Plastic free stocking stuffers

[Karlwho]

Guys, I'm on a mission!

I'm trying t o cut back on buying anything plastic, and I'm after ideas for stocking fillers.
I'm doing a stocking each for my two kiddos (7&9) , and my dh, and I really, really, don't want them to contain any cheapplasticcrap.
My kids are into anything and everything, doesn't have to be 'girl/boy stuff'.
Any suggestions?

Hat
Socks
Scarf
Books
Origami set
Colouring book and decent pencils
Wooden puzzles
Home made sweets
Friendship bracelets / other craft kit which you could put together yourself
Gift vouchers for a "movie night" at home or similar.
Baking ingredients in a jar to make cookies or something.

Thanks!

Bath bombs/lip balm etc from lush or similar

Hot chocolate stirrer things, you know the ones where it's just a lump of chocolate on the bottom of a wooden stick? I think you ought to be able to get them without plastic packaging but can't promise

Pants
Seeds
Swell/Chilly's bottle
Hair stuff
Beer glass for your DH (I've got OH a couple in the past from local breweries)

Hobby related stuff for all, for DH is there anything work related you could get? For example last year OH got me an awesome little cutlery set, which does have a small amount of plastic but is not a throw away item. I use it for work, I lug everything I need for the day around with me:

www.amazon.co.uk/Joseph-GoEat-Saving-Stainless-Cutlery/dp/B012W9E372?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Joke book
Material or tin pencil case
Whoopee cushion
Paper plane kit www.mulberrybush.co.uk/18-paper-planes
Cats cradle www.mulberrybush.co.uk/cats-cradle
Mug
Purse or wallet

Depending on the ages of the stocking owners, second hand is the way to go. When my DC were small, I’d buy charity shop books (“oh, look, the elves have scribbled on that page.”). I added videos - obviously obsolete now. I found soft toys - brand new for 50p, which would take up a lot of space. I did this not to save the planet, but because I’m mean .

Doesn’t really work for teenagers, which my DC are now. They still get supplies of underwear, cleaning stuff (including deodorant), and stationery.

Magazine
Bath bomb
Nail varnish
Expanding flannel
Chocolate

Not sure if this falls in the cheap plastic tat category but last year dd got a rubix cube in her stocking. It's probably one of her most played with things.

For my dh I normally fill his stocking with sweets and foodie treats that he likes and a small lego set, normally a car of some sort.

For the kids you could do:
Card game such as top trumps or snap
Christmas snacks/chocolate
Bath bombs/ sponges. Primark have some ace ones in at the moment
Small craft kit
Craft materials
Stickers
Stationary
Tickets to an activity
Cinema vouchers
A smallish book.

Lush soap and bath bombs
books
seeds to plant
glass jar of chocolate spread or nut butter
fluffy or fun socks
gloves
lip balm

Colouring pencils.
Craft kits
Nice bar soap.
Socks.
Wooden/metal puzzles.
Chocolate.

Generally speaking, Hawkins bazaar and Lush are my two 'go tos' for more sustainable stocking fillers.

We're doing the same this year (and are giving books out at the kids' birthday party rather than plastic tat).

I've got:

A Christmas Lego kit
A glass initial to paint
A little box of jelly beans
Christmas slipper socks

DS will have two Batman Lego figures and DD will have story cubes, but they're the only bits which will vary.

I'll also get them dairy free Santas of some description.

Thanks everyone for the ideas and links. It's good to know it can be don e

I love doing stockings! There are lots of cute non-plasticky things you can add for under-10s. Have fun as this is probably the best age for stockings, IMO.

Every year I usually do:

• pretty hair clips or hair accessory
• bath bomb or bath crystals - this year might add a fun soap too as DD (6) is currently keen on scented soaps
• a book or magazine
• slipper socks (I get Christmassy ones in the sale in January for the following year)
• interesting pencil, rubber, mini pencil case, mini notebook, stickers
• teeny soft toy
• bubbles (though maybe DD getting a bit big at 6)
• some small toy e.g. marbles, mini kite, kaleidoscope, crystal growing kit, French knitting doll, mini paint set, cats' cradle game etc.
• a lego polybag or small Playmobil set
• I do something that lights up each year, used to be light up bath ducks, balls or bouncy balls when DD was smaller. This year I think a mini string of lights for her room or a mini torch.
• an interesting lollipop
• mini Lindt choc Santa or elves set
• some other kind of sweet item (e.g. a big tube of smarties)
• satsuma

Tiger/Flying Tiger is just the best for stocking things.

In place like House of Marbles, Rex London and so on you can get fab stocking stuffers like cheap stationery, memo pads, accessories, playing cards, gyroscopes, science toys etc. Try museum shops too - they are normally a goldmine for crystals, mini torches, science stuff etc.

cakedays I love stockings too! They're all the 'interesting' gifts.
We have a Tiger by us which is great. Thanks for the suggestions.

No problem! Rex London (used to be dotcomgiftshop) has a sale on atm with lots of stockingy bits. Paperchase too, I often get bits from there in the sale.

It's June...

Windswept this is the Christmas board....people are posting on it ALL YEAR ROUND

Sorry my mistake, came here from active topics. I had no idea this existed, Christmas is not on my radar until November.

Not sure if your eldest might be too old, op, but random suggestion: character egg cups! I happened upon some 1980s Thomas the tank engine ones in a charity shop but you can get all sorts, Paddington, Garfield etc.

That's a good idea, esp Garfield or other cartoon character's. I like the idea of 'useful' but not boring

I was just about to start a thread on the same topic, glad I checked the Christmas topic first! The kids have been on one about plastic and we’ve talked about toys and maybe asking Santa for no plastic this year.
I can’t decide whether Father Christmas would approve of pre loved gifts (in good condition of course), in case I don’t find enough fillers.

Gloves/hats (I had some custom hats made from Etsy last year in eco fabrics)
Bamboo toothbrush
Wooden yo-yo
Rubber bouncy ball
Wooden spinning tops (Bajo, Plan toys, Lanka Kade)
Seed bombs
Story Cubes
Uno
Playing cards
Pokémon cards
Bananagrams
Stationary
Those wooden crochet dolly things
Skipping rope
Russian dolls
Dice games
Dominos
Pick up sticks
Wooden letters for wall decoration
Small fairtrade instruments
Tony's chocolate

OP, you might want to consider something completely different for your stockings this year? You're obviously concerned about plastic, but consumerism in general is a massive problem for the planet and buying a lot of small, easily lost or broken toys (even if not made of plastic) every year for our kids is not sustainable or desirable. How about experiences? Tickets for the cinema? Vouchers to go swimming? Home made cookies? The first clue in a treasure hunt which takes them all around the house on Christmas morning an ends in a special edible treat? Perhaps they would remember this and be even more surprised and delighted than a sack full of stuff? What do you think?

Skipping rope or the french skipping loop
Book
Hat
Pants/socks
Soap/bath bombs
Sweets
Toothbrush
Flannel
Puzzle book
Money
Torch

Great thread.
I’ve been trying to cut back for the last few years. My tip is to try and only buy stuff that the dc actually want and that is useful or will hold its value second hand (in which case I might try and buy it second hand if possible). No gimmicky stuff or gag gifts. Sadly we have special stockings that are too big that seemed like a great idea years ago and now are a tradition. Last year I put character t-shirts in that I knew they’d love, rolled up take up a good bit of space. I’m a bit mean about spending ££ on clothes but I was pleasantly surprised at how well they’ve worn. I think I’ll do that again this year.