Practical Stocking Stuffer Ideas that are Also Fun
I’ve started a list of practical stocking stuffer ideas for kids and I thought I’d share it with you!
Some of the goodies have shown up in every stocking I’ve stuffed, some were gems from the past, and some will be brand new this year.
I think this series of gift ideas will give you a pretty clear understanding that I prefer practical, useful gifts that will actually be used.
When I spend money (usually way more than I expect) filling stockings, I want it to be with stuff that has a purpose and not just an initial thrill.
Practical Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids That Are Also Fun
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means anything you buy through these links will help pay for the stuff in our stockings… so thanks. 😉 Don’t worry I only include the best stocking stuffers!
Most of the items will work great for a tween and a teen. I’ve included a few extra options of the same practical stocking stuffer ideas the older kids will be excited about on Christmas morning.
Toothbrush – This is funny. Big M said to me this morning. “I was going to say I want a new toothbrush but then remembered it’s almost Christmas. Santa will put one in my stocking.”
This two-pack of battery-powered toothbrushes is a great choice. For extra fun, check out these character toothbrushes: Barbie, Super Mario, or look for your kids’ favorite character.
Tween and teen options: Oral-Charcoal Toothbrush or Bamboo Eco-Friendly Toothbrush.
Comfy Socks – You’ll probably find comfy socks on every list I make… so if you ever meet me in person, you know what will win me over!
These colorful socks have great reviews and come in many styles. If you’re going for warm and snuggly, these playful socks will be perfect.
Tween and teen options: Warm wool socks or neutral-colored socks.
Book Lights – If you have a little one who loves reading, this necklight is great. It comes in a lot of different colors. AWESOME! (It’s also great for finding the perfect LEGO in the bottom of the bin.)
Bubble Bath – It doesn’t matter if you pick up an inexpensive version or go for something a little fancier; a bubble bath (like Lavendar Bubble Bath) will always bring on smiles for bath time.
Water Cup – Pretty much everyone has a water bottle and can get excited about getting a new one. We love, love, love our Funtainers. You can get them in plain color or with a cute design. There’s also a 16-ounce Funtainer Bottles. They have the same great design, and they hold more water.
Tween and teen options: Insulated water bottle.
Art Supplies – Stockings are the perfect place to replenish the art center. Think markers, crayons, colored pencils, and paint. The kids will appreciate 
the fresh supplies (and you were going to buy them anyway, right?)
Tween and teen options: Small sketch pad and sketching pencils.
Gloves or Mittens – We live where it’s pretty warm all year. Hat, Scarf & Glove Sets are more for fun than necessity, although now that we’re watching baseball games late at night, they’ll probably get more use.
Tween and teen options: Touch Screen Gloves.
Toothbrush Timer – Do I need to say anything else? The “Wash & Brush” Timer
 even has a hand-washing timer! (Update: The reviews weren’t great, but we’ve now had ours for two years. We had no problems at all and the kids use it twice a day!)
Dice or Cards – There are so many games that can be played with dice or cards. (Here are a couple… 10,000 dice game & Golf card game.)
Watch – Little M is learning to tell time. It’s so fun; I can’t wait for her to have her own watch. (Here’s a great digital watch too).
Tween and teen options: Smart watch.
Notebook Set – Everyone in our family loves notebooks and pens. Since notebook sets encourage writing… I love them even more. You can find small ones at any store, or here are a couple of fancy diaries that would go over big with our family: Dinosaur diary or Cat diary.
Gum – Little M is my gum chewer. She would chew gum all day if I let her. I found this fun peppermint gum that she will go crazy for!
Hair Accessories – How often are you searching for the hair clips you put in early in the day? Add to your collection in the form of a stocking stuffer. These clips are adorable!
Tween and teen options: Beauty supplies like nail polish, lip gloss, or shaving cream.
Gift Cards – What a simple way to add to the “BIG” gift! Little M is getting a desk this year. (SHHH!!!) A gift card to an office supply store will be a perfect compliment to her gift. Get creative… what gift card would add to the big gift Santa is bringing this year?
Tween and teen options: Gift cards are especially great for tweens and teens. Gift cards for the restaurants they frequent with friends or a place selling their favorite treat are always good.
