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Stocking stuffers are the best part of Christmas morning. In fact, they’re often the only part of Christmas morning my kids remember (and they’re not wrong). Stocking stuffers are fun and can be used in so many ways. Here is a list of some great ideas for stocking stuffers for toddlers!
What are the best stocking stuffers?
- What are the best stocking stuffers?
- What is a stocking stuffer?
- Why should you use stocking stuffers?
- Can you use a normal box for a stocking stuffer?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what makes a good stocking stuffer, though, let’s take a look at why you might want to consider using them in the first place.
How To Fill Up Stockings
The best way to fill up your kids’ stockings is with a variety of things.
- Fill them with a few big items, like books or toys.
- Fill them with a few small items, like candy and stickers.
- Fill them with a few cheap items (like coloring books), and one or two more expensive items (like an art set).
- Make sure there are some practical things for holidays or playtime (unbreakable glass ornaments), as well as fun things that are just for fun (stickers).
Small Bath Toys
Bath toys are a great option for stocking stuffers. They’re small, easy to find and fun for the whole family.
- Toy cars made for bath time: If you have a toddler who loves cars and trucks, these are a great addition to their bath time routine. They can play with them in the tub, or use them as toys outside of the tub once they dry off.
- Boat accessories: Another fun addition to your child’s bathtub toys? Boats! There is something about water that gives kids an extra spark of creativity…maybe it reminds them of being born into this world. Either way, boats make awesome stocking stuffers because they encourage imagination and creativity while teaching lessons in teamwork (sharing).
- Bath stickers: This might be something you don’t think about until your child has been using their little boat(s) all day – but what happens if you take them out of the tub? Well…if there’s no more water left on their boat(s) then there won’t be any glue left for those beautiful designs anymore! That’s where bath stickers come in; these little creations stick perfectly fine during this phase—just make sure not to leave any residue behind when washing up afterwards! You may even want some cute little towels too so everyone knows which towel belongs inside theirs’–then again maybe not because towels tend not hold up well without proper care either way…
Building Toys
Building toys are great stocking stuffers for toddlers. They help kids with motor skills and hand-eye coordination, but they’re also great for building confidence. You can find all kinds of building toys, including blocks that connect together to create a castle and an ice cream shop. My son loves playing with his dump truck toy because he can load up the cargo, then push it around like real trucks do!
If you know your toddler is into construction vehicles or trucks (or any kind of vehicle) then they will likely enjoy these stocking stuffer ideas:
- Construction Vehicles Sticker Set – a fun way to encourage pretend play! Kids can use these stickers on their own or with friends as they drive around in their trucks! This set comes with 11 sheets of stickers so it’s sure to give hours of entertainment for kids who love cars/trucks/etc., especially if there’s nothing else available outdoors right now due to winter weather conditions…but even if there was something better out there like sunshine & warm temperatures (which would be preferable), this would still be fun regardless because who doesn’t like feeling creative sometimes?
Hygiene Essentials
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Bubble bath, moisturizer and lotion
- Hairbrush and comb (or just a comb if your toddler doesn’t have much hair)
- Nail clippers
Clothing Accessories
Your toddler will love these clothing accessories, and they’ll dress up any outfit.
- Scarves: Toddlers can wear scarves around their necks, but also double as headbands or belts when you’re in a pinch.
- Hats: If the weather is cold where you are, this is a must-have for your little one.
- Gloves: Again, if it’s cold outside (or if you’re traveling somewhere chilly), make sure that your little one has some warm gloves to keep her hands nice and cozy.
- Mittens are similar to gloves; they just cover more of the hand than regular mittens do. They often come with either pom-poms or tassels attached at the end of them—which is fun!
- Shoes: You probably don’t want your toddler walking around barefoot all winter long—so get her some cute boots! They’ll keep her feet warm and dry on those cold winter days/nights ahead of us all!
Fine Motor Toys
Fine motor development is the ability to use your fingers, hands and arms to perform tasks that require a high level of control. It’s a crucial part of child development because it helps children develop their understanding of cause and effect and improves their hand-eye coordination.
To help your toddler’s fine motor skills grow, look for toys that offer opportunities for them to practice grasping, holding and moving objects with purposeful movements. Some examples include:
- Blocks or stacking cups with different textures or shapes in bright colors (like Tegu blocks)
- Stacking rings on a rod (like Melissa & Doug Mini Roll & Stack Rings)
- Magnetic letter board (like The First Years Take Along Tote)
Small Books
Books are a great way to help your toddler learn. The best books for young children are those that meet their developmental needs and interests, are durable (since it’s likely they’ll get tossed around the house), and have an appropriate vocabulary level. A good rule of thumb is to choose books that match the age of your child (e.g., if you have a 3-year-old, select books written for 3-year-olds). Some ideas include:
- Board books with big pictures so they can easily see what they’re looking at
- Picture books or short stories with few words per page
- Dr Seuss – his stories rhyme and use very simple language
Coloring Essentials
- Coloring books
- Crayons, colored pencils, markers and paint
- Glitter glue
- Washable markers (great for the bathtub)
- Watercolor paints
- Finger paint
Art Supplies
- Paintbrushes.
- Crayons.
- Markers. These are great for toddlers because they provide a wide variety of colors, but you can also get washable ones if your toddler is prone to spills and splatters.
- Colored pencils or crayons (for younger children). These are good for coloring in pictures or on construction paper—or just making their own masterpieces!
- Construction paper (if you’re looking for something more creative). This stuff is so versatile, and it comes in such cute patterns! You can use it as the base for artwork, or have your child decorate it with markers and crayons/crayons/pens/etc., then frame it as a decoration when they’re done creating their masterpiece! If your little one likes getting messy with paints, this would be perfect because there will be no damage done to your walls if they decide that what they want instead of painting on paper is actually painting ON THE WALLS…and then there’s all those other surfaces where I won’t even go into detail here because we all know how much toddlers love getting dirty while having fun (it’s called “playing”).
Puzzles
Puzzles are a fun and educational way for your toddler to practice problem solving. There are several different types of puzzles that you can choose from, depending on your child’s age and interests.
- Chunky Puzzles – These come in sets of 4 or 5 pieces and are easy for small hands to hold onto, but still challenge their brain power by having them figure out how to put the pieces together like a puzzle.
- 3D Puzzles – These often have moving parts that move when you turn one side of the cube or sphere around (think Rubik’s Cube). They’re great for younger kids who may not be able to handle regular puzzles yet because they’re not too difficult either!
- Regular Puzzles – You can find these in many different sizes and styles, which are perfect for older toddlers who want more of a challenge than what chunky-style ones offer!
Toy Cars
Toy cars are a great stocking stuffer for toddlers. Because they’re small, you can add quite a few in the stocking. Toy cars can be used for pretend play and imaginative play, so they’re also perfect for young children who are still learning about sharing and taking turns.
Conclusion
Hopefully we gave you some good ideas for your kids’ stockings. We know how hard it can be to find the perfect toy, so if none of these are what you’re looking for then take a look at our other articles about toys and gifts. If even that doesn’t work out, don’t worry! You can always go with something simple like candy or socks.
