11 Stocking Stuffer Ideas Kids Will Absolutely Love


Finding stocking stuffers for kids can be challenging if you are searching for something that can be fun and useful.

They need to be small enough to fit into the stocking because if they don’t then it might as well be another another gift.

Since I love sharing information about toys that are exceptional for a child’s learning and development I will list stocking stuffer ideas that your kids will enjoy and hopefully also learn a bit from.

11 Stocking Stuffer Ideas Kids Will Love

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Travel Spirograph

Spirographs are a fun way to get artistic without having to be good at art!

And if you travel and hate how much time your kids spend on screens this is a way to keep them occupied in the car, on a plane or even riding the train!

This spirograph is recommended for children ages 5+.
Travel Spirograph
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Kids Storybook Torch

I love projector flashlights!

There are many different kinds available and there are some theme based ones.

My son had a Thomas The Train one when he was around 3 or 4.

Projector flashlights can be used for storytelling and creative play which makes them wonderful from a language development perspective.

This one is perfect for language development and storytelling as it comes with these 4 stories: The Ugly Duckling,The Three little pigs,The Cat and the Fox and Little Red Riding Hood!

Be sure to encourage creative story telling!

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Travel Size Wkiki Stix

I have worked with many Occupational Therapists during my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist and they always swore by Wikki Sticks.

They used them for everything including working on fine motor development, kinesthetic learning activities, visual discrimination, fidget tools, etc.

And for older children they can be used as a handwriting tool.

But as a stocking stuffer, Wikki Stix are fun!

Children can use their imaginations to make different shapes or items such as flowers, animals, etc.

They are also a must have for long flights or car rides!

One thing to note, they are not great for toddlers as these sticks (which are sticky) will probably end up stuck to their clothes, the carpet or even the wall, which will cause them to lose their stickiness pretty quickly.

So if you plan on purchasing these for a toddler, supervision is probably a good idea.

And the sticky wax could easily be chewed off.
Super Wikki Stix
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Left Right Crayons

These innovative crayons are perfect for even the younger budding artists – ages 12 months and up!

The left right crayons are ergonomically designed for toddlers still figuring out which hand to use for writing/drawing.

They are made of a non-toxic, eco-friendly polymer and best of all, they are erasable!

These crayons encourage creativity and fine motor skills while being comfortable to hold no matter which hand your child tries while holding them.

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Coggy

Coggy, also by Fat Brain Toys is perfect for kids ages 6+

This brain teasing toy is a connected group of 16 colorful gears that can be folded into positions to match the challenges on the image cards.

It’s a new spin on the classic rubix cube.

There are 40 challenges to complete and it comes with detailed instructions.

The chain of 16 gears measures about 14″ long.

Coggy is a brain teasing game that encourages visual spatial skills and critical thinking!

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Jacob’s Ladder

This classic toy is mesmerizing for kids (and adults) of all ages.

It’s a great toy for the development of fine motor skills, cause and effect learning and experimentation.

Kids can play around to see what shapes they can fold the blocks into.

Plus, it makes a great fidget or calm down toy because it can get pretty mesmerizing!

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Simon Micro Series Game

Do you remember the game Simon?

Now there is a mini version available and is recommended for children ages 8 and up.

With the memory maze game your children can challenge their short term memory by trying to remember the sequence that the lights are making.

A buzzer will sound when a mistake has been made.

In addition to being a fantastic stocking stuffer this game is a must have for long car rides!
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Zombie Plant

It’s a plant that’s also a zombie.

Well not really, but once it has grown (takes a few days for the seeds to sprout) and you touch the leaves, the plant will play dead.

But don’t worry, it will come back to life again after a minute or 2.

You will get 2 sets here which is also nice.

And this is a great opportunity to talk with your child about the life cycle of a plant and what plants need to survive.

Ask your child what may be making the plant play dead?  Is it really a Zombie?
Zombie Plant stocking stuffer

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Melting Snowman

This is another snowman your child can build.

It comes with the snowman accessories and the snowballs you can form.

And you don’t have to wait for the spring for him to melt.

After he has been built sit back and watch him start to melt.

Ask your child what may be causing him to melt?

Think of other things you can make and then watch them melt.

This is also a great way to practice vocabulary words with a younger sibling.  Label each item you are putting on the snowman!
melting snowman stocking stuffer

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Head Lamp

This may seem like an odd suggestion for a kids stocking stuffer but my kids have these and love them!

They use them in their forts, when they pretend to go mining and of course for our family camping trips (both indoor and outdoor ones).

