Your best stocking stuffers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate stocking stuffers. There. That feels better now that it is out. I’m sure they are fun to receive. But I feel like I’m shopping for crap my kids don’t really want for more than 5 min and then end up under the couch, under their beds, getting stepped on in the hall.

I’m convinced the only good stockIng stuffers are things they can eat or things that naturally will find their way to garbage within a few days.

or grooming things.

[Anonymous]

^ Kinda agree, we mostly do funny/theme socks or tshirt, fav candy, small fun books like mad libs, jokes etc.
Not stuffed with numerous plastic junk.

[Anonymous]

Every year is a clementine in the toe and hot chocolate. I add a magazine or puzzle book, their favorite candy bar, and, for the older kids, spouses etc.--everyone gets a stocking-- maybe a mini booze bottle. I put in 3 or so wrapped gifts--I learned a trick from my mother in law--the wrapping paper in the stocking corresponds to the wrapping paper for their gifts. No more gift tags!

[Anonymous]

Tape. Kids love it, we never seem to have it, and it takes up a good chunk of space.

[Anonymous]

We always got toiletries in our stocking. Plus socks and candy / snacks.

[Anonymous]

The individual boxes of sugared cereals. The only time we ever got Froot Loops and Sugar Smacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you all individually wrap each thing that goes in the stocking or not? (Sorry...didn’t grow up with Christmas stockings)

DH grew up with the gifts wrapped in white tissue paper, and we did that when my kids were small. I like the way the wrapping paper slows things down, and makes the kids concentrate on each thing. But at some point I became concerned about the environment, so now I buy a new pack of white socks and wrap things in socks. I figure my kids need socks once a year anyway, so it's less wasteful.

My mother wrapped stocking presents in tissue paper, a different color for each child. I wrap stocking presents in catalog pages, like Mindware and Lands End. Santa is eco-friendly at my house (also cheap and lazy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:World Of Mirth in Richmond has online shopping available. So fun. Also limited in person shopping if you feel like a quick day trip. We used to live nearby and it was such a treat to go in. Website is a bit clunky but worth poking around even if not ordering. Quirkygoodness.

Such a great store!!

Also, Franklin's in Hyattsville!

Franklin's is fantastic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tweens and teen boys:
silly magic tricks or gags
brain teaser puzzles
fancy hot cocoa that they go make right away (some years in a new fun mug)
ridiculous socks

Younger years:
bubbles
soft snowballs for throwing in the house
noisemakers (advil for Dad)
crazy glasses that make the tree lights look like snowflakes, etc)
marbles or cool geology rocks
magnets
fun office supplies (one of mine was obsessed, not joking)
matchbox cars
nerf pellets

Where do you get this cool stuff?

Check out uncommon goods!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am stuck trying to fill a 1 year old stocking (since the oldest insists that Santa will come and fill it). Should I just fill it with candy with the understanding that I will eat it all? I am worried my 5 year old will track candy related activity...

Tub toy- rubber ducky, little boats
Toddler egg shaped crayons
Socks
The First Years Stack Up Cup Toys
Teether
light mittens
mini book
toddler fork & spoon
baby mum-mums or other snack
Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder
Bib

Big sidewalk chalks! New big kid soppy cups, stuffed animals, match cars or something similar, hair/bow stuff

[Anonymous]

Hot cocoa pouches
Peppermints
clementines

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elsewhere on the Internet, someone turned me on to putting breakfast in the stocking. A individual box of sugary cereal, an orange in the toe, a granola bar, and maybe one toy. Let’s the parents sleep. It’s absolutely my new tradition this year.

Your kids get up alone? On Christmas?

Not yet, but I imagine it would set the stage. I’m thinking that this would buy us 20-30 minutes, about three years from now.

As kids, we were always allowed to get up as early as we wanted and bring our stockings back to bed with us. Parents would get up at a more reasonable time, make a special breakfast (prep work done the night before), then presents for all under the tree. DH’s family did similar, so we do the same with our kids now.

This is us too. Except I tell them they can’t get up before 6. I had one child up at 2am one that then woke up the other kids. They get up at 6 and can open their stockings and DH and I get up at 6:30-7 and come down to start a special breakfast and present opening.

When I was a kid, Santa left our stockings at the end of our beds. My siblings would come into my room and we'd go through them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate stocking stuffers. There. That feels better now that it is out. I’m sure they are fun to receive. But I feel like I’m shopping for crap my kids don’t really want for more than 5 min and then end up under the couch, under their beds, getting stepped on in the hall.

I’m convinced the only good stockIng stuffers are things they can eat or things that naturally will find their way to garbage within a few days.

or grooming things.

I kind of agree. Good stocking stuffers are expensive. Otherwise yes, it’s junk that gets thrown away or stepped on. You have to work sales & really budget for stockings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate stocking stuffers. There. That feels better now that it is out. I’m sure they are fun to receive. But I feel like I’m shopping for crap my kids don’t really want for more than 5 min and then end up under the couch, under their beds, getting stepped on in the hall.

I’m convinced the only good stockIng stuffers are things they can eat or things that naturally will find their way to garbage within a few days.

or grooming things.

[Anonymous]

we do candy/food and also stuff like pens/erasers/highlighters etc (but "fun" versions of those like fancy erasers) that are used for school so nothing really goes to waste.