.
Flashlight– This can be iffy. If you have a kid who on purpose tries to shine these in other people’s eyes, I would say no. But the amount of times my kids ask to use my phone as a flashlight helps me justify this. This pack on Amazon is a good deal, great reviews, and comes with batteries.

Candy– Just a little of their favorites. I like to only put the amount of food in their stocking that I am okay with them eating on Christmas morning without asking me every time if they can have it.
Special markers/paint sticks/pens– We homeschool and we have an artsy kid, so these work for us. But even for older kids, having nice pens for school is good. I’ve said it before, but these paint sticks are so fun. Everyone who comes to our house and tries them loves them.

Dollar section at Target toys– They have new stuff all the time, so even if you look December 1st, it could be worth going again a couple weeks later. They have things that your kids could work on if you have one kid that opens presents super fast and is biting at the bit while they wait for everyone else to open one before they get to again. Like Christmas perler bead kits, or the knock-off Plus Plus toys, or fidget toys.
Hair ties/bows/bobby pins– If your kids haven’t lost all of your hair ties and bobby pins then teach me your secrets.
Yoto card– These can be expensive but I buy the big packs of the MYO yoto cards and then put whatever I want on it and they aren’t too bad doing it that way.

Letter from the Elf– This is something we haven’t done before but I am wanting to start this year. Our kids do so much good each day, and it is easy to overlook or to have it be overshadowed by the mistakes they made that day. This year I want to note nice things they did for each other and write a letter to them from “our Elf”, praising them for being kind and tell them what special kids they are.

Obviously we don’t do all of these in a single year. We usually just pick a few. I’ll add to this list as we try new things and see what our kids enjoyed. I would love to hear your favorite stocking stuffers that you have received or gotten for you kids!

Merry Christmas to you all!