Looking For Non-Toy Stocking Ideas

My kids always get new pencils/pens/crayons or markers (depending on their age). They also get a pack of thank you notes with stamps. Mine are older now, so I sometimes get gift cards for gas, car washes, etc.

Last year I printed 2 sets of pictures (2X2) of family members and made our granddaughter her own matching game cards. She loved looking for the 2nd picture of everyone she knew. I glued them onto double sided CS - they were easy and fun to do. This year I'm making peppermint playdough to put in their stockings along with socks, gloves, a little homemade pencil case with new felts and bath crayons. The adult girls are getting bracelets (from our recent trip to Eqypt), a gift card to their favourite place, some Sephora lip gloss, running socks and Body Glide for runners. The guys will get a golf discount book, cufflinks, a gift card, hiking socks and Swiss chocolate bars. I love doing stockings but when you have 13 hanging on the mantle, it can really add up!!

We do lottery tickets, socks, underwear, iTunes gift cards, clementines. My mom always got us fun little puzzles, not jigsaw puzzles, but ones where you roll the ball or have to float things or later, figure out how to get it apart.

So many good ideas, I'm glad you asked the question. We do some of these but there are lots I hadn't thought of. (love the thank you note idea). One more that we do is a mini box of sugary cereal. We don't do it very often so it's a treat for our kids. And, that way when they get hungry they can eat it without waiting for the big brunch we do later in the day.

Restoration Hardware has the best stocking stuffers! Extendable back scratchers, travel size first aid kit, and some old fashioned games like Go Fish, Old Maid, Hearts, etc.

My mom would find little practical gifts, many listed above - tooth brushes, hairbrushes, lip gloss... I raised the bar a little and looking for things like the best potato peeler ever, ear buds, flash drives. I must say that my all time favorite are Fling Monkeys. I know that it is a toy but they're fabulous! They're slingslot monkeys that make monkey noise when you shoot them. Everyone gets one in their stocking. We chase each other around the house shooting each other, screaming and laughing. There are also pigs, frogs,roosters... This year they get cows.

Last year I put in those chopsticks made for kids that are attached at the top with a rubber boy or girl. They are fun and useful! Just something a little different!

Mini book lights - I found some orange and green battery powered book lights at Michael's for $2 and they are very light weight. Perfect for reading in the car, on the train, or in bed under the covers (my twins' favorite way to read!)

The tradition I started for my own family is a Christmas card from mom and dad (and he and I write one to each other). I have fun picking out the perfect card and then try to take a minute to sit and reflect about the past year and write something meaningful to each of them. Right now they are small so I keep it simple, and I buy them the cards that talk or sing, they love those :)

Underwear and art supplies. Oh and batteries, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste and chapstick. We also do gift cards and gum.

we always stock them up with cool new toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, bubble bath, crayons, felts - those kinds of things they use all the time, but need to get replenished. usually try to get "cooler" or different versions than the normal stuff we get.
stocking stuffers for my kids are my favourite things to shop for

Starbucks Cards!!!

Wow...great ideas! Most everything I have already purchased is already listed...but some other adult ideas: razors for my husband, brain teaser games (they have small metal ones), and a funny pair of boxers; for a female: I always get chip clips!
Thanks for the adhesive idea...I think Santa will slip some adhesive refills in my stocking this year!!

We ALWAYS do: socks, underwear and toothbrushes in addition to the goodies! When my hubby and I were dating, I put a toothbrush in his stocking...He thought I was crazy, yet has in return, done it for me every since (going on 14 years). Socks started as a filler, but stuck, and the underwear was started to get a chuckle out of my husband and step-daughter and that stuck as well!

Santa put a kaleidoscope in my daughter's stocking one year - it was a big hit! You still have a few more years for Anna, but my daughter loves to get lipgloss as well! small flashlights are fun too... also key chains and stickers with their names on them that you can get at Toys R Us or party city. kids love anything personalized! personalized pencils that you can order from Lillian Vernon are always big hits with my daughter and neices. Have fun Ali!

Makeupy stuff (gloss, balm, eyeshadow, nailpolish, etc.), cute school/office supplies, jewelry, small lotions/hand sanitizer, rubber stamps/small craft supplies, keychains, batteries (weird, but useful), fuzzy socks, and parts to/pieces of bigger gifts.

We often add in the kids' favorite snacks or drinks (mini box of goldfish, powders you put into a water bottle). I'm realizing I need less "junk" and more practical and somewhat healthy consumables in there!

We like to hit Dollarama (or your local dollar store or favourite specialty shop) for stocking stuffers. For kids who like crafts or scrapbooking, its fun to add small things like little baggies of die cuts/ribbons/beads/small misc craft things. But the general favourite is to create small ornaments for each family member - kids and adults. Usually the ornament will be something non-breakable such as air-dry clay (there's been many varieties in style and materials over the years). :)

At our bank, I can buy a "book" of one hundred 1.00 bills. It's really cool and my kids love it. They love tearing out each bill and using it to purchase things in vending machines all year long. If you couldn't find a book of 1.00 bills, you could just roll some up together.

Hey Ali, Did you check out Emily Falconridge's blog. She has very nice ideas for homemade things meant for a swap. This is sometimes where my husband sticks in the things that might be a clue to what is to come. Like batteries, etc.

My mom always puts our brands of razor blades and other small toiletry items - they're nice to get because they can be expensive! My aunt gives us an ornament and a Starbucks gift card in our stocking each year. When we were younger she would give us McDonalds bucks. Kitchen items have also been a hit since we've gotten older.

For my husband I found some new ideas at New Seasons. I got these foot wraps to detox and make you feel fab when you wake up. Whole foods also has them.-ALSO cool looking shampoo and conditioner that looks manly & made in Canada at New Seasons. For the whole family these cute tiles that you can put by your beside for your water only 6.99. The prints are amazing-whimsical, art deco, etc. at New Seasons again. Mini-sketch pads and any art supplies, movies and cd's. Keen pop up sippers or holders. Ski pass holder. mini flashlights the cool ones that are LEDs or the headlight version. I could go on and on but bedtime calls! Have fun shopping!

My kids have always received a roll of Scotch tape in their stockings. When they were little, they always wanted to borrow mine so I would get them their own roll for Christmas. Now that they're 17 and 19 - it's just a funny tradition!

I just bought a little piggy bank that is a little frog wearing a little crown...it's soooo cute! I also saw a piggy bank, that was a little pig wearing a pink tutu.

Oh yeah, my dad always bought us kids a new flashlight every Christmas. It was the best gift!