There are so many uses for these headlamps that will lead to creative pretend play!
Rechargeable headlamp flashlight stocking stufferget best price button

Celestron Kids Pocket Zoom Microscope

This pocket microscope is ideal for children ages 5+.

It’s perfect for taking on hikes or exploring in your backyard as it is small enough to fit into your pocket.

This little gadget is strong enough to see the hair on an ants leg!

Its zoom capability ranges from 60x to 120x the size of the specimen being viewed.

It does require 1 AAA battery which needs to be purchased separately.

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There you have it!

I hope that this has taken some pressure off of you and that these really are stocking stuffer ideas kids will be thrilled to find Christmas morning!

26 Comments

  1. Donny

    I have been wondering what I should get for my older brother’s kid.  I think the 4 in 1 jigsaw puzzle might be perfect for him.  He is 4 and calls the cat a dog at times. Is 4 still too young to know the difference though? 

    And do you think the puzzle would do for him because last time I checked he literally used everything he got as a car.  Kids will be kids I guess, I’ll try to get that puzzle for him and see how it works out.

    Thank you

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Hi Donny,

      To answer your question, a 4 year old should know the difference between a cat and a dog.  If there are other red flags you are noticing perhaps mention something to your brother.  You can refer him to this website if you would like.

      It is also a bit concerning that he is using everything as a car.  Does his play vary at all?  I think a puzzle would be a great idea.  Here are some wonderful puzzles along with tips for language development and learning

      Reply
  2. Paul

    Hi Tanya,

    Thanks a lot for the informative and insightful article with loads of valuable ideas. Since Christmas is around the corner, I got great ideas and many options to provide the kids in our church. Being a Sunday school teacher, this post means a lot to me.

    Also, since I am on a budget, I am glad to know that the price is under $20 for all of these toys.  The Kids Storybook Torch sounds interesting to me and it will be beneficial when I tell stories to the kids. Heard a lot of good things about Wkiki Stix and it’s on my list.

    I am going to share your article with the rest of the Sunday class teachers in our church and I believe they will find great value. Thanks again for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      You’re welcome Paul!  And thanks for sharing the article with your fellow Sunday class teachers!  Wikki Stix are one of my favorites on this list!

      Reply
  3. Gomer

    This site deserves a bookmark as the holiday shopping season is approaching! There are plenty of gift items for our kids and I’m sure they’d love to receive any of these unique gifts in their stockings Christmas morning. I like the ones that can help the child learn something new, just like the Travel Spirograph and the Kids Storybook Torch. I’m a godfather to a little girl as well and I’m thinking of buying one of these for her this Christmas.

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Thanks Gomer.  Glad you enjoyed the article and had a chance to browse through the site!  There are so many toys that kids can learn from even if on the surface it doesn’t appear like it.

      I actually do not recommend “academic” toys, especially for young children.  Here’s why!

      Reply
  4. Shawn

    Wow, this article is the one I was looking for.

    I have a 5 year old nephew that I want to give a small Christmas gift to.

    I love all the toys introduced in the article – it’s great for me because I don’t have kids of my own and always struggle to know what kids might want.

    I think he will love the  “Do you want to build a snowman” toy.

    My nephew is a big fan of Frozen and he really loves Olaf.

    Thanks for saving my time choosing a Christmas gift!

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      You’re welcome Shawn!  These stocking stuffer ideas will definitely make great gifts as well, especially if you are looking for something small!  I’m sure your nephew will love the Do You Want To Build A Snowman toy!

      Reply
  5. Andy Zeus Anderson

    Wow, a bit of nostalgia in some of these awesome kids stocking stuffer ideas. I especially like Simon game for brain training and memory development. I think this game helped me get all those high marks in public school. I also used to love my old viewfinder which the Storybook Flashlight reminds me of a great deal. None of these are that expensive either and they can all bring delight on Christmas day. Thank you for your time in research of some amazing gift ideas. BTW Nice Blog.

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Thanks Andy!  Glad these toys were able to bring back some happy memories for you!  I love the Simon game too.  I had the big version of this when I was a child.  It kept my sister and I entertained for hours!

      Reply
  6. Rob S.

    These are great stocking stuffers for kids!

    I remember spirograph when I was a kid. I loved it!

    Simon and the travel spirograph and the others are all things kids would love to find in their stockings. What I like too is that they are unique. They are not just a toy for a stocking kids might normally find on Christmas morning!

    I think kids may be so involved with their stocking stuffers and forget the big presents! Great stuff!

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      I had a spirograph too!  I had so much fun creating with it.  Simon is also a wonderful classic game.  I love this small version because it’s great for long road trips!

