‘Tis the season to start stocking up on gifts, and there’s one thing that even the most seasoned parent always finds themself scrambling for in the end: stocking stuffers. When chosen carefully, the best stocking stuffers for kids can be just as exciting—if not more than the larger gifts under the tree.
The best stocking stuffers for kids can get as much mileage as the larger gifts under the tree.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
We found smaller, bite-sized gifts found to tuck into their stockings that go beyond the usual junky tchotchke they’ll likely forget about in a week. These are the gifts and toys they’ll actually play with and use for the holiday season and beyond. Whether you’re looking for practical ideas, funny stocking fillers or trendy toys, we spoke with both parents and children to curate a list of the best stocking stuffers for all the kids in your family, from babies to teens.
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Goliath Jelly Blox Creative Kit
Ideal of kids ages two and up, these tactile blocks can keep them entertained long after the Christmas tree is gone. “Once you take these blocks out of the box, they can easily fit in a stocking. They’re great sensory toys for kids who crave tactile sensory input from textures that feel squishy and almost like putty,” says Courtney Peebles, founder of Montessori-inpsired toy company Solobo. Little ones love exploring the different textures of the various pieces (some are filled with beads or sand), our testers found.
Out of all the card games I’ve stuffed in my kids’ stockings, this is the one that gets played with the most. While it says it’s for age 8 and up, thanks to incredibly easy-to-follow rules, even my newly turned 6-year-old can play it with her tween sister and have a total blast.
My kids and I are all obsessed with these socks and won’t wear anything else anymore. This adorable holiday-themed set can last them all year long—they’re thick, comfy, stay up, and don’t get holes in them quickly unlike some of their thinner counterparts.
These are definitely pricier than other hand sanitizers, but my kids actually use it consistently because it doesn’t sting, is flat and easy to toss in a purse or backpack, and keeps their hands moisturized, which makes it totally worth the investment for me. This three-pack can be divided among multiple stockings. “They smell edible and feel good on my hands,” says Prim, age 10.
Many big kids and tweens are all about everything kawaii (which means “cute” in Japanese), and these adorable cat gel pens are exactly that. “They’re so cute and I use more of my stationary so I can have an excuse to use them,” says Finley, age 11. Sold in a set of 12, you can split them up into various stockings, or even keep some for yourself.
These versatile grid blocks come packaged in a slim tube ideal for slipping into stockings. They’re big with the preschool/kindergarten crew whose fine motor skills are now dextrous enough to fit the small pieces together. Six-year-old Everleigh says, “They’re colorful, fun and you can make anything you want with them.”
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Biggest Little B Is For Ball
“This ball is a great stocking stuffer option for children as young as 6 months old,” shares Peebles. “It’s open-ended and adaptable, which allows it to be used in endless ways and can continue to be used as a child grows.”
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Stocking Stuffer Mad Libs
Whether you’re heading out on a family vacation this winter break or just need a fun activity everyone can do together, Mad Libs are a classic that never goes out of style. This holiday-themed version will guarantee everyone in the family is laughing this Christmas.
From young to old, every kid loves Squishmallows. These six 2-inch mini Squishmallows are the perfect size for filling stocking fillers, although just be ready for the kids to start attempting some bartering with their siblings to get the Squishmallow they really wanted. If you’re shopping for a bigger crowd, you can get Squishville friends in packs of 12.
If you’ve got a Pokemon-lover in the house, this one is an easy win. Slip a pack or two of new Pokemon cards in their stocking and watch them lose it with excitement over which characters could possible be inside. This set comes with three booster packs of 30 cards from various Pokemon series.
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Lego City Go-Karts And Race Drivers
Kids 5 and up can build this mini Lego set and race them around afterwards all holiday long. “I love building Legos and playing with them with my other Lego characters and creations after I’m done,” shares 7-year-old Olivia.
Whether your little one is always drawing on themselves or your older kid wants to decorate themselves or teammates for special sporting events, these skin-safe temporary tattoo markers can leave a lasting impression for a couple days then wash away. “These are super cool—you can use the stencils it comes with or make your own designs, and then they wash off when you want to change it up again,” says 11-year-old Ariel.
