How We Do Stocking Stuffers for Kids
I LOVE Christmas stockings.
They feel like the perfect kick-off to Christmas Morning and some of my best memories are coming down to find our formerly-empty stockings bulging with surprises.
Our general philosophy for stocking stuffers for kids in our family is that stockings shouldn’t cost a fortune. I want them to have some fun things, some useful things, and some tasty things.
Bart’s family did food-only stockings his whole growing up (and they still do – last year, when his entire family was in town for Christmas, his parents prepared 34 complete stockings all packed with fruit, candy, chocolate, and Pringles (for Bart, Pringles in stockings are a non-negotiable).
For my family, there were always treats but also a few other items (socks and underwear, always – my mom said “I get credit for big gifts – Santa can give socks and underwear.” To be fair, none of us ever actually believed in Santa, so my parents got credit for the socks and underwear too).
Now with our own family, our stocking stuffers for kids are a hybrid of our families with a little spin of our own.
Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Here’s what our children generally get in their stockings on Christmas morning:
- Fancy Chocolates. Ella LOVES Peppermint Bark so I always get her a bar of this and I buy a couple assorted bags of Lindor truffles and pop them in the toe of the stocking. It’s a fun last little surprise after everything else has been unpacked!
- Pez Dispensers. I don’t know how this even started, but we always got Pez in our stockings when I was growing up, and now my girls always look forward to a new one on Christmas morning.
- Art supplies. My girls are crazy about art supplies and I like to include a few in their stockings each year. I picked up a 25 pack of colored pencils for Star and a multi-pack of super cute washi tapes that I’ll divide between their stockings. And, because my girls specifically asked for it, I’m putting a roll of Scotch tape in each stocking.
- Cosmetics. One of my favorite things to get in my stocking when I was growing up was a new chapstick or nail polish. I love a pack of mini nail polishes that I divide up between their stockings.
I feel like stockings stuffers for kids are one of the most fun things to shop for – I love checking out the aisle of Target or Walmart or Tuesday Morning wandering through the aisles and finding fun little gifts to slip into their stockings on Christmas Eve.
I really think stockings might be the most fun shopping of all during the holidays.
I’d love to hear what you put in stockings!
Photos by Heather Mildenstein
Santa only brings stockings at our house so I try to put in a nice gift or two mixed with some treats and practical things (fancy spin toothbrushes). So far I have earrings for my oldest daughter, and some containers of cotton candy that will take lots of space.
Stockings are my favorite part, too–and I also love to balance practical with fun. Our kids usually get fun new toothbrushes and socks as well as Pez and bath bombs. We always got Tic Tacs in our stockings growing up, and my mom still carries on the tradition, making sure everyone gets their favorite flavor.
I ordered a really nice Kaleidoscope for my daughter this year for her stocking.
For me growing up, there was always a Terry’s chocolate orange and a candy cane, nuts, and an apple or orange in the toe. And then a small gift like a gift card or pair of earrings. Lip balms and toothbrushes made regular appearances as well.
Glow sticks and fun bandaids!