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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What goes in the ideal stocking?

87 replies

DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:05

Help me out here please....

Dh took dd to his work's Christmas party today and so I took the 3 dss shopping. The oldest 2 know the truth about the old man with the red coat and white beard so I thought they could choose stocking fillers for their sister. But we came away with absolutely nothing.

The fundamental trouble is, when I was a child, my parents lavished us with hundreds of silly little toys, knick knacks and trinkets and so I have a tendency to think I should buy that stuff for my children. But dh had a different upbringing and gets really grumpy when I try to buy silly things. I am not sure actually what he thinks should go in the stocking. I do also like to get in some useful things eg last year I did gloves and hats for everyone who needed them, and I always do paper and pens (but the oldest 2 dss never used their pens last year!)

So, come on please. Help a disillusioned Mner. What should I get for the stockings? What is your definitive list of must have items?

OP posts:
Quootiepie · 02/12/2006 21:07

chocolate coins
a little puzzle type toy
a little cuddley toy...

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:13

Yes I would go with chocolate of some sort, and a puzzle of some sort. Not sure about the cuddly toy for mine - they have way too many!

Any more ideas?

OP posts:
Skribble · 02/12/2006 21:14

Mini box of smarties
Orange
Choc coins
cracker
Diary/ Notebook
Bubble bath
Hair bobbles
Socks pants
Few silly toys
Perhaps a CD if santa got a good wage that week.
Books (often second hand but have to be in really good condition)

I get things that they need like socks and stuff to balance out the silly stuff.

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:17

Thanks Skribble for your list!

I like the sock idea - my children seem to magic all their socks into holey rags or stiffened, impossible-to-get-on things after a few wearings. I am going to make socks for all this year's boring but essential item!

OP posts:
xmasmummy · 02/12/2006 21:17

satsuma, apple and bag choc coins in toe, then pants and socks for boys, vests and tights for girls, dd1 gets some pretty hair stuff, dd2 (8 months) will have couple of bags milky buttons and a teddy, boys get penilc, sweets of some description and they all get a teddy in the top.

GiraffeGotTheLastRoomInTheInn · 02/12/2006 21:18

I always just put in a satsuma, choc coins, than as many tiny presents as I can cram in. I don't plan the stockings, I just buy lots of small things and shove them in.

This year, dp asked if I would buy him a harmonica for his stocking (he wants to be bob Dylan i think) so i bought one, but have also boought a really shit toy one from the pound shop so i am putting them both in, with the good one in the toe so he doesn't get it first.
I want to see if he says anything when he opens the shite one.

xmasmummy · 02/12/2006 21:18

soz- meants to say pencils lol

BettySpaghetti · 02/12/2006 21:20

We go for a combination of:

something edible (normally choc. coins)
clothing (eg.socks, gloves,T-shirt,pants)
arty (eg.gel pens, bead kit, craft stuff)
something silly (eg.fart putty (THE big hit last year!), grow your own dinosaur)
books
bits and bobs to add to existing toys (eg. Polly Pocket accesories, plastic dinosaurs)

Skribble · 02/12/2006 21:21

Sometimes they get the personalised pencils for school, but santa has to be orgainised for that.

I sell lots of stocking filler stuff to santa for other children but not for mine as they would realise santa buys it from me .

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:25

How about anyone with ideas for older boys? My oldest are/will be 10 and 9. The 10 yo likes those puzzles eg putting pieces together to make a cube or balls in a maze, that sort of thing, but any other ideas? Things like bubble bath or arty stuff would be great for dd but just not suitable for my older boys.

OP posts:
moondog · 02/12/2006 21:29

DG,have you seen the Hawkins Bazaar catalogue??
It is jampacked with brilliant (and cheap stuff.)

Get a copy NOW!!

xmasmummy · 02/12/2006 21:30

a pencil case filled with new pens/ pencils, new boxers and socks, rubiks cube (if you can still buy them), model kits (small ones, my eldest is nearly 8 so know a little about older ones

singledadofthree · 02/12/2006 21:30

I'm an older boy and would love to find a new house, car, some Thorntons, Merlot, a drop or two of Guiness and maybe a train set in mine. Suppose a wife would be asking too much

Smithagain · 02/12/2006 21:31

So far, DD1 (4yo) has got

A book that I want to read to her!
Something chocolatey
Something to make (beads)
A torch (because she craves one)
A belt (needed)
Dressing up shoes (been in the emergency present box for a year and need to be used)
A Christmas decoration
A little wooden toy from Oxfam's gift range (ethical choice for my conscience)
One or two other bits I can't remember.

15mo DD has got:
Two bath toys (so I can throw away the mouldy ones)
Castanets to add to our instrument collection
Ethical Oxfam thing (as above)
Socks
Chocolate treat
A book
A toy dustpan and brush (our old one is trashed)
A Christmas decoration (I'm building up a collection for each of them)

I've just been picking things up as I see them but I think it's time to stop now LOL!

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:32

Moondog, I was in Hawkins Bazaar most of this afternoon. It has been a mainstay of our stockings before, but I am afriad I thought it was full of tatt today.

OP posts:
Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:33

Singledad - you are easily pleased

OP posts:
Skribble · 02/12/2006 21:35

DS nearly 10 gets
Shower gel (lynx type stuff)
Torch
Trumps cards.
CD
Construction kit
keyring tool thing.

Check out the gifts in the supermarkets or other shops aimed more at men for older boys stuff.

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:36

Hmmm how many torches have i bought for the children over the years? They always end up smashed or (last year) dd's beautiful Disney princess one was left out in the garden and it rained.

Oh dear, I just feel really old and cynical. I am longing for the days when a stocking was happily filled with a little book, a bath toy and some chocolate coins.

OP posts:
singledadofthree · 02/12/2006 21:36

and i thought i was pushing me luck asking for the train - will wait with trepidation...darent hold me breath

Wallace · 02/12/2006 21:36

We always used to get stuff like toothbrushes in ours

tamum · 02/12/2006 21:37

DG, I would more than understand if you would prefer not to take me up on this offer but I have several whoopie cushions left over from ds's party bags if they'd be any use? I agree about Hawkin, btw, think they've gone downhill. I found quite a few bits in John Lewis this year- they have sets of balloons that blow up into punchbags, and eggs full of silly putty and stuff. I also found some things in Tesco, even our small local store, like mini-radios, and roll-up calculators, all quite cheap.

Gillian76 · 02/12/2006 21:37

There was a big thread about stockings a while back. Hang on...

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:38

Sorry, my cynical torch comment was in response to smithagain's list, Skribble, not you - and not meant cynically really. I will look for shower gel as they both shower but have never had anything like that before. (plain old soap used in this household! )

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 02/12/2006 21:38

here

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:40

Oh I missed the train set. No that is definitely not on - you will spend hours on end adjusting one little bit of track if you are anything like my dh. How about your own personal dish cloth instead?

OP posts: