What can I squash into a suitcase?!

[NotathomeforChristmas]

For complicated reasons, I'm taking my 6 and 9 year old away for Christmas. We'll be somewhere hot.

The 6 year old still very much believes, but the 9 year old has heard rumours at school that parents provide the Christmas presents...

Does anyone have any suggestions please for stocking fillers and presents that can be smuggled into my suitcase and that will somehow convince a sceptical 9 year old that the magic of Christmas is real?!

We've always done "want, need, wear, read", plus a stocking, so they are used to smaller piles than some kids get anyway.

Comic magazine

sweets - something fancier they don’t get often but not chocolate due to melting

little mini Lego sets ( they can do on plane home)

mini Harry Potter postcard colouring book with mini fineliner set - again can use on plane home/ in hotel

Stocking fillers:
Roblox gift card
Top trumps or UNO card game
Gel pens (just bought the smiggle scented gel pens for my dc) or sharpies
Joke book
Rubik’s cube
Fidget toy
Lego dots
Magic milk straws
Gelli Baff
Glow in the dark shoelaces

Thanks very much- great ideas!

Small gadgets like phone or ear pods?

It depends what your kids are into but by 9 my DS didnt really like 'toys' it had grown into wanting to be more 'adult'.

Good point- he is definitely more grown up but I think I might nust manage to squueze one last year of toy-ish things. He's been promised a phone for Christmas next year, ready for when he will go to high school the following September.

Ear pods are a great shout - thanks

I was also thinking I might get some drinks/snacks from the country we are in to go in the stockings- bit different to what we get at home... but I don't know whether that will enhance the Christmas magic vibes, or do the opposite!

Santa is very clever and delivers presents to your home as well as your holiday location.

We always went for bits that could be used on the holiday in the stockings especially, along with pyjamas or a new outfit. Card games like top trumps/dobble, a new book, ear muffs (we tend to be on ski holidays!), hair bits, bath bombs, sweets, beanie boo, that sort of thing.

A letter from Santa saying he has left them some surprises at home to spread the Christmas cheer even further.

Or an inflatable. Blow it up once they are asleep and attach a big ribbon. Squishmallows will squash into awkward spaces.

These, giant elk inflatables with Christmas patterns on eBay

As a child I spent a few Christmas's in Australia visiting family, each time I was reminded that Father Christmas would still deliver presents to home so I had to wait for those and any large presents from mum and dad were also at home, I can't remember exactly what I got whilst we were away (I was age 4, 6 and 9) but don't remember being upset at not getting much.

Thinking about it, the time when I was 9 I did get my main present as it was a Nintendo DS!

What happens to us is that Santa got confused and delivered the presents at home. We don't really celebrate Xmas while on holiday anyway so it doesn't feel like we're missing out. We're not religious though so it makes twisting dates easier!

not sure its any use to you but I was just thinking if the kids like those squashmallows then if you put them in a vaccume bag would likely suck virtually flat but then spring bag big once opened.