48 Stocking Stuffers for Kids That Are Parent-Tested and Santa-Approved

Designated as one of the best games by PureWow's Happy Kid Award judges, this cheekily dubbed set says it all in the name: it's designed for those little stinkers with the attention span of a goldfish. My colleagues who tested the games with their own "stinkers" were amazed at how many times said stinkers begged to play "just one more round!" It's a fast-paced dice game with cute accoutrement that is best appreciated by little stinkers, but fun for adults to play as well.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 4 and up
• Players: 2 to 5

Of course I played UNO growing up, but UNO Teams! is welcomed new addition to the fun card game—and just as dangerously addictive. This time, instead of playing solo, you do-si-do with a partner. The goal is still to get rid of your cards by matching colors, numbers and symbols, but as my colleagues of the 2024 Happy Kid Awards noted, playing in pairs is a smart way to allow for younger kids to play too.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up
• Players: 4 to 8

PureWow's Special Project Director, and mom of two, Rachel Bowie, said that "This game is less gross, more hilarious," when scoring it for the 2024 Happy Kid Awards. The gist of the this great stocking stuffer for kids is to—now bear with me here—be the last poop to survive getting flushed. It's a healthy combo of luck, strategy and, as always, the scatological.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up
• Players: 2 to 4

It's time to learn once and for all which of your kids doesn't actually know your birthday. (My bet's on the youngest.) Recon mission aside, this game was another top pick from PureWow's Happy Kid Award team, who found that it was a delightful way to beat around the "how was school today?" question and get to the real meat of things, like "What's your least favorite chore?" You might be shocked at what you all learn about each other.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up
• Players: best for 3 to 8

I wouldn't say it's a problem with traditional Monopoly, but some might say that a game of Monopoly takes too long. If you fall into the latter camp, then you, like PureWow's Happy Kid Award judges, will appreciate that Monopoly GO! is classic on fast-forward, condensed down to 15 minutes. Plus, it's portable. No wads of $1 bills getting lost in the wind here. Another fun perk about this version of the classic? Everyone plays simultaneously. There's no waiting for turns, which is genius when it comes to distracting kids during a holiday flight delays.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 8 and up
• Players: 2 to 4

Only two players are required to play this classic game. Chances are that you remember this one from your own childhood, but here’s a quick recap in case you’ve forgotten the rules: The goal here is the usual race to empty one’s hand, but game-changing action cards (like skip, reverse and color-changing wild cards) can either help or hinder a person’s strategy. Still, this oldie but goodie has been given a fun upgrade thanks to popular emojis including—you guessed it—the poop emoji (so yeah, your kid will love it).

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up

A puzzle that helps kids articulate their emotions? Genius. Your kid will love the bright and colorful illustrations that bring life to common feelings like curiosity and gratitude and bravery. Also, with just 36 pieces, it’s something that you can accomplish over breakfast—then the real present opening can begin.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up

Some things I've always come to count on: death, taxes and the public's undying interest in Rubik's Cubes. Honestly, it warms my cold, black heart knowing that kids, despite the onflux of screens and TikTok and endless countless, still want to hang out solo with a six-sided puzzle. Analogue is back, baby! And I'm putting it in your stocking this season.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up
• Players: 1 (with supporters on the sidelines)

Checkers, Backgammon, Dominos—this deceptively simple board game comes with multiple game options to play and folds away neatly to a compact 8.7 by 5.1 inches, making it great to take on car trips or in a backpack. The rules of moving the magnetic pieces around the board before your opponent can is a great exercise in strategy and steely patience.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 6 and up
• Dimensions: unfolded: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.6"; folded: 9.8 x 4.9 x 1.2"

OK, so this one might turn out to be a bit wider than your kid’s stocking, but you can set it right beside it. The rules of play go like this: Kids take turns feeding this silly kangaroo donuts until, well, he has to go doo-doo. Here’s where the hilarity hits—you never know when the urge will hit, but when it does the kangaroo’s potty starts to shake. Be the fastest to retrieve the donuts, not the poop, and you’ll come out ahead.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up

I remember driving from Toys "R" Us to Toys "R" Us with my grandma in the name of tracking down the evasive Tamagotchi. We scored two, and even though I could never really get that little computer pet to live longer than a few hours, I will always have a place in my heart for tiny digital pets...which is why it warms my heart to see that this trending toy is a top pick from the editors of Happy Kid Awards. And apparently, the Bitzee (this one is a fun Disney Edition!) is the palm-sized fun of the Tamagotchi of yore, but easier to use. In fact, you can touch it.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 5 and up

OK, so I'm obsessed with these because 1. they're just the perfect stocking stuffer for kids—small but packs a punch! 2. They're Harry Potter-themed. 3. They're mini, and who can resist anything miniature? Not me, not grade schoolers, no one. Here's what these Make It Mini kits consist of: tiny "ingredients" and accessories to make your own replicas of your favorite potions from the Harry Potter! Think: Skele-Gro, Amortentia, Polyjuice (IYKYK). What's super fun about this gift is that each package is a surprise, so you won't know which mini potion replica you have until you unbox it. They're like baseball cards, but your kid will actually like them.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 8 and up

