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One of my rites of passage into adulthood was finding myself responsible for filling someone’s Christmas stocking with goodies. I was surprised at how tricky — and expensive! — it could be. But after many years of staying up late on Christmas Eve to deliver the goods, I’ve come up with a formula that works well.
Everything that goes into a Christmas stocking should fall into one of these categories: stuff to eat, stuff to play with, or stuff to use. Need some inspiration? Keep scrolling to read about all my finds for each category, and fill those stockings with confidence.
The prices of items vary, so consider filling up with some less expensive treats and having one or two hero items. Stockings are not meant to be the star of the day, just a fun way to get the festivities started!
Stuff to eat
Trick jelly beans, $9.95 (pack of three boxes)
The last Harry Potter book debuted almost 20 years ago, but Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans are as popular as ever. While they include some wonderfully gross flavors like booger and soap, there is a handy guide on the box so you can avoid (or give away) the ones you don’t want. If you want to take your jelly bean eating to the next level, try a box of Bean Boozled. Each color has two flavors, and there is no way to know which one you’re getting until you pop it in your mouth. Will that yellow bean taste like rotten eggs or popcorn? Only one way to find out!
Surprise candy canes, $6.95 (pack of six)
For the past few years I have taken great joy in giving my kids and nieces candy canes that look normal, but are anything but! They have received candy canes flavored like bacon, buttered popcorn, gravy, pickle and ketchup. Are you brave enough to try the opossum flavor? Yeah, me neither.
Giant candy cane, $19.95 (pack of 6)
I don’t only give my kids inedible “treats” in their stocking. While candy canes maybe be plentiful this time of year, there is something special about a gigantic version. Chocolate oranges are also a welcome sweet treat that fits nicely in a stocking, and it’s something they won’t pick up at 7-11 any other time of the year.
Fruit snacks, $7.97 (box of 40 pouches)
Gummy fruit snacks are a great way to fill up a lot of space in a stocking. They feel like you are eating candy, but are slightly healthier (maybe?). These gummy snack treats shaped like Legos are fun, as long as your kids are old enough to know the difference between the toy and the treats.
Gum, $10 (800 Chiclets)
With sugar or without, there are nearly endless flavors of gum. Toss a handful in your kid’s stocking and everyone wins. And gum is inexpensive — you can pick up a bag filled with 800 Chiclets for $10!
Favorite snacks, cost depends on the snacks (and what you’ve got in the pantry)
Many families have a Christmas dinner, but there are usually hours between stocking time and meal time. I like to give my kids some of their favorite snacks (mini bags of chips, crackers, dried fruit, even an apple or orange) to help keep them happy and not too hungry while dinner is being prepared. It’s also a good way to balance some of the candy I know they are going to be pounding all day. And for some reason, the orange you pull out of your stocking feels more special than the one that has been sitting in the fruit bowl.
Stuff to play with (for more than an hour)
Puzzles or games, $14.99 (12 decks of basic playing cards)
This is another way to provide some screen-free entertainment on Christmas, or the next time you’re out in the world and the kids get restless. A deck of cards is an easy and inexpensive option. You can stick with the basics if you want to keep your budget in check, or go for a fancy or custom print. (I gave my kids decks of cards with a picture of our dog on the cards and it was a total hit.) Other handheld puzzles like a Rubik’s cube or wooden puzzle cubes are also fun and challenging. At the end of the day, scoop the puzzles up and toss them into your bag or backpack, and pull them out again the next time you need an instant distraction.
Travel activity books, $3.94
Even though Christmas is an exciting holiday, there will likely be some downtime to fill. Add an activity book to their stocking for a little quiet, screen-free entertainment. When they finish the book, toss it in the recycling.
Mini figures, $3.82–$10
Entire Lego or Playmobil sets are anything but cheap, but God bless the mini figure! You can find these at many toy stores (or get them online) and they are generally inexpensive. They may be small and plastic, but they won’t be discarded at the end of the day like so many other toys their size. Why not? Because they can be integrated with the toys that are already all over your house. Add them to the Lego or Playmobil box at the end of the day. It’s a total win.
