Ideas for stocking fillers with lasting play value

[ISawFrannyandZooeyKissingSanta]

Suggestions please, for things to go in ds' stocking, that are not just plastic crap which will get broken within a week. He is 2 and a half.

Little wooden trains?
Whats his main pressie? can you add to it?
Books

WE have got ds 2.1yrs some
books
a wooden magnetic fishing game that was £3 on ebay new.
A game of snap
a couple of tubs of playdoh

I bought a bunch of plastic crap from Hawkins, and some of it still gets loads of play (I have a DS1, 4, and a DS2, 14 months). Most particularly, any sort of top is always very popular. Oh, and any sort of small musical instrument. Small stuffed toys are also often a hit.

And you can get some books small enough to go in a stocking - maybe the Mr Men books, if the stocking is big enough? And small books are always good for taking out with you.

some nice wooden instruments in the book depot, if you have one near you. Also Toys r us has 3 for 2 on its discovery stuff...we got a wooden farm for £4 actually got 2 and a box of bricks!

Yes, books a great idea, also playdoh. His stocking is huge and is in fact a sack. So size is not a problem.

Hmm, no book depot. These are all good ideas. I thought of a couple of suggestions:

a torch (a £1 torch one of his absolute favourite things)
marbles
stickers

You dont have to fill it!!!
Dont start something!!!
I am cutting down this year!!! ha ha!!!

It just depresses me how much plastic and packaging and waste there is every Christmas. I love the winter celebrations and don't mind spending money on ds, but want things for him that are worthwhile.

I won't fill the sack ABB, just saying larger presents could fit in if necessary

Whats his main present?
Ds1(15) electric Guitar
DD and DS2 tv and dvd each
ds3 My first leapfrog
Ds4 Aqua draw

then too many stocking fillers!!!

I am not buying any crappy plastic toys for their stocking this year, I am filling it with chocolate, pens, colouring books, tangerine, chocolate money, DS has a light saber and DD has a spinning top.

One of those balls that looks like a rubber brush (hard to describe but it's tickly to touch).
Torch: brill idea. Bicycle lights also good as will flash and can be reused by you when ds gets bored.
Odd idea, but a large square of thin fabric that can be used for all sorts, dressing up, making dens etc? Will fold up small.

Main present is music toy, playmobil dustcart, drum. All pre-loved from eBay - trying to have a really Green Christmas!

Fabric a fine idea. I have a collection of special sparkly / stretchy fabrics we play with at my toddler classes. Definitely a favourite.

get more little playmobile people?

I know you dont want plastic as such but as one of ds presents we got him a mr potato head from asda for £5

New toothbrush, its practical and something to open. Also often include flannels as they tend to need replacing. Kids don't mind they like to open stuff but that may just be their age!

those flannels that you put in water and grow!!!

this

oo geog thats what else I got ds a toothbrush and flannel for his stocking. Also bath crayons from boots.

Kill two birds with one stone.
How about bog roll and kitchen scrubbers?

rubber gloves and washing up liquid

Dustpan and brush.
Washing up liquid.

mop and bucket???????? IT is a big bag

car wax and sponge..that would be really useful

I gave my kid a watering can that I wanted.
She was thrilled.

so far for ds (also 2.5) I've got:

a lovely hairbrush
a new toothbrush
socks
a winnie the pooh face cloth
thomas stickers

I'm going to get some of those wee animals from ELC and a scarf.

mostly stuff he needs really!