What is that little contraption, you ask? A pocket-sized version of the original Yoto, the mini is also an audio player for kids. Pop in cards to play music or stories. Candace Davison, PureWow's VP, Editorial and toy tester extraordinaire, went on a Yoto Mini deep dive and reported back that this thing is a top-notch stocking stuffer. "The Yoto Mini is the pocket-sized version of the Yoto, an audio player that lets you pop in cards and play music or listen to stories for up to 14 hours per charge. "While it doesn’t have the wireless charging capabilities, room thermometer or night light that the larger model has," Davison wrote, "it makes up for it in portability, clocking in at less than 3 inches by 3 inches in size." Plus, this one fits in a stocking.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Accessories: headphones not included
• Charge: 14-hours/charge

It’s a parrot! No, wait—it’s a fish. Now it’s a frog. The multi-use joy that stems from LEGO’s 3-in-1 sets is unparalleled. Here, the 253-piece set can be built (and re-built) to follow a rainforest theme. Tuck this inside your child’s stocking and prepare for massive gift-opening delays.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up
• Includes: 3in1 Exotic Pink Parrot, featuring a parrot, a fish and a frog

It’s true that bubbles bring year-round joy, but come wintertime, ice bubbles take it to the next level. They don’t pop! Better yet, at temps below 18 degrees Fahrenheit, they start to freeze. Kids can catch them on their sleeve or surround themselves with delicate snow globes in their backyard for non-stop fun.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 5 and up

Once kids start to talk, they don’t stop. Like, ever. But watching them learn is a wondrous experience, and books like this one will help them develop language using fun facts, words, and even sounds. (It comes with the required two AA batteries—phew!) Tap a picture to learn about colors, science, animals, and more. Bonus: It even includes Spanish should you want your child prodigy in the making to be bilingual.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 1 and up
• Batteries: two AA batteries included

For the kids who are obsessed with your Stanley, these miniature versions at just over 2 inches tall and hold 3-ounces of liquid. It's no wonder social media has gone absolutely bonkers for these tiny versions of a buzzy favorite: they come with lids, matching metal straws and arrive in a pack of three!

Fast Facts

• Material: food-grade stainless steel
• Size: 3 oz. tumbler

OK, so this isn’t the most budget-friendly stocking stuffer, but PureWow Editor-in-Chief, Jillian Quint loves how these watches are smart, but not too smart: "Now that my kids are 8 and 10, we took the plunge and got them smartwatches so they could do things without us (but we could still know where they are). I love that this watch makes it easy for them to call and text me and my husband (but nobody else) and that there's location tracking so I can always know they've made it wherever they're going safely. There are technically some fitness-forward games on the watch, but we disabled those, and my kids really just love it for the independence it enables. My daughter now walks from school to her afterschool program three blocks away and texts me when she gets there!"

Fast Facts

• Ages: 8 and up
• Battery: lithium battery
• Features: limited calling, messaging, location, activity-based games

I have a great idea. For the big gift, go for The Toniebox, the "it" interactive audio player that cuts down on screen time and encourages active listening and imagination. For the stocking stuffer, sneak in a Tonie figurine, aka—stay with me depending on your age—the "CD" or "tape deck" or "record". For example, this Tonie is the Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends, which includes a total run time of 43 minutes of songs and a reading of the eponymous title read by Eric Carle. And if your tot's not bug-phillic, there's plenty of Tonies to breadcrumb with, like Disney's Frozen's Elsa, Olaf and Anna and PBS's Daniel Tiger.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 to 5
• Runtime: 43 minutes
• Accessories: TonieBox not included

I had to include another Tonie option because several parent editors on our team rely on Tonies for screen-free fun—and there are so many options to choose from, priced affordably at just $15 a pop. “Your kid will love it and you get 45 minutes to an hour of quiet time,” Dellner says. “My son has been begging me for this Batman one, so that’s my stocking stuffer plan this year.”

Sure, your kid loves the latest high-tech gadget or super realistic video game, but trust us on this one—ooey, gooey putty never gets old. Especially this non-toxic version that won’t dry out and comes in multiple fun colors including this very cool star dust shade. Better yet, it’s a great sensory activity for kids.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 8 and up

What’s that crinkly sound coming from my stocking, your baby will wonder as you help them bust everything out. This Octopus activity toy has eight tentacles—each one made from a different material and many holding a different sea-themed item (think fish, a life preserver, even a clam). Did we mention it’s also stroller-friendly?

Fast Facts

• Ages: 0 and up

Judy Katz, a pediatric occupational therapist, shared some of her must-have toys for parents with young kids, and these are a no-brainer for stocking stuffers. Packaged in cute clear tubes, they show off the rainbow stack of crayons inside. Per Katz: "I usually keep a few packs of these in my toy closet to pass out to my students, but any time my granddaughter catches sight of them, she’s like a moth to a flame—she loves them! They’re familiar to kids but just different enough to really engage them—draw with them or stack them like LEGOS. Put a couple in a baggie in your diaper bag to keep your kids occupied in the waiting room or on a longer car ride."

