The Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids, Starting at Just $1
Stocking stuffers come in all shapes and sizes. The only “rule” (and we mean that loosely!) is that they’re small enough to fit in a stocking. When I was a kid, I loved getting lip balms, puzzles, and hair accessories in my stocking for Christmas. I mean, who couldn’t use a little extra joy during the holidays?
That’s why I shopped for the best stocking stuffers for kids of all ages and for giftees with various budgets. From rolls of stickers and candy resembling pieces of coal to Oprah-approved bracelet-making kits, there are so many adorable, fun, and silly gifts to shop this season. Hey, even as an adult, I wouldn’t mind finding these in my stocking!
Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids Under $5
These little magnet painting kits are the perfect size for stockings, and they’ve got everything necessary (a magnet, four paints, and a brush) to get to work right away — three cheers for instant gratification!
My 5-year-old and her friends are proficient in the arts of Magic Mixies Mixlings, and finding one in her stocking will make her absolutely giddy.
My 11-year-old is a fidget connoisseur, and according to them, Nee Doh makes some of the best squishy toys out there, including this sensory-stimulating cat.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a 10-foot roll of stickers that will make your sticker-loving child squeal with delight! Featuring vibrantly illustrated superhero-inspired designs, this roll of stickers comes in its own handy-dandy dispenser.
Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids Under $10
There’s something particularly magical about these open-ended LEGO sets, which inspire pure creativity and hours of play. This one has all the makings for monsters, but the real question is, what else will your creative kids come up with?
Maybe it’s because we live in the third most tattooed city in America (Richmond, Virginia), but my kids are super into temporary tattoos, and Ooly’s temporary tattoo packs come with over 50 tats to keep them inked up, featuring designs like "colorful cats," "pirates life," and, our pick, "awesome doodles."
The black raspberry flavor makes this “coal” a sweet and sour treat that anyone would be delighted to find in their stocking.
These bracelets are easy and fun to make, so your kids will stay occupied for hours crafting away. This kit includes adorable foodie charms like sushi, ice cream, and hamburgers.
I loved getting lip balm in my stocking when I was growing up! The timing is perfect, as the winter always means chapped lips. These Squishmallows lip balms will be a hit with your Squishmallow-loving little ones.
Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids Under $20
These extra-thick crayons with creative color names like "space fruit peach" and "chili beef soup" are packed in a soup can inspired by pop artist Andy Warhol, and it’s the perfect gift for kids who want to make their own work of art.
This fun and silly card game challenges players to create the perfect meal, and it’s a winner for family game night for my family of four — not an easy feat for our 6-year age gap between kids.
My family loves these puzzles for car trips because the magnetic pieces are easier to keep track of. This portable tri-fold puzzle is a great choice for visiting kiddos to enjoy on their car ride back home.
The only thing Croc-lovers adore more than their footwear is the flair they add to them. These alien Jibbitz are sure to be their new faves.
Babies love vibrant, bold designs and anything that makes a crinkling sound, and this stylish fabric stroller book has both to keep them engaged at least long enough for you to chat with a friend for a few minutes.
Googly eyes make everything better, including these extremely cute mini leather coin purses, perfect for stashing spare change or lunch money.
Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids Under $20plus
Super Smalls’s Make It Purple Mini Bead Kit was handpicked by Oprah herself for her annual Favorite Things list, giving the brand her major stamp of approval. It’ll get your kids’ approval too, with an array of sparkly, unique, super-fun beads for all your little one’s jewelry-making needs.
And if you have multiple beading-obsessed kiddos in your life, add this Super Smalls gift trio to your cart, and you’ve crossed three of them off your list in one fell swoop. Each kit comes in its own individual packaging, so you can easily break up the set for gifting.
Learning to tell time is a right of passage that gives kids a better understanding of the world around them, and these watches are designed with clearly labeled hours and minutes to make telling time easy and fun.
Looking for an easy gift for a group of kids you don’t see every day? Chocolate to the rescue. This set includes six individual cocoa bombs loaded with marshmallows — the ideal treat for any snow day.
This water-based nail polish is made for kids, so the bright, cheery hues wash off with just soap and water. Now, you can finally let the kids paint their own nails like they’ve been begging to do for years.
I’m not saying I condone staying up past bedtime, but if my kiddo is reading a book under the covers, I might be willing to look the other way, and there’s no better tool for the job than this kid-friendly headlamp.
A set of plastic animals is a quintessential open-ended, Montessori-style toy that inspires exploration, creativity, and free play. This set includes three tubes, so you can split them up or make one animal-loving kid very, very happy.