Band-Aids – Plain old band-aids would be very practical but not much fun as a stocking stuffer for kids. I found three super fun band-aids that are just begging to be stuffed into a stocking. Bacon Shaped Band-Aids, Pickle Band-Aids, and Cupcake Band-Aids. How fun are these?!?
Card Game – Earlier I suggested a plain deck of cards. This is a twist on the same idea. I like card games because they are a small, inexpensive way to add to the game closet. We personally love Uno Flip, Spot It and Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza.
Wallet – We’re working on a payment/chore system (more on that later), which means the kids are getting a regular income. They need a better way to carry their money than they currently have. I like these wallets because there is a zippered spot for coins, which turns out to be very important! I found this black and blue wallet and a cute pink wallet.
Tween and teen options: Slim wallet, wristlet wallet, or phone case wallet.
Cereal – I know it’s kind of a weird stocking stuffer BUT hear me out. For the past few years, we’ve added an individual cereal box the stockings. (I buy one per kid, the link takes you to a large pack, but I’m sure you can get one box at your grocery store). They take up quite a bit of stocking space and they give the kids something to nibble on while Hubby and I make breakfast. Win, win, win!
I know I’m not the only practical Mom out there… do you have any practical stocking stuffer ideas to add?
There are some awesome stocking stuffer ideas for kids that have been added in the comments as well.
More Gift Guides
I love stocking stuffers and you shared some great ideas! Here are some of my ideas for adults: scratch tickets, gum, to go packets of coffee/tea (think starbucks), electrical tape (for men), work gloves, small lotions, zip ties (again for the men), dremel bits (men), recipe cards, burts bees chap stick, mini hand mixers battery operated (world market), chocolate or their favorite candy. For kids (we have a son): mini pocket games, decks of cards, candy, gift card to a favorite store, small lego kits, hot wheels car/trucks/planes, action figures.
I love, love, love your adult list!!! What a great idea to make each other fun (& practical) stockings.
Where is the “ADULT LIST?” Can you please respond with the link? I can’t find it! Thanks a bunch!!! 🙂
Lauren, I don’t have an adult list for stocking stuffers (but you will find some great ideas in the comment section.) I do have 5 Gifts Mom Should Give Herself List. Hope that helps!
Thank you!! I’m looking for ideas for men though. You mentioned an adult list above that you “love.” Which one is that? Thanks again for your help!!! 🙂
I think she’s referring to a comment by Theresa Boyle. She has some great ideas for adult stocking stuffers. My kids get a toothbrush (always), candy (always- kids get kid candy and adults get Lindt), usually a pair of socks (something practical or funky), lip balm is great (can be for men and women), then something fun. I look all year for something fun. I think the best was the rubber band guns, but playing cards, etc, would do. Hope that helps.
Silly slipper socks or logo tee-shirt are appreciated if you have an adult guy that’s young at heart. (Think Star Wars, Superman, Animal, etc.)
AWESOME! Thanks! Helps for my employees!
Love all the great ideas! Here are some of mine. ….For my husband and my teenage sons….I have done these things…..an ornament, lots of their favorite candy, packs of gum, toothbrush, axe deodorant and/or body wash, chap stick, new socks and underwear, pocket knife, new pencils/pens, new mugs with hot cocoa mix……For my daughter, i can trade some of the guy stuff for nail polish, travel size perfume, mini lotions, make up she likes…..so many possibilities!
I love it Margie! Those are some great stocking stuffer ideas! Tiny perfume is such a great idea.
My mom and I always pamper ourselves with manicures, so every holiday I know I’ll get a fresh Nail file, nail polish remover, and maybe a polish colour en vouge. Other practical ideas are razor and shaving cream, bath puff… Mostly personal care items I suppose 🙂
I love that! Those are definitely practical and fun gifts!
Great list – some things that we add (I’m also all about practical) are hair stuff, chapstick, a box of bandaids (fun and takes up some room at the bottom), hand sanitizer to fill their Bath & Body holders on their backpacks, and earrings (I have all girls). For adults, we almost always have a new car charger for USB devices, Sharpies, stylus for tablets, and other small electronic type useful things.
Those are fantastic additions!
Now that we’re all driving we tend to put things like small flashlights and candles for our cars, small car tools like one to check tire pressure, and a mini first aid kit in stockings. We’re rural so it’s important we have stuff in our cars for emergencies so it works great. We also put small notebooks and mini pens, and a gift card for a coffee in each stocking.
