Growing up my family didn’t really celebrate Christmas since my parents were first generation immigrants. Sometimes we had a tree, but we never exchanged presents, believed in Santa, or otherwise celebrated the holiday season. But now that I have kids of my own, the holidays have really become much more magical experiencing it through their eyes. Charlie and Olive have just turned 3 and 5, and it’s the first time where they both will understand Christmas. I can’t wait to do all the fun little traditions we’ve added over the years as they’ve gotten older. We’ll make a gingerbread house, bake cookies for Santa, make salt-dough ornaments and marshmallow garlands for the tree, they’ll go to sleep in their matching Christmas jammies, and we’ll open presents and stockings on Christmas morning. Elf on the Shelf was too ambitious for me, but next year I’d love to try an advent calendar of activities!

We started filling stockings for the first time last year, and I wasn’t sure what to put in them since I’d never had one before. But now it’s become the most fun part of Christmas gifts for me to give, and I try to include things both Charlie and Olive will love. They have so much fun with all the little surprises! I spent about $40/kid this year, slowly gathering each item over the past month. This is what’s going in their stockings this year: doodle books, silly string, floam, Jacob’s ladder toy, finger friends nail stickers, scented markers, knit crowns, Polly Pocket color changer figurine / Hot Wheels Color changer, astronaut ice cream, candy necklace (nostalgic for me!), and chocolate coins. Last year their stockings included:an M&M fan, Pez dispenser, water wheel oil timer, sunglasses, mini flashlights, masking tape, and a mini etch a sketch.

We’d been working on a stocking stuffer Swarm, but I think most people tend to leave the stocking stuffers for last so we weren’t able to pull one together in time. I scoured the web to see what was out there, and decided to pull together my own comprehensive list of stocking stuffers. Even though they’re little gifts, we still want them to be personal and fun to each recipient, and hopefully you can find a couple that your little ones will love. 

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TOYS

rubik’s cube (I like the stickerless variety)
micro cubebot
egg shaker, recorder, harmonica
train
hot wheels
calico critters, mini character figurine, Schleich animals, Playmobil/lego figurine, army men, Little People
nesting dolls
dollhouse dolls/furniture
small plush doll/beanie baby
(scented) stickers
temporary tattoos (our favorite and longest lasting)/animal hand tattoos
shadow puppets
paper box pilot stickers
glow sticks
finger puppets
rocket balloons
slap bracelet
bath toys
bubble bath
color changing bath tablets
glow in the dark stars
jump rope
stress ball
small ball (nerf)
bubbles
wind up toys
top
road tape/autobahn tape
christmas crackers
marbles (for older children)
ball in cup/kendama
binoculars
magnifying glass
compass
headlamp
walkie talkies
playsilks
magnet alphabet/toys
toy camera
slinky
play food
travel puzzle/games
tegu magnetic blocks
kaleidoscope
sound effects machine
card game
dice
pinwheel
bicycle bell
wall decals

A R T  S U P P L I E S

doodle books
watercolor paint palette, paintbrushes, (twistable) crayons, chalk, (scented) markers, color pencils, pencils & erasers, glitter glue pens, oil pastels, stamps/ink pad, masking/painters/washi/scotch tape
water wow coloring book
magic coloring book
scratch art pads
small note pad
yarn
playdoh
dot markers
pipe cleaners/wiki stix
post-its
scissors/edger scissors
single hole punch
craft punches
pencil sharpener
invisible ink pen
personalized name stamp
rainbow dot stickers (easy to peel off for even toddlers)
pencil pouch

D R E S S U P

crowns
wands
animal masks/tails
bracelets
necklaces
earring stickers
cape
superhero mask
lip balm
nail polish

C L O T H E S
sunglasses, socks, mittens, hats, scarves, underwear, shoes, animal slippers, hair clips/ties, headbands, ear muffs, bow tie

T R E A T S

ring pop
push pop
candy canes
jelly beans
gum
pop rocks
box of animal crackers
pez dispenser
pocky
clementine/cutie
box of raisins
fruit gummis
milk straws
hot chocolate packet
popcorn packet
mini cereal box
Santa chocolates
cotton candy snowballs

PRACTICAL

christmas ornament (love ones that are personalized or of your child’s first initial)
character bandaids
character-themed soap
watch
wallet
bookmark
small book
chopsticks
character fork/spoon
character cup
night light
toothbrush (electric, suction)
toothpaste spread head
toothbrush holder
toothbrush timer
hair brush/comb
goggles
photobook (chatbooks, magnets, minibook)
small framed picture
bento supplies
coins
faucet fountain
cookie cutters
small tape measure
digital camera
mini piggy bank
magazine (subscription)
flash cards
straws (silicon)

O T H E R

picture of something larger hidden in the house
scavenger hunt
activity coupons
privilege coupons (stay up late, watch tv show)
gift certificate to movie/ice cream store
DIY story stones
DIY hand warmers