Affordable Stocking Stuffers That Aren’t Candy

Stockings fill up fast with candy because candy is cheap, small and easy to grab at the checkout. The result is a sugar crash before breakfast and a pile of wrappers under the tree. Swapping most of the candy for small, useful or fun things makes stockings more interesting and gives kids something they’ll still be using in February.

Most of these ideas cost under $10, and many cost under $5. They’re grouped by type, with notes on which ages they suit.

Things to do

The best stocking stuffers are the ones that keep kids busy on Christmas afternoon while the adults cook.

• A deck of cards plus a printed list of three card games to learn. Good for ages 5 and up.
• A mini puzzle of 100 pieces or fewer, or a pocket-sized brain teaser
• A small craft kit: friendship bracelet thread, a pom-pom kit or a paint-by-number card
• Origami paper with a simple instruction sheet
• A travel-size game, like dominoes, tic-tac-toe or a magnetic chess set
• Sticker books or reusable sticker scenes for preschoolers
• Window crayons or bath crayons, which wash off and feel like breaking the rules
• A small notebook and a fun pen for kids who like to write or draw

Things to wear

Practical gifts disguised as fun ones. They also tend to fit neatly into a stocking.

• Fun socks. Holiday ones, animal ones, socks with their initials. A classic for a reason.
• Warm gloves or mittens. A Chicago winter will wear out last year’s pair.
• A knit hat or ear warmers
• Hair clips, scrunchies or headbands
• Shoelaces in a wild color, which older kids enjoy more than you’d think
• Glow-in-the-dark bracelets for the walk to see neighborhood lights

Things to use

Everyday items get more exciting when they’re new and personal.

• A new toothbrush, ideally in a ridiculous color or shape
• A water bottle to take to school
• A reusable lunch container or snack box
• Kids’ lip balm for chapped winter lips
• A small flashlight or headlamp for reading in bed or a winter camping trip in the backyard
• A library card holder or keychain to hang on a backpack
• A bookmark paired with a note about a book they’ll get at the library

Curious kids also like small tools that might start a new interest:

• A magnifying glass for examining snowflakes and bugs
• A compass, with a promise of a nature walk to use it
• Seed packets to plant in spring, with a small pot
• A pocket field guide to birds, trees or the night sky
• A small science kit, like a crystal-growing kit or a magnet set
• A world map placemat for the breakfast table

Experiences, written down

Slip a card or a homemade ticket into the stocking for something you’ll do together. These cost little or nothing and give January something to look forward to.

• A trip to the movies, just the two of you
• A sledding day at the nearest good hill
• A museum visit, timed for a free day. Check our list of free museum days.
• Choosing what’s for dinner one night
• A late bedtime on a Friday
• A cooking session where they pick the recipe. Our guide to cooking with kids by age has ideas for each stage.

Small treats that aren’t candy

A stocking can still have something to eat. A few options with less sugar:

• A clementine in the toe, a tradition that goes back generations
• A small bag of salted nuts or popcorn, for kids old enough to eat them safely
• Hot chocolate mix with a mini mug
• A fancy cheese stick or crackers

One small chocolate is fine. The point is that it’s one item, not the whole stocking.

For grown-up stockings: adults get stockings too. Quick ideas: wool socks, a good pen, a bag of local coffee, hand cream, a lip balm, a pocket notebook, a lottery scratch card, a phone charging cable or a paperback.

Tips for filling stockings on a budget

• Set a per-stocking budget and a rough number of items, such as six to eight things.
• Shop year-round. Toss small finds into a box in the closet when you see them.
• Use the dollar section of big-box stores for basics like socks, notebooks and hair accessories.
• Mix one bigger item with lots of tiny ones. A puzzle and a handful of small things looks generous.
• Wrap a few items in tissue paper so kids have something to unwrap.

Start the closet box now, and put a clementine on the shopping list for Christmas Eve.