Kids Stocking Stuffers, A Few Good Ideas

We often wait until the last minute to find kids stocking stuffers for our children's Christmas stockings. But really, stocking stuffers are easily found, and can be picked up and tucked away throughout the year, ready and waiting for Christmas Eve when they find their way to your tween's stocking.

Make holiday shopping easy by thinking about kids stocking stuffers whenever you visit the department store, dollar store, or local drug store. If you're stumped on what to put in your preteen's stocking, consider these ideas for fun and inexpensive kids stocking stuffers.

Kids Stocking Stuffers: Ideas for Girls

It's pretty easy to think of things to fill a tween girl's stocking. But look beyond the lip gloss. Does your daughter have a hobby? Does she just love to cook? If so, you could pack her stocking with recipe cards and a small whisk or brightly colored measuring spoons. Find her passion and you'll quickly think of ideas she'd love to find in her stocking on Christmas morning.

Kids Stocking Stuffers: Ideas for Boys

Some say boys are harder to buy for than girls, but don't believe it. With a little thought, you can find plenty of stocking stuffer ideas for your preteen son. If you need a little inspiration, consider ideas such as:

Sports gear

A small magic set or a deck of cards

A compass, a small LED flashlight or other outdoor gear

A paperback book

A copy of his favorite magazine

Hygiene items such as soap, cologne or shampoo

Anything that glows in the dark

Old-Fashioned Stocking Stuffers

The whole idea of stocking stuffers dates back to Saint Nicholas himself. There's something special about getting an item or two that's a bit retro, or remembers Christmases from long ago. These old-fashioned items also make great kids stocking stuffers.

Oranges, apples, clementines or pears

Packages of nuts and a nutcracker

A chocolate orange

Old-fashioned peppermint sticks

Packages of pumpkin seeds

Rock candy

Cold coins, or chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil

Home-made gingerbread cookies

Something hand-made by you, such as a scarf, a wooden toy, or another item you made by hand

Coupon-Book-of-Fun Stocking Stuffer

A coupon book is an inexpensive stocking stuffer, and something you can make yourself. Just print out coupons your child can use year-around, and he's bound to be pleased. Not only are coupon books inexpensive kids stocking stuffers, they can also be personalized to each child. If your child enjoys spending time alone with you, you can create a coupon for that very activity. Suggestions for your coupon book can include:

A coupon for a home cooked meal of choice

A coupon for a dessert of choice

A coupon for a late, late bedtime (weekends only)

A coupon for time alone with Mom or Dad

A coupon for 30 extra minutes of television time

A coupon for one trip to the local ice cream parlor

A coupon to get out of chores for one day

Something Very Special

It is Christmas, after all, so why not make the most of the day by including a hand-written note by you in your child's stocking? You could write a love letter, or something more humorous, such as, "25 Things I Like About You." Whatever you write, if it comes from the heart, it will make an impact on your tween.