Best stocking fillers for kids under £10, as recommended by parents

Price on writing: £8.99 | Buy now from LEGO

Key specs

Age suitability: Aged 4 and above (due to small parts) | Best for age: Juniors

Reasons to buy

• Encourages creativity
• Collectible

Reasons to avoid

• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

“LEGO mini figures or a surprise bag of something they can collect.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user AGoatAteIt)

“LEGO is always a winner.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user birdsong7)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? When it comes to a stocking filler that is suitable for all ages, LEGO mini figures or sets have to be up there with the best. 

Whilst bigger sets can be expensive, lucky dip bags and small box kits come with a relatively affordable price tag, and are ideal for entertaining children whilst waiting to head down to the tree. 

There are loads of different designs and themes available, from Marvel to LEGO Friends, so you’re sure to find a set that matches their interests. They even do Christmas sets too like this super cute kit with a skiing Santa. 

Price: £1 | Buy now from Poundland

Key specs

Age suitability: 3 plus |Best for age: Younger children

Reasons to buy

• Only £1
• Appeals to all

Reasons to avoid

• Breaks easily

What Mumsnet users say

“The whoopie cushion, in particular, was a massive success.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Squashpocket)

“Whoopie cushions (appeal to the four-year-old’s sense of humour).” (Recommended by Mumsnet user CanofCant) 

Our verdict

Our favourite features? For a healthy dose of nostalgia and to prove that farts will always be funny no matter how old you may be, whoopie cushions are likely to bring some much-needed smiles and laughter to the entire family this festive season. 

Coming in either red or yellow, this bargain whoopie cushion can produce some impressive (and rather embarrassing) fart noises – great for sneaking onto Nanny's chair as the perfect prank before Christmas dinner! 

Price on writing: £8.99 | Buy now from eBay

Key specs

Age suitability: All ages | Best for ages: 3 and above  

Reasons to buy

• Popular design
• Colourful

Reasons to avoid

• Easy to lose

Our verdict

Our favourite features? The craze for fidget toys doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon, with fidget toys of all shapes and sizes making their way onto the children's toy market just in time for Christmas. 

Noodlies is a fun, colourful and unique fidget toy that children can pull, knot, stretch, squeeze and mush however they please. Perfect for fun on the move and comfort. They are an excellent choice for kids when stressed as they are made from a non-toxic dough-like material that always bounces back into shape. 

Price on writing: From £3.39 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: 3 years plus | Best for age: Juniors 

Reasons to buy

• Encourages reading
• Develops problem solving skills

What Mumsnet users say

“Top Trumps! Can't go wrong with them.’  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user 12BottlesOfVintageChampagne)

“Top Trumps. Bet there’s a theme for all the age groups.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Tiredalwaystired) 

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Who doesn’t love playing Top Trumps? An affordable card game that the whole family can play together, you can select from a huge range of themes and characters to find a set that best suits your child’s personality.

From Harry Potter to Disney, Marvel to Supercars or even Creatures of the Deep, children can outsmart their opponents and learn fascinating facts about their favourite characters as they battle it out to win the entire deck. 

With a handy plastic carry case, these card games are great if you’re travelling over the festive period too.

Price on writing: £4.50 - 5.50| Buy now from John Lewis

Key specs

Age suitability: 4 years plus | Best for age: Available in 4-6, 6-8.5 Jnr, 9-12 Jnr and 12,5-3.5 Jnr. 

Reasons to buy

• Range of cute designs to appeal to all

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Soft, warm and very, very cute, the little rubber dots will stop them from slipping on hard floors as they race around in excitement on Christmas day. 

Who doesn’t love having warm and snuggly feet at Christmas? These super cute Red Panda bed socks from John Lewis are perfect for keeping toes warm and toasty. They have tiger socks, polka dot bears and snowman socks for those children who aren't panda mad. The best part is John Lewis offers a fantastic range of sizes, so no child has to miss out. 

Price on writing: £3.49 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: 3 years plus (due to small parts) | Best for age: 4 and above

Reasons to buy

• Encourages reading
• Range of designs

Reasons to avoid

• Can be lost easily

What Mumsnet users say

“If they like reading then look at i-Clips Magnetic Book Markers on Amazon. You can get them in lots of different designs like sloths, poo emojis etc.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user TattiePants)

“Bookmarks for the older ones – my daughter’s favourite is a Doctor Who one I got her a few years back.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user ElfDragon) 

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Available in a choice of designs from sloths to pandas and robots, each set comes with eight magnetic page markers that can simply be slotted onto the page of a book to mark your place. 

