Stocking stuffers for kids that aren’t candy

A stocking is opened in minutes, so the things that work best are the ones a child can start using right away. Candy does that job too, but there is usually plenty of sugar around by late December. The lists below are grouped by age and stick to small things that fit in a normal stocking.

A rule that makes filling easier

Pick one thing from each of these four groups and the basics are covered:

• Something to do: a puzzle, a craft, a small game.
• Something to read: a paperback, a joke book, a comic.
• Something to use: socks, a toothbrush, a water bottle, lip balm.
• Something to share: a card game or a pack of something the whole family can play with after Christmas dinner.

Add a clementine in the toe if you like the old tradition, and stop there. Four or five items is enough. If you have more than one child, match the number of items rather than the value, because children often count first.

Ages 3 to 5

At this age the wrapping is half the fun, so anything that can be opened, squeezed or stuck somewhere is a good choice.

• Chunky crayons or washable markers
• Sticker sheets and a small pad to stick them on
• Bath crayons or a wind-up bath toy
• A tub of modeling dough with one cutter (check the label if your child has a wheat allergy)
• A bubble wand
• A board book or short picture book
• Socks with grips on the soles
• A toothbrush in their favorite color

Check the age label on every toy, and check unlabeled items yourself. Anything small enough to fit in a toddler’s mouth is not for children under three. That matters just as much for a younger sibling who will be on the floor next to the stocking.

Ages 6 to 8

Children this age like things with rules and things they can show off.

• A quick card game they can teach the grown-ups
• A joke book or a book of riddles
• Gel pens and a pocket notebook
• A magnifying glass or a small flashlight
• Thread or cord for friendship bracelets
• A jump rope
• A mini jigsaw puzzle
• A packet of seeds and a small pot for the windowsill
• Temporary tattoos

Ages 9 to 12

Older children notice when a stocking is full of things meant for little kids. Lean toward items that look like something a teenager would own.

• A paperback from a series they have started
• Fine-tip pens or sketching pencils
• A deck of playing cards and a small book of card tricks
• A twisty puzzle cube
• Origami paper
• A journal with a lock
• Lip balm or hand cream
• A bike light or bell
• Cookie cutters, for children who like to bake

A note on batteries

Small flashlights, bike lights and light-up toys often run on button batteries, which are dangerous if swallowed. Choose versions that take AA or AAA batteries, or ones where the battery cover is closed with a screw, and store spare button batteries out of reach of small children. Used button batteries are still dangerous, so tape them over and throw them away promptly. If you think a child has swallowed one, or put one in their nose or ear, get emergency medical help right away.

Fillers from the printer

A few fillers need only a printer and paper. Cut a sheet of joke cards and roll three or four into the stocking with a ribbon. Fold a coloring page or a maze around a pack of pencils. Write a coupon for one late bedtime or one movie of their choice.

What to skip

• Anything that needs batteries you don’t have in the house.
• Toys that only work with an app.
• Slime and loose glitter, unless you are happy to clean them out of the carpet.
• Duplicates of what the main presents already cover.

Wrap two or three of the items in tissue paper. It slows the unpacking down and helps a small stocking last until breakfast.