Unusual stocking fillers that aren't plastic tat

[ObtuseAngel]

The things that websites and shops tout as stocking fillers are usually nasty overpriced plastic toys that break straight away. What we need is a nice long list of things that will be cheap, useful and interesting. Obviously everyone already knows about patterned pencils and unusually shaped rubbers, but it would be good to have other stuff too.

I will contribute:

Plaque disclosing liquid/tablets. DS got a pack of these in a party bag last year and I thought WTF, but he and DD really loved using them.

Mini magnetic bookmarks, DS is a keen reader but gets very frustrated if his bookmark falls out and he looses his place so I bought him these and he loves them.

Laura The fun of stockings makes up for the more stressful side of Christmas in our house. Some of my suggestions and purchases are on the ££ side but we tend to spend more on Stocking gifts and not so much on 'main gifts' for the adults. It's more fun that way.

balia that tickseed site is lovely!
"bits" for kids stockings ordered ;) just needs bulking agents now - pants, socks, new clothes (prob jumpers this year), choc coins, toothbrush, and maybe a book - I like the sentiment above of want, need, eat and read.
DS1 might also get some half decent pencils for school, and a pencil sharpner. We are rapidly discovering homework with pencils that have seen better days in DH or my school pencil case!
We had battery free torches last year (not from ikea), and they were a massive hit, but now broken.

Thanks for the finger lights tip - never seen those before. How can they cost 42p including P&P????

A trebuchet is a bit like a catapault, was used in tudor(?) times for throwing things at castle walls.

Some great tips on here. The finger lights have been ordered for my DD's.

Some great ideas!

Battery operated pencil sharpener

Desk caddy

Glow light

Wind up torch

Alarm clock

Pyjamas, pants and socks (characters)

Thank you notelets

Gloves, scarf, hat

Bath bombs, soap, toothbrush

Cup

Hot choc sachets, marshmallows, chocolate stirrer

Swimsuit, goggles, dive sticks, personalised towel for swimming

Slushy maker that goes in the freezer - friends tell me they are brill!!
(they are plastic but not tat)

Ok a mix for all ages:

Mouth organ
Yoyo
Bicycle puncture repair kit
A-Z of London or other city
Book of jokes
Travel bottles
Face pack sachets
Metallic "soap" bars
Swiss army knife
Key fob
Natural sponge

Thanks for the lights idea, brilliant!
Not much to add to the above but this year we're going for more practical things like toothbrush etc.

what a brilliant thread, thanks op! you just made me spend a fortune on the interwebs in no time flat

BeCool, could you tell me a bit more about the slushy maker please? Is it to make slush puppy drinks? Ds1 is desperate for one, but I am resisting.

Last year in DS's I put
Boxers
Socks
Deodorant
Bubble bath
Sweets
Chocolates
CD
Magazine
Giant bendy pencil
Paper aeroplane kit
And the thing that went down best..a set of mini screwdrivers! He had 2 remote controlled cars, which he wouldn't have been able to use without them! He still loves them now and feels very important when he can come to someone's rescue with 'his' screwdrivers!

Yes to finger lights, ds likes those.

Hand tattoos have been a hit before.

My mum always used to out a nice set of note lets or writing paper set in my stocking to make the thank you letters less of a chore!

nextphase 5 packets ordered

Where can I buy smelly pencils?

there is a little video on SLUSHY MAKER here showing how they work

DD is always asking for a slushy and our friends have got these and love them.

Robert Dyas also sell JML ones for about the same price

I picked up a small box of Story Cubes from Waterstones the other day which look quite fun. They're like 3 dice with pics on them, you throw all 3 and then make up a story using the pics they land on.

Hits from last year were bath crayons, a book, door letters (both DC only have 3 letters in their names so not too expensive!), face paints, a card game, novelty flannel, bubbles, projector torch thing, flower seeds and chocs.

DD was just under 6 months old last Christmas so got things like dummies, an Ella's Kitchen fruit pouch, dipping cutlery, tights, buggy book and PJs.

Pocket kite (£5 in Waterstones)
Modelling chocolate
Skipping rope

Finger lights also bought here (14 packs) for ds's party - they must wonder what's going on tonight!! THANK YOU :)

Oh thanks, I wasn't sure if they were worth buying or not, so thanks for the inside information. Is the syrup worth buying or is it just as good with juice or normal squash?

BOYS: pre-teen (and of course girls will like these things too, it's just that this is based on my DS)

Penknife - the Opinel ones are good quality and not expensive
Origami paper - some beautiful papers available, and an Origami book
Hex Bugs
Little build your own electronics kits from Maplins - good for 11 yos and older
Soldering iron - ditto - perhaps with supervision
Maplins is a treasure cave for owners of tech minded older children.
A telescopic magnetic gadget for getting metal things out of tight spaces - £2 from Maplins
Binoculars
Small campfire gadgets - a fire steel and a 'grandpas toasting fork' that can turn any stick into a long handled toasting fork for marshmallows etc
Novelty plectrums - search marvel comic plectrums etc
Naruto accessories - headband, plastic Naruto weaponry etc
A Head Torch
A small computer gadget thing that attaches to your bike wheels to tell you distances, times speeds.
The Bear Grylls scouting book
A proper Silva map reading compass and an ordnance survey map of where you live or somewhere you often go
Sigg bottle in cool design
Bottles of pop from M&S in great flavours
Bedside clock that changes colour
Dylon Image Maker - stuff that enables you to transfer images / colour photocopies onto fabric, e.g T Shirt
Sun Print Paper - light sensitive paper that enables you to make pictures from leaving the paper out in the sun...

I see from when I ordered the finger lights that light up hair extensions are also available!

I haven't bought all this stuff for DS for Xmas, it's just stuff he has enjoyed over the last few years and / or would like.

I'd be buying one pretty much to avoid the syrup - I don;t buy DD slushies from the shops as they re blue!! (mean mother).
I imagine DD will make them out of juice or flavoured milk

Shamelessly marking spot to come back and spend an afternoon online shopping