Stocking ideas for older kids/teens

[Titsywoo]

I have an 11 year old DS and 13 year old DD. We are away in New York for xmas so they are getting a small more expensive gift each and a stocking. The trip is a surprise so that's partly their present too. I'm struggling to think of ideas for stockings. I want to pack them pretty full so they feel like they are getting lots of gifts. DS loves computers/gaming and DD is very arty (but not really into makeup and trendy stuff - she's more alternative!).

Any ideas appreciated :)

Will you be staying long in NY after Christmas Day? As, if you get there before the banks close, a roll of dimes or quarters could be cool (and useful to spend). A roll of Dimes (10c coins) is $5, while a roll of quarters (25c coins) is $10. You can get other denominations too but they are not so useful for spending.

We have a formula for the stockings:

Apple and satsuma in the toe.

Nuts - proper shell-on nuts are traditional, but DS loves pistachios so he gets a bag of pistachios instead.

Chocolate coins.

New socks and pants (usually character ones - he's a teenager so think Assassins Creed or Marvel rather than Disney!)

A book or magazine (or both).

A selection box (to make him feel properly sick by breakfast).

A keyring or other small thing, based on the computer game he's currently obsessed by. Eg last year it was a Skyrim keyring, this year it'll be a Witcher one. They can be easily found by googling.

In your position, I'd go with cool American sweets - everything is more exotic when it's unfamiliar!

Nice suggestions.

Tiger for Art/craft stuff?

We pre-order big gifts and collect (so apple etc). Usual in the USA and you can get it gift wrapped.

Stocking fillers are whatever CVS/marshalls has in stock put in cheap bags/boxes so no wrapping required. You can also pre-order a USA amazon order to the hotel- much cheaper than getting stuff in the Uk usually.

I wouldn't take anything at all with you- certainly not food- the queue of stuff being confiscated on arrival is epic each year.

If your dd is very Arty then a specialist Art/craft shop could have soon good stuff for her. Paints/brushes/drawing materials etc. Not sure about transporting it.

This thread is just s what I needed!

I have 2 boys, 8 and 12 and not a lot of money this year. Great ideas here that will not break the bank and still give my boys lots of things to open!

I find it so much easier to do a stocking for DD (14 now) than I ever did for the boys 😏 Lip gloss, knickers, earrings, notebooks and pens, hair ties/slides, nail polish, chocolate, key rings or other things they can attach to school bags, phone case, bath bombs, nail stickers, gloves, snow globe......

One of 12-year-old DN’s favourite presents last year was a Moon Ball!

Lush have fidget spinner bubble bars - I've bought a few of those for DS and his cousins.

Placemarking as I’m struggling a bit for stocking fillers for 2 boys aged 9 & 14!

So far I’ve thought of..

American sweets
Lush bath bomb
Deodorant- 9 year old wants some!
Fidget cube - DS2
iPhone stand - DS2

So probably missing a couple of things each

DS1 into gaming, cycling, scouting

Ds2- likes you tubers , arty stuff, reading

Tiger quite good for this sort of stuff - Bike lights ( the bendy ones that wrap round handlebars ) , fire flint, paracord bracelet, carabiners, compass key ring, penknife, head torch

Penknife might not be great for taking on plane!