Teens & stockings

[Schlurp]

How have you adapted stockings as teens grow up?

I remember getting Clearasil and pants as a teen so I'm a bit reluctant to pad them out with that kind of thing, but both my teens (Y12 and Y10) have exec function issues. Giving them "things" for the sake of it, even nice ones, seem to stress them more than they really enjoy them. But I think they'd be gutted not to have stockings.

I am wondering about replacing their stockings with knitted ones that might be a bit easier to fill - or would it actually be harder to have less space for things?

I would love to hear what your teens get in their stockings, and how you have adapted things as they get older. I feel like we have done fidget toys to death, and there's only so much shower gel/socks/sweets you can give them.

Tech things- earphones, chargers, power packs
Beauty and make up stuff
Jewellery
T shirt folded up small
Stationery
Snacks
Art supplies

Fun snacks from around the world, Asian supermarkets etc have lots of fun things, gummy sweets, noodles, biscuits, drinks etc

Edibles. They can eat the chocolate, drink the random pink lemonade and no clutter

Essentials like a t shirt from a brand they wear or a small umbrella if they use are fine. Mouthwash and pants weird

I don't know if I have the rare thing called a straightforward teenager, but I've never found it particularly difficult to buy for my DS, especially stocking bits.

He has a fair few interests and hobbies so it's very easy to find things related to them, then I pad it out with edibles, nice shower gel, a book, voucher of some kind, a couple of useful bits and usually one silly thing too! He's taken an interest in cooking this year so that opens up some new ideas too.

I wouldn't say the stockings are particularly innovative and don't have the same fun factor as they did when he was younger, but he always seems very happy on Christmas morning 🎅🏻

Gift cards for places/things they might like, but wrapped in a small box with a 'thing' to make it bigger e.g Costa gift card with a Costa wrapped biscuit, cinema gift card with a pack of popcorn etc

We mainly do edibles in stockings,

mini pot of pringles
pack of Percy pig sweets
chocolate orange
A pair of fun socks
Gregs gift card (dd1)
Lush lip balm
Fidget toy
Jewellery (cheap necklace, bracelets)
Manic panic hair dye
Beads for making ‘Taylor swift’ bracelets.

Silly (but wearable) socks.
Silly (but wearable) pants.
Edibles.
Hot drink things like chocolate bombs or sachets.
Some silly little gadget or toy - last year was biros with 6 colours in each pen.
Something individual to each - eg funky mini postits for the student who has to make loads of notes, a fiddle toy for the fidgeter, modelling balloons for the crafty one, etc.

DD1 will have hair slides, a scented candle, socks, bed socks, perfume, earrings, gloves, vegan marshmallows, chocolate orange, vintage beads, vintage doll from Etsy, paintbrushes, Posca pens, knitted animal.

DD2 will have socks, bed socks, chocolate orange, knitted animal, penknife, scented candle, dog brooch, gloves, charcoals, notebook, Dr Marten laces, hand warmer, tiny musical box, spinning top.

DS will have socks, bed socks, chocolate orange, Japanese sweets, gloves, hand warmer, glass animal, thimble (he collects them), chocolate coins, hotel chocolate penguins, colouring pencils, hot wheels car, knitted animal, spinning top.

They each have a small bag of 10 one pound coins in the toe of the stocking too.

I spend quite a bit of money on their stockings and put a lot of thought into things they really would like. They say the stockings are the best bit of Christmas.

DS15 is a nightmare to buy for in general, he’s a techie, not into sports so I’m literally clutching at straws this Year as he pretty much has everything. Stockings are a nightmare because dd11 is easy to buy for with a list as long as the china wall where as he’s only asked for 2 switch games and a new AirPods case. We are getting him new AirPods so that’s fine…as a main present.
so far for his stocking he’s getting
a book about rollercoasters
a conspiracy theory book (he’s not a conspiracy theorist he just loves to read and basically take the piss)
a Deliveroo voucher
a roblox voucher
a box of hotel chocolat hot chocolate sachets
some lynx deo
lynx shower gel
Lindor balls
one of the switch games

still need a few more… gotta have a look around for something that appeals to his taste, It will probably come from menkind as he loves that shop.

I don't put tat in them anymore now DC are older, it's just a waste of money. So ours always have nice socks and pants, a book, pjs
Then small but useful things like mascara, lip stick, portable charger, pens, notebooks, coffee or Greggs voucher, hair clips, nice chocolate, unusual flavours of Fanta or treats from abroad

My teen ds 13 has a stocking with lynx shower gels and deodorants. Hes obsessed with lynx. He will also have chocolate coins.

