The run up to Christmas for both kids and parents is crazy. You’re constantly bombarded by advertisements, billboards, catalogs, and displays of the new latest and supposedly greatest toys. Yet somehow, when it comes to stocking stuffer ideas, you tend to run out of steam. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with 10 fun stocking stuffer ideas for toddlers.
It can be a challenge to find stocking fillers that are both fun and educational for your child. However, we’ve come up with a great list of stocking stuffers your kids are sure to love and learn from year round.
Fun Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Toddlers:
1. A pocket-sized book
There are many pocket-sized books with short stories, fairy tales and facts available for kids, which are great for alleviating boredom and learning on the go. Try a new board book like, Guess How Much I Love You. That was one of my children’s favorites. Or try a fun activity book.
2. A gift voucher or ticket
Most cultural attractions like aquariums, zoos and other fun learning centers offer pre-sale tickets or gift vouchers. If not, or the attraction is free, try making a colorful ‘check’ that your child can redeem from you. For example, you might try printing out a photo of an otter and explaining they get to go see one at the aquarium or zoo by using that pass.
3. Magnetic letters or words
Magnetic letters are great for young toddlers who are practicing their letters. Simple magnetic words can be fun for older toddlers to create silly sentences and practice sight words. These will help develop English skills, as well as being a whole heap of fun. Pop them on the fridge, and see who can create the funniest sentence (Dig Big Pig). Here is a tutorial for DIY magnetic words.
4. Cards
Decks of memory cards are great for young ones. They can improve their memory skills as they match images of animals. Simple card games like war and go fish are also fun for older toddlers.
5. ‘Grow your own’ kits
Easy-grow seed kits are a great way to teach your little one about plants and the environment, and there are many kits available with plants kids find fascinating – think Venus Fly Traps and ‘butterfly gardens’. You will have to do most of the work but they will still have fun watching and learning.
6. Hand or finger puppets
Puppets are great to help kids learning about role playing, as they can ‘become’ the character. If you fancy a craft, get a make-your-own puppets kit.
7. Art supplies
A new pack of markers or crayons never fail to excite kids who love to color, write and draw. Art supplies work as great incentives to encourage them to improve hand eye coordination and improve dexterity. These are great skills so they can progress to practicing handwriting. Get a small sketch notepad book so they can act on their artistic impulses wherever they roam.
8. Animal figures
For little ones, animal figure families are a great, interactive way to learn about the world and where these animals live – most children learn early on about farm animals, but miss out on more exotic ones. If you fancy teaching a bit of science and history, why not include a dinosaur figure?
9. Stickers
Whether they use them in their artistic pursuits, or as an addition to their reward chart for completing chores and for school incentives, providing a child with stickers automatically prompts the thought ‘So what can I do with these?’ You could even make them a laminated sticker book to go with it – giving them a place that isn’t their bedroom wall or carpet to stick them!
10. Part of the big present
Pop an accessory to go with their big present in their stocking – for example, if you’ve bought them a wooden train set, wrap up one of the trains or a train driver figure. If you’re gotten them a dolls house, wrap up a piece of furniture for it. They’ll be so excited, or puzzled, that opening their ‘main’ present will be even more fun.
Image by andrewmalone
Do you have any more ideas for educational stocking fillers?
You may also want to check out my Favorite Christmas Crafts on Pinterest and Christmas Potluck Recipes!
My kids love those grow your own kits. I always have so much trouble coming up with things to fill their stockings so these are great ideas. I remember my mother used to fill ours with underwear and socks LOL.