      Reply
  7. Ngonidzashe Manzwangani

    Thanks for the great list of stocking stuffer ideas, I always have such a hard time coming up with stocking stuffers for my two kids. I love the Dinosaur fossil kit and the Travel Size Wkiki Stix.  My kids love learning new things and I am sure they will be kept busy by these stocking stuffers. Thank you so much, I had a lot of takeaways from your article. I have bookmarked your website for future reference

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      You’re welcome! My kids have received the Dinosaur Fossil Kit in their stockings a few years ago and they both loved it!  The Wikki Stix are great too.  There are so many things kids can create with those and they are great for strengthening fine motor skills.

      Reply
  8. William

    Tanya, thank you for the great ideas!

    With the Christmas season coming up very soon, it is very important to start getting gift ideas in order, and this article has definitely benefited me and my search for Stocking Stuffers as well main gifts – perfection!

    I know of a few, young members of my family that would largely benefit from having such toys in their toy box arsenal, as the same toys have helped my little sister with cognitive functions at a young age, in fact many toys you mentioned are the same ones she had in her early years of grade school and she definitely excelled!

    All the best,

     – William

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Thanks for your comment William!

      Reply
  9. Dianne

    Great stocking ideas here. 

    I must say though that as my children are now teenagers I have moved from Xmas morning Stockings to Xmas eve boxes. But I did find some great items in your article that I know my young nephews will love so I will send my sister-in-law the link.   She always struggles finding practical stocking stuffers for the boys.

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Thanks Dianna, 

      I hope that your sister in law will find some stocking stuffer ideas for her kids on this list!  Thanks for sharing it with her.

      Reply
  10. Charlotte

    I’ve been looking for new stocking fillers and these are great ideas. Simon is a favorite. Ours broke last year but it’s fun for the kids so I will definitely get another. 

    Is there any other recommendations you have? 

    The zombie plant was an interesting one as well. I will look in to it the boys might like it. Thanks for the post

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Hi Charlotte,

      I love the travel Simon game!  It’s great that there is a small version available now.  When I was a kid there was only the big one.

      What are the ages of your kids?  That would give me a better idea of stocking stuffer toys to recommend.

      Reply
  11. Kirsten

    Awesome ideas! I will definitely be getting a few of these cool stocking stuffers for my boys! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Thanks Kirsten! It can be challenging to find useful and fun stocking stuffers for kids. I’m done getting stocking stuffers at the dollar store that end up in the garbage a few days later.

      Reply
  12. Craig

    Wow these are really great ideas for stocking stuffers with Christmas coming up (at an alarming rate!) so thanks for the great information.

    I like the jigsaw puzzles in a tin and they look perfect for my son who is 3 years old. He is starting to take an interest in things like this. Would that suit his age?

    He may also enjoy the Spirograph, I remember something like that when I was a kid.

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Hi Craig,

      I can’t believe how quickly Christmas is creeping up on us.

      The puzzles could be a bit tricky for a 3 year old, but if you son likes puzzles and can do simple ones then these could provide a nice challenge for him.

      The Spirograph is also meant more for older children, but there isn’t any reason why a 3 year old can’t give it a try!

      What about the little projector flashlight?  My kids loved those when they were between 3 and 5.  Actually, I bet they would still like them (they are 8 and 10 now) if we still had them around.

      Good luck with your Christmas shopping!  If you don’t have Amazon Prime yet, you should look into it.  Then you can do last minute shopping but still get your items sent to you within 2 days!

      Reply
  13. Pitin

    Hello,

    I am looking for a Christmas gift for my 33-month-old daughter. She likes small stuffed toys, small figurines, and any character as long as it is small.

    The ninja erasers look like something she will like. 🙂 However, you specifically stated that it is not for kids below 3. My daughter is only 3 months away from her 3rd birthday. Do you think that’s okay? What makes it not okay for kids below 3?

    Thank you.

    Regards,
    Pitin

    Reply
    1. Tanya (Post author)

      Thanks for your comment and questions Pitin! Your daughter sounds just like my son. But he is 7. He loves all the small figurines and little toys. The reason the Ninja erasers are not recommended for children under 3 is because the erasers are small to begin with (hence their low cost), but when taken apart the pieces are even smaller. This could cause a choking hazard. It really is up to you. If your daughter is used to playing with toys with small pieces then she is probably fine. Or you could make sure to be watching her while playing with them. But if you have any concerns you could always wait a while.

      Perhaps she would like the head lamp or the flashlight projector. My kids love both of these items and had them when they were around 3. They still love these!

      Reply

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