If you’ve got a mini bookworm in your home, these i-Clips magnetic markers make a really cute yet practical stocking filler for children of all ages.

Price: £9.60 | Buy now from The Entertainer

Key specs

Age suitability: 36 months to 8 years | Best for age: Preschoolers

Reasons to buy

• Encourages colour recognition

Reasons to avoid

• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

“Think he will love one of those Hot Wheels colour change cars so that's an absolute must!”  (Suggested by Mumsnet user Yousee)

“Definitely Hot Wheels cars if he’s anything like my almost four-year-old!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Libmama) 

Our verdict

Our favourite features? If your child is obsessed with cars or already has a Hot Wheels track at home, these colour change Hot Wheels sets are a fun new addition to the Hot Wheels range. 

Each set comes with two vehicles, which are not only compatible with the tracks, but change colour in water too. 

Simply fill the barrel drum with water and dip the cars inside to watch the colour reveal and design change before your eyes. Kids will love watching in awe as the cars change from one design to another depending on whether you dip them in hot or cold water. It’s like four cars for the price of two!

Price on writing: From £3 | Buy now from Lush

Key specs

Age suitability: Suitable for 3 plus (check the ingredients first though) | Best for age: Older children, tweens and teens

Reasons to buy

• Appeals to a wide range of ages
• Smells amazing

Reasons to avoid

• Might trigger allergies

What Mumsnet users say

“Something from Lush, they have great products aimed at kids.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Lacedwithgrace)

“Bath bombs from Lush are always loved here (12-year-old son loves a dragon's egg as a special treat – he sometimes has baths that last for two hours). He takes after me in that respect.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user KisstheTeapot14)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? A family favourite to help banish boring bath times, if your kids are yet to experience the joy of a Lush bath bomb or bubble bar, their Christmas selection is a great place to start. 

With a wide range of fun Christmas designs, you’re sure to find a fun character or festive fizzer to have them excited about a bath before bed! 

Not only do they smell amazing, but they make other bath bombs look pretty amateur in comparison. But be warned – you may want to treat yourself too.

Price: £8.90 (for eight) | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: 36 months and above (due to the tube) | Best for age: Babies and toddlers (supervised and with you holding the tube)

Reasons to buy

• Who doesn't love bubbles?!
• Can be touched without bursting right away

Reasons to avoid

• Messy

What Mumsnet users say

“Bubbles are always a hit.”  (Type of stocking filler tried and tested by Mumsnet user mrsbitaly)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? If you have a baby or toddler, there is nothing more certain in life – bubbles are always going to be a hit (as long as you don't let them hold the tube).

For bubbles with a difference, these touchable bubbles from Baker Ross don’t burst right away, meaning kids can enjoy trying to catch them and balance them on their fingers. 

This pack of eight tubes comes in fun, festive designs and costs just under £9, meaning you can easily split the pack for siblings or hold some back for festive parties too. 

Price on writing: £9.99 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: Ages 8+ | Best for age: Tweens and Teens 

Reasons to buy

• Retro fun for the whole family

Reasons to avoid

• Might lose its appeal after a few goes

What Mumsnet users say

“My daughter is getting one in her stocking this year.”  (Recommended by Mumsnet user ldontWanna)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Did you have a Magic 8 Ball as a child? For another nostalgic gift which is just as much fun now as it was in the 90s, the fortune-telling Mystic 8 ball can answer any of life's most pondered questions. 

Will it snow today? Will King Charles III do a King’s Speech on Christmas Day? Will Mummy still find room for a turkey sandwich even though she said she’s full? 

Simply shake the ball and watch as the triangle inside shifts to reveal your answer.

Price on writing: From £2.50 | Buy now from Claire's

Key specs

Age suitability: Ages 3+ | Best for age: Juniors, tweens and teens

Reasons to buy

• Appeals to a wide range of ages

Reasons to avoid

• Can be messy
• Lost easily

What Mumsnet users say

“Lip balms! My two are obsessed with them and lose them at least once a week. They usually turn up in the house a few days later.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Marmite27) 

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Lip balms can make another fun but practical gift for the winter months, with central heating and the cold weather playing havoc with our skin and often causing kids' lips to become chapped and dry.

Claire’s has a huge range of fun lip balms and accessories in adorable designs, many of which come in larger packs that can be split to create multiple stocking fillers for siblings. 

Many of the designs come with a handy keyring too, making a fun accessory for book bags or school bags when they head back to school in the New Year.

