Stocking fillers - what is fun that isn't chocolate or 'tat'?

[Iknowitisheresomewhere]

Really trying hard not to buy for the sake of it. Kids are 4-14. They will get 'necessary but nice' stuff like socks, soap and toothpaste. They will get an apple, an orange, a book, and chocolate. But I am seaching for something that they will enjoy and play with lots, rather than just a novelty.

The fact that I can't think of anything obviously means whatever it is they don't 'need' it, but - well it is Christmas!

A deck of cards and box of domino's can be fun for the winter evenings.
Some fidgit bits for the younger ones.

Can’t find the Nat Geo microscope we have, how annoying, maybe they have stopped doing it? But this one is v similar:
Brainstorm Toys E2014 Outdoor Adventure Microscope. (Amazon.)

I really struggle with my boys 14 and 9 - daughter 12 is easy.

But I have got pens for school, rulers (We can never find a ruler for homework), hot chocolate bombs - managed to get them in Aldi today).....yeah that might be it!!

Where as daughter has loads of art bits, handcream, Bath bombs, lip salve...etc etc....

Oh and other cheap but fun things DD liked included a set of multicoloured and glitter pipe cleaners (Rex London also have kits that you can turn into animals); a bead threading kit with alphabet letter beads.

Also sets of magnets and prisms (@Mumdiva99 would your bits like magnet kits or prisms or similar? Or science puzzles?)

*boys not bits! 🤦‍♀️😂

Depends on age but over the years dd has had: pens, hair slides, lip balms, key rings, earrings, card games, collectible toys like moshi monsters, bubble bath, bath bombs, new novelty toothbrush, character socks, mini lego kit, etc.

Some lovely ideas here - will be coming back with my Christmas Notebook to save some of them for DS.

Bath bombs from Lush always loved here (12 year old DS loves a dragon's egg as a special treat - he sometimes has baths that last for 2 hours). He takes after me in that respect...

CMY cubes
Batteries (for the older ones)
Power bank (ditto)
Snow globe
Small game - Mikado, dominoes, Uno, mini Connect 4
Nice gloves/beanie

Perhaps one each of those mini science kits you can get - in line with age/ability.

Great thread

Depends what they’re into but card games? Or an age appropriate puzzle book/colouring book?

I have always cheated with stockings and bought one pre-filled. Usually Hawkins but this year Menkind.

It's actually cheaper than trying to find good stuff. It contains a bunch of junk that I would never normally buy that amuses them.

I don't like stockings so this is my way around it that keeps everyone happy.

My 14yo asked for this
mathsgear.co.uk/products/a-puzzle-a-day

I’m getting my 8yo this
www.wickeduncle.co.uk/childrens-presents/3m-of-facts---fun-measuring-tape

I always get a kids magazine, rolled up in a tube.

also a bath sponge in a funny shape if I can find one.

I would get a small card game or similar , DD gets some sort of little game every year, in the past she has had

Harry Potter Uno
Friends Picture Quiz
Friends Trivial Pursuit
Friends Top Trumps
Harry Potter - Avoid You Know Who (that is this year's game)
Friends Bingo (this year)

so get something based on their likes and they can all have something different to play with together or with you.

DD also has a calendar every year and a CD that we play in the car together, so one of her faves like Little Mix or Olly Murs.

Fab ideas!!

Got DS13 a potato gun, he had one a few years ago but it broke. He loves it..
Usually get top trumps which is fun for others aswell

Mine always liked the magic flannels.

My rule for stockings is that the almost all the gifts must be useful or consumables. So yes chocolate but they they also both get a new toothbrush with some fun design. A fancy bubble bath instead of the Tesco value one, coloured playground chalk that will eventually get used up etc. Then they might get a matchbox car each that can be easily added to the box of cars and maybe a Lego figure that can join the Lego box. I hate pound shop tat or happy meal style toys that just keep adding to the clutter and that they never look at again after the first ten minutes of Christmas morning!

Oh. And Christmas socks.

Don’t forget the multi pack of pants and socks for the year ahead.

You can do a gift card for a coffee shop for older ones, or for iTunes or whatever they like.

Personally I’m trying to cut down on the bitty bits ….we have too many lip balms, coloured pens, novelty bits and bobs already in this house.

How about bamboo tooth brush or reusabale straw.

Bamboo coffe cup with lid is good.

Sachet for making mug cake.

A maqazine or puzzle book.

The other thing I’m looking to do is limit number of items now mine are not little kids. In my mind I’m aiming for 10-12 things, not 25. If there’s stuff by Boxing Day that needs binning, or which we struggle to find a home for or doesn’t seem wanted, I will feel like I’ve not quite succeeded.

I agree a small game is a good item…Bandido is a great small game if you haven’t seen it.

One year mine had a set each of the magnetic sticks and balls building kits - hours of fun which also kept their father quiet....

A set of Dominoes
A torch
Pass the pigs game

How is toothpaste “nice”?

Not criticising giving toothpaste btw I’ve just never heard of toothpaste being referred to as a nice gift