It’s fairly token but practical

satsuma
Chocolate orange
Some form of fancy nuts
socks
pants

Things they might individually need - earplugs, lip balm, hair bobbles, notebook, phone case

An Individual present or two - make up or skin care, belt, 5 pounds book or coffee shop token, keep cup/water bottle, book or notebook. Things I might have picked up when away - t shirt, mug, exotic snacks

I've got for DS 14:

Magnetic apple iphone charger

Airpod cleaning kit

Hotel chocolate penguin chocs

Small desk fan

.. and that's it so far

Some ideas which I listed for DS last year (he got some, not all)

Lynx
Razor
Batteries
Super noodles
Choc orange
Stress ball
Fluffy bed socks
Trolley coin (gym locker)
Multi tool key
Clip key ring
Air cans (for PC)
USB stick
Sheet face mask
Hot choc

Japanese sweets (Amazon or Blippo kawaii)
Gym towel
Water bottle
Shower speaker
Vouchers (Greggs/Nando’s)

Phone cover & screen protector
Nose trimmer
Protein bars
Beanie hat
Airpods cleaner

My kids aren't teens yet, but I follow the:

Something they want
Something they need
Something to wear
Something to read

For their stockings. Along with a selection box. I think that'll be easy enough to follow in the teen years, too.

Stocking are a highlight here with 18yr teen dd.
I love to keep the magic going so make a big effort with the stocking. She's using the same one she's had since she was a baby & it's a huge handmade felt one from a Christmas Market & it takes tons to full it! We didn't think that through properly!
Anyway I haven't started buying yet but last year we put:
Chocolate orange
Chocolate coins
Fancy face products
Fancy hair products
Airpods (surprise gift she didn't know about)
Perfume
Makeup
Mug
Trinket for her room
Fluffy socks
Japanese crisps / snacks
Mini bottle prosecco
Jade face roller
Nail polish
Beauty face masks
Scented candle

I've probably forgotten a few things but will do similar this year.

Not there ourselves but thinking back to being the teen myself:
sweets
craft kits (mini cross stitch for me)
nice pants
book (often second hand)
snacks (pistachios)
silver earrings
xmas socks
nice toiletries

Mine are adults now but still love their stockings - I suggested stopping one year and they said it wouldn't be Christmas without them. Mainly along the lines of previous posters.
Trying not to repeat things mentioned already but apologies if these have already been mentioned.
DS would be horrified if he didn't get a jar of Nutella - was never something we had any other time. Ditto a mini box of coco pops
As teens, they still received gifts from lots of other people so I put some thank you cards in each year - always opened with a groan!
Microwave popcorn
Unusual flavoured crisps (Haggis; Guiness; Prosecco) - all surprisingly edible
Funny coasters
A ring holder for DD who had received a Pandora ring for her 18th
Nano blocks
Pocket kite
Some old fashioned games like pick up sticks and jacks which actually got played with

I think teens do naturally grow out of wanting stockings, for the last couple of years I've gone round my DS's room a few days after Christmas and collected the discarded presents.. and recycled them the following year . The same mug has been put in the stocking three years in a row. Chocolate, favourite cereal, shower gel etc was used but endless stationery items, novelty socks etc weren't really appreciated. He's working overseas this year so I think we can naturally 'break' the stocking routine.
I know in my case I was doing it more to enjoy the fun of putting it together myself rather than actually thinking if DS would want the gifts.
I now put my energy into making shoebox gifts much hated on Mumsnet although haven't seen them mentioned for a few years.

Following with interest

And also posting to thank @Aparecium @Caspianberg @Lovemusic82 @CoffeeChocolateWine for the giggle...you know edibles are drugs, right?

I personally wouldn't put edibles into my teens stockings, but each to their own. 😜

@OfcourseitsaNC - erm no they arent

‘’Edible comes from the Latin word edere, which means “to eat.” Anything that people can safely eat is described as edible.’’

Just because you can get some drugs in edible form, it doesn’t mean the word edible is ‘drugs’. It’s just means it can be eaten. They same as a piece of chocolate

I think there’s quite a few shoebox gifts now @Ragwort rather than the dubious Samaritans purse ones. Even then I think that personally I only disagreed with them because they made the children/giftees renounce their own faith and commit to Christianity in order to receive a box full of fun, essential and useful things. I give to our local toys for kids campaign usually, they make sure every child opens a toy at Christmas!

This year I’m getting my teen
fluffy socks
interesting snacks/ gift cards for costa, bubble tea, chocolate coins etc (might upgrade to the hotel chocolat penguins though this year)
little bits and bobs of jewellery - cheaper stuff, usually accessorize
card games (selfish this year)
film for instax
little squishmallow things
roblox gift card
little growing pot for herbs
Purse
pens and pencils for school
skin care and face masks

@Ragwort - we also do shoebox gifts. They are local, and get sent to refugee, refuge, homeless shelters etc within the county. No religion. Ds nursery are doing again this year, and you can pick child age or adult ones, and they will be distributed within the community region. They are toys/ crafts and clothing accessories rather than soap and essentials’

When ours were younger the stocking contained an orange, £1 coin, pencils/ crayons, Christmas socks, smelliest, hair baubles.

I still make a stocking up for my adult children however all their small gifts go inside it now. So whether it’s perfume, a bag of sweets, jewellery or a pen , if it fits it goes into the stocking.

Buying socks/deodorant /shower gel/dental products for Xmas is just odd. Do the gift recipients not buy these things for themselves during the year/have them brought for them if a minor ?