Stocking Stuffers for Kids

Yes, it is that time of year, and you are scrambling for some quick ideas for stocking stuffers.  What should you get?  Well, do not fear.  Here are some great ideas for stocking stuffers that your kids are sure to enjoy.  They range in price, so buy what you are comfortable with.  Some have monetary value, while others have personal value to you or to your child.  Good luck with your stocking stuffers!

Personalized Gifts:

       Everyone loves a personalized gift in their stocking.  You can get cups personalized, mugs personalized, and even pens and pencils personalized.  You can write a special phrase to your child or even just put their name on it.  Personalized pens and pencils are especially great for kids because at school if someone tries to steal their pencil, everyone will know the thief did it since the owner's name is on it.

Diary:

     A diary is an especially good gift for a girl because girls love to doodle and write about their feelings.  Having a diary is a great way to help your child learn to reflect upon their feelings and narrate their life, but also to be able to be free with their writing and improve their writing skills in the process. 

Travel Games:

     Travel games come in small packages, so they are great as stocking stuffers.  They definitely come in handy when taking a vacation.  They are small and will help your child occupy his time and keep from being bored while he is traveling in the car.  You can buy checkers, chess, a deck of cards, and a variety of other games.

Art Supplies:

     Art supplies make a great stocking stuffer for kids.  Most kids love to draw and paint.  Buy some different types of media for your children so they can experience different types, such as watercolors, oil paints, colored pencils, oil pastels, crayons, chalk, and more.  When children create art they are working on fine motor skills as well as developing their imagination.

Books:

     Books make super stocking stuffers for several reasons.  First, they are small and can fit easily in a stocking.  Second, they are educational.  You can buy books about your child's favorite topic or from your child's favorite series.  By encouraging your child to read, you are helping them improve their vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and giving them more prior knowledge about more topics.  This will help your child to perform better in school.

Lip gloss and Nail Polish:

     Chances are, if you have a daughter, she loves beauty products.  You can buy her something that is small and not over the top, like nail polish or lip gloss.  Girls love playing with flavored lip gloss and love to paint fingernails and toes.  Let her have a little fun with some harmless beauty products.  Also, deodorant for kids can make for a great extra in any stocking.

Gift Cards:

     Gift cards make excellent stocking stuffers for kids.  If you have multiple children, you can buy them each a gift card from a different store but for the same value.  That way you can take them out and let them pick out something that they would like.  With this gift, you are sure to please all the children in the house.

Itunes Gift Card:

     Does your child love music?  With an itunes gift card, your child can download music of their choice and save it to their ipod or mp3 player.  You can buy the gift card in any denomination.  Your child will be pleased to be able to download some music, so this is a great stocking stuffer.

Ipod or MP3 Player:

     If you are willing to spend a little more money on a stocking stuffer gift, you may want to purchase your child an ipod or mp3 player.  If your child loves music and has access to the internet, he will love the opportunity to download his favorite songs and save them to his ipod.  An ipod or mp3 player is small enough that it can fit in your pocket.  It fits great in a stocking too.

Earrings, Watches, or Jewelry:

    You can easily put earrings, watches, or jewelry into a stocking for a special gift.  Girls love accessorizing with jewelry, and boys like having watches.  Necklaces are great when they havea charm, like camera necklace, swallows, or other memorable designs.  Earrings, rings, watches, and jewelry make great stocking stuffer gifts that your children will appreciate.

Disposable Camera:

     Most kids like to take pictures.  Since it is Christmas time, it is a great opportunity to take some pictures.  If you buy your child an inexpensive disposable camera, he can take a lot of Christmas pictures and develop and print them. Who knows, you made be inspiring a future photographer.

CDs:

     If your child doesn't have an ipod or an mp3 player, you can purchase cds of his favorite music to put in his stocking.  He will love having new music of his favorite artist, group, or band.

Movie Tickets:

    Most kids love to go to the movies.  For a stocking stuffer, you can purchase movie tickets to your local theater.  Your child will love to go and see a movie over this Christmas break.  This makes an ideal stocking stuffer!

Candy:

     As you know, kids just love candy.  You can add candy as a special treat to your child's stocking.  Chocolates are great of course, but so are peppermints and candy canes for this time of the year.  Your child will love digging into his candy treat!

Beanie Babies:

     You can start a yearly tradition of buying your child a different beanie baby each year for a stocking stuffer.  She will look forward to finding out what type of beanie baby you have purchased for her this year.  She will never grow tired or too old for this tradition.  Watch.  She will keep them in a place of honor in her room.

     Well, there you have it, a wide array of options for stocking stuffers for your children.  They range in price and interest.  Good luck with your choices and have a Merry Christmas.