We do batteries (because lets face it, if you have kids your getting something that needs batteries!!) Chapstick, matchbox cars, pencils, coal, yes my kids get it every year lol, $2 bill, crayons, orange, handheld games, homemade soaps, stickers, hand lotion, wine stopper, lottery tickets, hair clips, playdough, memory cards, wallet….I could seriously go on and on LOL Hope these help as well!!
Finally someone mentions an orange. It is the perfect toe filler.
Great list! We are very practical as well. As an alternative to candy (which my husband and I both grew up with), we have made a tradition of filling the extra space in stocking with Satsumas. The kids love them because they can peal them themselves and they are so abundant in the winter!
We do the following: shampoo, bubble bath, bandaids, small carry tissues, chapstick, socks, underwear, Kinder surprise, toothpaste, my teenager gets AXE deodorant as well.
Because we don’t eat right away, we also add a tangerine, grapes, their favorite chocolate bar, and a chubby pop. A bit of healthy and not so healthy 🙂
Other things over the years have included: ear buds, dinky cars, card games, individual Lego or Playmobile items, slippers, etc.
My mom always puts a book of stamps in the adult stockings, we appreciate them because although we pay most of our bills online these days, it seems like we often need a stamp to mail something to someone…
When my boys were young (until they were about 25!!) I put fun “xmas style” thank you cards AND stamps in their stockings…no excuses then!
Love the stamp idea. When my (now adult) children were young, before they were homeschooled, my traditional teachers’ gift was note cards and stamps. Pretty and practical.
What a great list! I’ll be using some of these ideas this year.
The “Wash and Brush” timer you have listed got an unfair rap, IMO. I bought this two years ago for my son, and aside from having to change the batteries, it’s proven pretty indestructable. I liked it so much, I bought a second to keep in the play room.
YAY!!! Thank you Heather. I was afraid to list it because of the reviews. That makes me feel so much better.
So many great ideas! Stockings are a huge part of our holiday so I like to fill them with all kinds of treasures that we might (or might not) normally buy. Some hits from our house: duct tape (really you can never have to much), art/craft supplies I wouldn’t normally splurge on like Washi Tape and patterned duct tape for the kiddos, pencils with novelty patterns are also fun. Gourmet candy bars and cooking items (World Market has a really fun section of gourmet items in sample sizes), liquor in shot bottles, novelty chocolate chips are fun for the kids so you can plan a cooking day later, marshmallows, hot cocoa/tea/coffee mix, and new books.
One thing that we always include in our stockings – is a magazine. For kids – sometimes a comic book, puzzle book, or something techie. For adults- anything of interest for that person. I look forward to seeing what magazine I get on Christmas morning as well it gives us all something to do while we’re waiting for others to get up etc.
I love this idea! A comic book or Mad Libs would also be fun additions.
For teens…. hair ties, headbands, necklace, earrings, nail polish, hair spray, nail jewels, hair chalk, good shampoo, body shimmer, gel pens, $5 gift cards, ear buds, wallet, iTunes cards, gas cards, survival bracelet, multi-tool, craftsman key chain screw driver, new pens for school, hair gel, axe body spray, men’s body wash, “have a friend over while grounded” certificate
We also do art supplies! They always love it, along with toothbrushes/paste/flossers, batteries, fun duct tape, and we fill with fresh fruit. My kids are crazy ( they don’t like candy) so we use fruit as a filler. We try to find something different for them to try than they usual apples and oranges 🙂
I use many of the ideas listed above. An addition I always put in a little box of cereal and a juice box. it takes up space at the bottom and Santa brings them breakfast. They love it
Fabulous idea! My kids always think of little sugar cereal boxes as a treat!
Great gift ideas! I will be doing several of these for my kids stockings this year. So practical but right on with what I want them to get. Thanks!
Several people have listed different types of tape, and that is one thing I am adding this year, too. Duct tape comes in so many cute patterns now, I have chosen one with flames for my motor cycle loving son-in-law and bacon for a friend who loves it in any form.
What a great list! My son is going to find some of these in his stocking.
My boys loved getting coupons. I would make coupons for things like a week with no chores, or a batch of their favourite cookies. It cost me nothing!
