to be dreading stocking filler junk!

[DozeyRose]

I absolutely love Christmas, and since having children, have enjoyed buying lots of gimmicky toys and bits for their stockings. This is the first year, where I am actually dreading cluttering the house with cheap plastic toys (that to be fair, they never really play with once all the 'proper' presents have been opened)

I'm dreading it because a) quite frankly it's a waste of money as it's rarely used, b) because I've just de cluttered and given those type of toys to charity and school fair and c) my eldest (9), wouldn't have a need or interest in such things.

BUT, I can't bear to disappoint - it's a tradition!. I was thinking of trading the large sacks for those stocking sock type things. I can't not do the whole Santa thing, but I need to get creative and a little practical...

What would you put in a 9 year old boys stocking?

Kazoo!
Cake decorations or cupcake cases
Lipsalve

Would he like one of the 'fun' bars from lush? Can't link because on my 'phone but google it - my ds is only 6 but will love it.

Ooh-and they get one of each coin, as I did when I was a child. There was much debate in our house when the pound coin and twenty pence piece came out as to whether father Christmas would be able to keep up (I guess that makes me old-but then my sister would have seen father Christmas tackle decimal coins for the first time ). Ours now have the benefit of the £2 coin but no half penny coin!

I would get:

a mini torch
a little magnifying glass (think Tesco's do these first two..)
a box of raisins/ sesame snaps
satsuma
walnuts
a pack of cards
a joke book/ jokey thing
a notebook / something for the school pencil case
football cards?

If you're near a branch, Muji's do some v.cute little things for a few pounds - like a blow up plastic globe.

Just chucked out last years doggy doo, as we didn't get it to work once for a proper game( although it would if I was just testing it. )

Just looked at the stash and also got him a cheap watch a torch a funky pencil sharpener and some notepads.

one of those little torch keyrings (fun and practical)

Those dinosaurs excavation kits that you "dig" out from plaster. Messy, so we put a binbag down first.

Soap on a rope. I got a grapefruit scented yellow duck for my DS (13 this Christmas) from TKMaxx ( about £4 IIRC)

So far the stockings I made have got a variety of funsize choc and and an oversized crimbo pencil need to get my butt in gear.its difficult though as the big guy leaves a gift bag in each room with little stuff so could potentially end up with huge amounts of tat

Chocolate coins! My tip is to buy them early, then eat and replace as necessary then find they've sold out when you need them on christmas eve

I stopped junk early on...we do as MrsKieth does with sweets, felt tips, pad of paper, trash packs etc.

If I had my time again I would never have started the stocking fillers. It was when I thought cheap quantity looked better on Christmas morning.

I don't mind a bit of tat. This year mine have

Whoopie cushion
Mini gum ball machine
Glow sticks
Mirror and make up brush dd/ mini dinosaur puzzle ds
Vests and pants
Box of maltesers and a terry choc orange
Toothbrush and magic flannel
Bath crayons
Splat pens

I've got 2 girls 10 and 11 - so it is soooo easy....
smellies/makeup/magic flannel/nail stuff/jewellery/diary/calendar/t-shirts/socks/shorts style pants/fancy tights -
and choc/jelly beans/chocolate coins/anything from the American sweet shop just opened in town....

some of it will need to be wrapped - no-one has a stocking big enough for that lot...

3 DCs here and the most useful things I have put in stockings have been:-

• pants/socks etc
• Blu -tac , my kids love it! Post it notes
• sparkly tights
• aprons
• head torches, Robert Dyas do a pack of two, orange and blue that are good for younger kids
• ear muffs
• magnifying glass
• harmonica
• carabiners
• Lego/playmobil mini figure

-hole punch, stapler, tape dispenser

• windup toys
• science museum mini microscope, v good quality
• expandable flannels
• sweets and more sweets
• gel pens

I have bought:

tooth brush
moshi monster tooth paste
moshi monster plasters
moshi figures (spot the theme here)
mr men book
chocolate coins
pencils
pens
playdough

Mainly things that will be used or played with.

Ah Moshi plasters - where did you get those,Marne?

DD likes a plaster [hgrin]

I tend to buy useful stuff too. Mostly stuff that will be eaten or work or used.

Home bargains is fantastic for character toothpaste and cheapo branded goods. I bought Moshi shampoo last week for a pound.

Sweets, chocolates, character socks etc.

I often split packs of toys/sweets up between stockings for my 3 kids.

Moshi Monster cuddly toys (about 6 inch size) are £3 BOGOF in Claire's accessories. Dd came home with two bought from her pocket money yesterday.

Moshi plasters were from the 99p shop, b&m also have them for 99p.

Just wanted to second the microscope - it says currently unavailable on that link but I got it for about a fiver last year. It is really great - obviously not for looking at truly microscopic blood cells etc at that price, but it is excellent if your DCs enjoy looking at bugs :o

Have you looked in Hawkins Bizzare? They have a pocket money section and there are a few bits of practical joke bits and mini magic tricks. Only a £1 - £2.50.