Price on writing: From £7.99 | Buy now from John Lewis

Key specs

Age suitability: 4-10 years (or preschoolers in the 123 range) | Best for age: 4-8 years

Reasons to buy

• Collectible
• Sturdy design

Reasons to avoid

• Can be pricey

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Another great collectable that can be played with and enjoyed long after Christmas is Playmobil, with these smaller character boxes being both reasonably priced and the perfect size for a stocking filler.

With a choice of ranges from Fairies and Unicorns to the cars and emergency service characters from City Life, they even do a Playmobil 123 range for younger children, ideal for creative play.

Price on writing: £4.01 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: 2 years + | Best for age: Preschoolers

Reasons to buy

• Appeals to a wide range of ages
• Encourages reading

Reasons to avoid

• Stickers can only be used once

What Mumsnet users say

“Stickers, for all [ages one to five].”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Devo1818)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Stickers always go down well with young children, and those with a Christmas theme are ideal for some calming distraction on Christmas Day afternoon (when the carbs are starting to kick in and everyone’s feeling a little bit tired). 

This Usborne Sparkly Christmas Trees Sticker Book is 32 pages of glittery, magical fun. Your child will love following the story and decorating every festive illustration. 

Price on writing: From £9.99 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: Age 6+ | Best for age: All the family

Reasons to buy

• Encourages problem solving
• Fun for the whole family

Reasons to avoid

• Can cause arguments

What Mumsnet users say

“Card game or something like Dobble.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Actonbell)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Dobble may be small in size but can certainly provide a big helping of fun for the whole family to enjoy together this Christmas. 

Check out John Lewis for their range of Dobble editions, including Harry Potter, Marvel and Star Wars. 

With the option to play in pairs or groups of up to eight people, this small round tin houses a pack of Dobble cards covered in images. Players must race to find the one matching image between each card quicker than their competitors – the aim is to win as many cards as possible.

Officially Dobble is aimed at children six and above, but you may find younger children can join in too. 

Price on writing: From £2.50 | Buy now from Claire’s 

Key specs

Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: Preschoolers or school-age children

Reasons to buy

• Appeals to a wide range of ages

Reasons to avoid

• Easy to lose

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Do yourself a favour whilst also appealing to their love of all things sparkly by adding some fun hair clips, bobbles or accessories to their stocking. 

Are your kids forever losing hair clips and bobbles? Does every school morning involve you scrabbling around trying to find something to style their hair?

Claire’s is a great place to pick up some budget-friendly and fun designs that children will love, with prices starting at just £2.50.

Price on writing: From £3.50 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: Unspecified | Best for age: Juniors and tweens

Reasons to buy

• Fun for a wide range of ages
• Encourages writing

Reasons to avoid

• May not hold interest for long

What Mumsnet users say

“We had a big win last year with light-up invisible ink pens from Amazon – the writing is invisible until you click the pen light on!”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Nc123)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? It may look like a regular pen, but children will love writing a secret message in ink that is completely invisible to the naked eye before passing it to their brother, sister or friend. 

Are your kids always whispering secrets? Fancy themselves as a super spy? They’ll love this Invisible Ink Spy Pen from Tinc.

Using the UV light on the end of the pen, the secret message can then be revealed, whilst we parents remain completely none the wiser (cue evil laugh).  

Price on writing: £7.98 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: Unspecified | Best for age: Tweens and teens

Reasons to buy

• Encourages creativity
• Appeals to a wide range of ages

Reasons to avoid

• Not as easy for little ones to use

What Mumsnet users say

“As a smaller stocking stuffer type gift, my children get a lot of use out of their acrylic paint pens. They can be used on rocks, glass and even themselves.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user CoffeeChocolateWine)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Permanent on most surfaces and water resistant, this set of twelve colours makes a great starter pack, with a nib fine enough for some really detailed creations.

Rock painting is an extremely fun activity to do with little ones, but using traditional paints can be messy and off-putting. These acrylic paint pens are quick, easy and convenient and dry really speedily too, helping children of all ages create some fun, festive rock painting designs. 

Price on writing: £4.99 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Age suitability: Officially 36 months plus | Best for age: Babies and toddlers (supervised)

Reasons to buy

• Encourages creativity
• Not too messy

Reasons to avoid

• Needs supervision

What Mumsnet users say

“For the one-year-old, I used to get bath toys (bath crayons were always a hit).”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Stompythedinosaur)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? This set of five brightly coloured bath time crayons from Munchkin are perfectly sized for small hands and can be drawn on tiles or the bath itself before washing away when it’s time for bed. 