Screen-free, handheld games, $7.99
Last year I decided to encourage my kids to set down their phones and play some different handheld games. You can find lots of options online; I went with a fidget toy popper game, and it was a hit! I had to endure a little bit of popping and noise, but it was worth it to watch my kids and family engage with one another and mess around with some slightly different entertainment.
Simple arts and craft supplies, $5.75 (box of 24 crayons)
There’s something so wonderful about a fresh box of crayons. If you have older kids who enjoy writing or drawing, a nice, fancy pencil might be appreciated. A small skein of yarn would be great if you have a fiber artist in the house (head to Seattle ReCreative for amazing deals!). If your kids are not particularly into arts and crafts, I’d skip this one. The key to Christmas stocking success is getting them items they want and use, not random things to take up space.
Mad Libs, $3.89
These are a great way to fill some time after stockings and before presents or a meal. At my house, we sit around and eat cinnamon rolls after the kids open their stockings. Doing a few Mad Libs while we lick our sticky fingers is a great way to encourage even more family togetherness.
Stuff to use (but still fun to receive)
Rolls of quarters (great for college kids), $10
I found a roll of quarters in my stocking every year when I was in college (and for a few years after graduation when I lived in apartments without a washer and dryer), and I loved and appreciated it.
Coupon book, $7.99 (or make your own for free)
A coupon book may not be the flashiest item they’ll find Christmas morning, but it’s sure to be one they’ll love, and use! There are plenty of online templates to print if you don’t want to make your own, or you can even buy one online and just fill out the pages. You can include coupons for things like “pick your own dinner night,” “movie date with mom,” “a trip to the park,” or “an afternoon at the swimming pool.” Just make sure they are all things you’ll be ready and willing to do at the drop of the hat! Or, set some parameters up, such as a coupon must be given the day before the activity (or whatever works for your family).
Lego key chains, $11 and up
Key chains can be a fun middle ground between a toy and something practical. Help your kids keep track of their house key with these fun Lego character key chains. If Legos aren’t their thing, check out these super cute flashlight key chains. Kids can clip this to their backpack so they can actually see the keyhole on the front door during the Big Dark!
Color-coded phone charger cord, $11.99 (pack of three)
If your kids are like mine, “Where’s the phone charger?” is a constant question. Add one of these cords to their stocking and hopefully the question will be answered! They come in multiple colors, so if you have more than one stocking to fill, everyone can tell which one is theirs.
Socks that hold hands, $9.99 (two pairs)
A fun pair of socks makes a great stocking stuffer. They feel fun and special, while also being something practical that kids will use. Last year I gave these hand-holding socks to my nieces and they were a total hit. Socks with a cape or custom socks are also fun to find on Christmas morning.
Portable phone charger, $23.95
This one is slightly more expensive for a stocking stuffer, but scores high in practicality. These chargers are small, easy to use and come in a ton of colors. If you want to keep your stocking budget low, go heavy with some of the more inexpensive items (gum, fruit gummies, snacks, etc.) and let this be the star of the show.
Crazy Band-Aids, $5.95
These are great for kids (or adults!) of any age. Who doesn’t need a Band-Aid from time to time? From bacon to pickles to Shakespearean insults, you can find a Band-Aid to match everyone’s sense of humor.
Tattoos, $8.97 (67 sheets of tattoos)
Get tatted up for the holidays! These temporary tattoo sleeves will let you experiment with tattoos without the commitment. You can find patterns ranging from flowers to animals to quotes and more. There are even temporary tattoos that glow in the dark, perfect for Seattle’s long winter nights.
Shoelaces, $6.39–$6.99 (depending on the length)
Cheaper than a new pair of shoes, new laces can give your old kicks a totally new feel. Want to take your shoe style to the next level? Give shoe wings a try. My son loved these when he was little!
Stocking stuffers to steer clear of:
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