These are great ideas. Any ideas for newborns? Especially when it’s a second child so you have almost everything you need. Just don’t want my 3yr old wondering why the baby didn’t get anything from Santa.
What about a new book, pasi (if you use one), clothes or stuffed toy?
My baby will be 2 months come Christmas. We are stuffing his stocking with the following: teethers, a cap, bath toys, a stuffed moose, a night light (really a gift for me during those late night feedings), his first Christmas ornament and a Lamaze play-and-grow toy. Some of these things he can’t use right away, but as the year progresses he will.
Last year for my 3 month old we did a all teething toy & a stuffed animal. Also used baby food to go packs. But we only used a small stocking last year.
Newborns: pacifier, socks, gerber puffs, yogurt bites, cup, rattles, soft or board books, dvd for family collection like Charlie Brown Christmas
great ideas, what i did was buy gifts from http://www.SurpriseMeGifts.com It’s just $10 and you get random Surprise gifts. On their Facebook page you can see some of the gifts they’ve sent. https://www.facebook.com/GiftMeSurprise
We always put new windshield wipers in ours. Something you need but just never seem to buy
Great items! Most we already do, but gift cards to their fav shops (ice cream, claires) in fun little boxes are great for our older kids (11 and 12) plus hand sanitizer (coconut and lemon from Whole Foods) for their book bag. Fun lip balm, and frilly hair ties for our girls. Our little boy loves little games and bath stuff.
Love this list. My mom, ummm, Santa always did these types of stocking stuffers with a few fun things added in.
I always do toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, lotion, chopstick, those play and go packs (4 crayons, stickers, and a small coloring book), oranges, deodorant, nail polish, pencils…basically practical stuff and stuff that eventually gets lost :'(
Kat, I love the idea of chopsticks! I think we might add some this year.
I think that was a typo to mean chapstick, which is something we ALWAYS include, but chopsticks would be a fun addition! A dare to the kids to eat with chopsticks for a week. Haha.
Ha ha! Eva you have given me a great laugh for today. 🙂
Toothpaste and a brushing timer, fantastic ideas that I’ll have to steal from you! Thank you!
We love ours Vilma. 🙂
For the newborn what about baby Einstein for when he/she is older. It works wonders! Just put it on the background, it’s so much better then them watching spongebob. Another good one is that “scout” for boys or “violet” for girl and you can personalize it to say the babies name and do and say special things. Ie: “I have a brother or sister named…” Or “I love mommy and daddy,” of whatever you want it to say. It’s a lot of fun. Sold at target for sure along with other big stores. I believe it’s a leap frog brand.
Little packs of Kleenex, lottery tickets, money( I always put a handful of change in my nieces stockings), oranges, Chapstick, nail polish, emery board, stickers, trading cards, candy cane, favorite candy, hair accessories, travel size deodorant
We always get calendars and a small ornament
For bigger kids, lotion, hand sanitizer, chap stick. An ornament for the tree. Stickers.
Since my kids never get to choose the cereal I buy (the sales do!), they each get their favorite box of cereal. We actually do shoes instead of stockings, so we just put them behind the shoes. 🙂
* stamps
* car wash gift card
* roll of quarters
* flashlight
* small sewing kit
* pocket first aid kit
* chapstick
* fingernail clippers
* movie passes
* kitchen timer
* car air fresheners
* “keysmart” Keychain
* restaurant gift cards
* travel-sized games
* energy bars
* jump rope
* hair accessories
* nail polish
* contact case
* book marks
* post it noyes
* highlighters, sharpies, markers
* duct tape
* tape measure
* multi tool – Leatherman
….
🙂
I have three year old twins. The one is thrilled with Hot Wheels and fruit snacks, they both love toothbrushes, and we put in bouncy balls. The other twin doesn’t like toys, he likes real things so we got him a stethoscope (we punctured the drum first so he can hear without blowing out his own hearing), a light switch that lights up, and one of those magnetic bowls meant for use in mechanics shops.
Wow such great ideas in Hills article a d the comments. I am sooo going to do a toothbrush timer for my teenage son. I also enjoy putting fruit( small oranges) I’m my son’s stocking. But I also do socks. A small you of sorts and candy.
HAPPY shopping ?