For babies and toddlers, bath toys are always a popular choice, with several Mumsnet users suggesting bath crayons as a fun, creative and interactive way to create some fun in the tub. 

You may want to make it clear that the drawing on the walls is reserved only for bath time, however!

Price on writing: £6.95 | Buy now from Etsy

Key specs

Age suitability: Not suitable for under 5s, and children shouldn’t be left unsupervised with this, so it’s better for older kids | Best for age: Tweens and teens

Reasons to buy

• Looks good and relieves stress

What Mumsnet users say

“One the biggest stocking hits for my two teens were fidget rings, they've not taken them off and I was secretly hoping one of them didn't want theirs so I could have one!”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Trissah)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Effectively a fidget, but for older tweens and teens, this subtle and attractive anxiety ring comes with six small turnable beads that can be subtly twisted and turned to help calm, distract and relieve stress.

Not only does it look modern and stylish, but we love that it’s a handmade present from a small business too. You can even adjust it to remove any bead balls you want. 

Price on writing: From £3.99 | Buy now from Redan

Key specs

Age suitability: 3 - 7 years | Best for age: Preschoolers 

Reasons to buy

• Encourages learning
• Keeps them entertained with minimal mess

Reasons to avoid

• Can be pricey

What Mumsnet users say

“For the five-year-old, we get a magazine to look at whilst waiting to open main presents.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user WishingWell5)

“He gets things that will entertain him until we open the tree gifts around 11am.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user elQuintoConyo) 

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Redan has a great range of preschooler magazines from Peppa Pig to Paddington to Hey Duggee – but the Friends magazine features a great mix of characters that they are sure to know and love. 

Preschool magazines are another great option to entertain younger children on Christmas Day. Christmas morning can be a bit overwhelming, so flicking through a magazine with puzzles, games, stickers and colouring can be a good way to calm and distract, particularly whilst waiting for the ‘main presents’ or family to arrive.

Price on writing: £6.99 | Buy now from Waterstones

Key specs

Age suitability: 2+ | Best for age: Preschoolers

Reasons to buy

• Encourages a love of books
• Appeals to a wide range of ages

Reasons to avoid

• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

“A Christmas book is usually nice.”  (Stocking filler idea from Mumsnet user PritiPatelsMaker)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? Christmas books are ideal for snuggling up with an overtired toddler after a busy day of unwrapping presents and pulling crackers.

Who doesn’t love reading a Christmas book with their little ones? There are many Christmas-themed books to choose from, perfectly sized for stocking fillers. 

When it comes to festive storybooks, it doesn’t come much better than Julia Donaldson’s new story, The Christmas Pine, which tells the heartfelt story of the tree with a special destiny. The tale is inspired by the famous Christmas tree that sits in Trafalgar Square every year. This is a moving story of hope, beautifully illustrated with stunning pictures of festive scenes by Victoria Sandoy. 

This is the perfect book to snuggle up with and share with your child. 

Price on writing: From £10 | Buy now from Costa

Key specs

Age suitability: Any | Best for age: Tweens and teens

Reasons to buy

• Perfect for hard-to-buy-for older kids

What Mumsnet users say

“One thing my daughter loves is a Costa coffee date with me – so I've got her a £10 gift card. She likes ‘paying’, so it might be an idea for you.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Hayup)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? A popular Mumsnet user suggestion for tweens and teens was a gift card – something that would allow you to share an experience and spend some quality time with your child.

The Costa gift card allows parents to head out and spend some one-on-one time with their children whilst letting them pay for the drinks. Tweens will love the independence of heading up to the till for themselves, whilst it may even allow you to get some actual conversation out of your teen! 

Price on writing: £8.50 | Buy now from Hotel Chocolat

Key specs

Age suitability: Unspecified | Best for age: Tweens and teens

Reasons to buy

• High quality chocolate
• Appeals to a wide range of ages

Reasons to avoid

• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

“My teen daughter loves Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate served with marshmallows.” (Vetted by Mumsnet user Aragog)

Our verdict

Our favourite features? There’s nothing cosier than a steaming mug of hot chocolate, and there was plenty of competition for the best chocolate stocking filler.

Mumsnet users rave about Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. It’s pricey, but worth it, according to the many chocoholics on our forums. You could even do your children a chocolate-themed Christmas stocking with a new mug, can of whipped cream and pack of marshmallows for good measure.