These colorful reusable sticks are not only bendable, they’re slightly sticky so kids can mold them to create all sorts of shapes and objects. “These are our go-to when eating out or on a plane ride,” shares mom of two and former kindergarten teacher Chelsee L. The package shape also neatly packs into a stocking.
I love a stocking stuffer that’s both fun and practical. This cool new mineral sunscreen comes with a paintbrush-like top so kids can simply squeeze and paint the sunscreen all over their face. They’ll feel like their face painting or putting on makeup while getting the sun protection they need. That’s what I call a win-win.
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Mushie Silicone Nature Teething Ring Toy
This, dare we say it, gorgeous, teething ring is the perfect little something to drop into Baby’s first stocking. They can drool, chew on, and play with the textured charms and soothe their achy gums by chomping on the beaded ring. It also doubles as a rattle.
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Meavia Mini Sensory Octopus Plush Toy
“This mini octopus is a great stocking stuffer option,” says Peebles. “It features tentacles with different textures, allowing children the opportunity to explore each one.” It even has a stroller clip so you can attach it to their car seat or stroller handle to keep toddlers occupied anywhere you go.
If you have a tween in the house who’s super into beauty products, this at-home pedicure kit is just what their stocking needs. Each box in this two-pack includes a sea salt soak, sugar scrub, mud mask, gel mask and a creamy massage butter to really keep their feet baby soft.
This has been another one of my traditional stocking stuffers for when each of my kids was toddler-aged. The kit can be opened up to easily fit in a single stocking and comes with four small cans of Play-Doh and all the tools they need for designing some imaginative creations.
Whether they love superheroes, cars or both, this Batman-themed set includes a Batmobile, Jokermobile, police car and more. “Hot Wheels are so fun to play with, especially when I roll them down the stairs,” says 6-year-old Isaac.
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Munchkin Draw Bath Crayons
All my kids loved these as toddlers during bathtime, or even when we just needed to reset the day after a particularly grumpy morning. They can get as messy as they want and scribble on the tub walls to their heart’s content.
Mini Star Wars fans will love this keychain featuring a Stormtrooper in a debateably ugly holiday sweater. They can press its chest and marvel as both of its feet light up, making this a surprisingly practical stocking stuffer.
Fuzzy socks are one of my go-to stocking stuffers. My kids always outgrow the ones from the year before (or lose them) and they’re perfect for lounging in all winter long. As an added bonus, if you have small feet you can “borrow” them once in a while. This three-pack of neutral and oh-so-cozy socks can be split up into multiple stockings to stretch your dollar even further.
“I love brain teasers and take this book in the car all the time when I know we’re going on a long drive,” shares 10-year-old Sage. Packed with over 300 riddles, it’s best suited for kids age 10 and up.
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve published dozens of toy and gift guides for kids ranging in age from babies to tweens—and beyond.
The author, Esther Carlstone is a who is a longtime parenting editor and mom of three. She has extensively covered the best toys/gear/gifts for kids of all ages for over a decade.
This story was edited by Margaret Badore, who oversees the baby and kids gear section of Forbes Vetted. She closely follows the toy and kids gear market, regularly attending press briefings and industry events.
We consulted with Courtney Pebbles, founder of Montessori-inspired toy company Solobo Toys (and a mom herself) to gain insights on inclusive stocking-stuffer appropriate toys for kids of all developmental stages and abilities.
To find the best stocking stuffers for kids, we relied on first-person testimonials from kids and parents, enlisted the help of an expert and considered various factors.
We considered factors like age range, durability, practicality, popularity, price and size (after all, it has to easily fit into a stocking).
We interviewed both parents and their kids to gain insights into what stocking stuffers have traditionally always been a hit (and not just tossed out in a month) and what kids of various ages were into this year.
We dug into customer reviews to ensure that the products we pick have high star ratings and a high majority of positive feedback.
We tried to select a wide variety of products that work across various ages and stages and interests.
We also considered what type of toys and products were trending this year with various age groups.
We enlisted the help of an inclusive toy expert to ensure some of the toys on our list would be appropriate for kids of all abilities.