Fast Facts

• Ages: 1 and up (with supervision)
• Includes: 12 crayons
• Materials: non-toxic, food-grade paraffin, polyethylene, calcium carbonate and pigments

Another pick from pediatric O.T. Katz, this is the mess-free version of paint-by-numbers (just watch out for errant stickers on your pants before you through them in the wash). Says Katz: "Lots of sensory toys involve a bit of mess. And while I think parents and kids can both embrace a little more mess when it comes to toys, sometimes parents could really use a mess-free option for the car seat or just peace of mind! This activity book checks so many boxes on that front sans little squirmy hands to wash or spills to fret over. Plus, it’s an all-in-one contained activity: it creates a space for independent play and has all the things you need right there between the pages." Roll it up, tie a bow around it and stuff this baby in a stocking for a happy Christmas morning. 

Fast Facts

• Ages: 2 and up
• Pages: 44 pages

Whether your kid is just beginning to practice their pen grip or reaching the point of being a professional doodler, this mega set of rainbow scratch paper—which comes with a wooden stylus included—will be something they use again and again for crafts, creating cool illustrations or simply jotting down notes. Bonus: Kids can work with a range of colors, but the end result is mess-free.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 4 and up

This affordable stamp set comes with two different ink pads and an assortment (25 in total) of buggy shapes and textures—think antennae, wings and legs—so that your kid can recreate their favorite creepy crawlies or dream up their own. It’s also an editor favorite: “A set like this occupies my kid for hours,” says Rachel Bowie, Senior Director of Special Projects. “I also love that it champions inventiveness.”

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up

The ocean animal configurations are endless with this brand-new Clixo set. Your kid will love assembling underwater creations ranging from a Great White Shark to an Angler Fish, but also relish the chance to rely on their own imagination to dream up their own deep sea creatures. Cool details about this particular set: It comes with glow-in-the-dark pieces, but also fins and tentacles to bring your kid’s ideas to life.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 6 and up
• Includes: 24 pieces in 9 unique Clixo shapes.

These kid-tested, mom-approved markers live up to their promise: They truly are ultra-washable. (We easily removed the ink from our kids’ hands, their clothes, even the couch—oops—using just soap and water.) But that’s not all. The vibrant hues are double-tipped—one side is thick, the other thin—and the richness of color means that creativity comes easily for kiddos with a blank sheet of paper, which btw, is the perfect thing to bust out to keep your child occupied while you brew some coffee on Christmas morning.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 4 and up

Our Executive Editor—and mom of two—Alexia Dellner swears by this New Zealand-made crayon set. “They’re made from honey, so are perfect for little kids who put everything in their mouths (ahem, my kid),” she says. “They’re also big and chunky so even a 1-year-old can hold on to them.”

Fast Facts

• Ages: 1 and up
• Material: natural beeswax and food-grade colors

OK, this editor-endorsed favorite is topping every list. The perfect stocking stuffer (or precursor to the rest of the Christmas Day gifts), this foil-focused craft allows kids to attach foam stickers to beautiful backdrops, then press colorful foil on top to bring their picture to life. You can also gift a variety of themes—from animals to dinosaurs to princesses—there’s something for every interest level. (Per the editor who tried it, Foil Fun is also fun for adults.)

Fast Facts

• Ages: 4 and up

Your kid will love the chance to mix and match these colorful—and vanilla scented—erasers while doodling (and daydreaming) about the Eiffel Tower. Oh la la. Five erasers in total come included, which makes them the perfect item for your kid to pop in their pencil case in carry back to school post-break.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 6 and up

As PureWow food editor Taryn Pire reported recently, the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Wake Up & Learn Coffee Mug has gone out of stock both online and in stores many times since its release...just like real Stanley tumblers. This however, is a toy for babies and toddlers equipped with colorful lights and more than 20 songs and phrases (which teach the alphabet, counting and colors). They can also shake the toy to make rattle sounds or bat the clackers on the handle.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 6 months to 3 years
• Batteries: 3 LR44 batteries included

‘Tis the season, after all. Your jewelry-loving kiddo will relish the chance to bedazzle themself with this extra sparkly jewel set, which allows them to mix and match and choose from a pink heart pendant necklace, two rings and two earring sets. (FYI, ring sizes are adjustable.) Just think of how their bling will look over their matching holiday PJs.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Details: rings are size 4 and adjustable, earrings are clip-on, necklace has lobster clasp closure

If your kid has been pleading with you to take them to the salon to dye their hair purple, a decision you know they will quickly regret once their bestie deems purple “so last week,” you can compromise with this temporary, completely washable hair color. It’s also editor-approved: “This hair makeup is so fun for kids,” according to PureWow’s assistant editor Delia Curtis. “It glides on like mascara and comes out with a single wash. It’s also an easy way to incorporate funky-colored hair without the permanency of dye and minus the mess.” Did we mention they also recently did a Barbie collab?

Fast Fact

• Ages: 8 and up

Another tiny gift that packs a major punch for the kid who's been dying to get a mani/pedi. These celebratory nail stickers include pretty presents, party hats, sweet treats and more emoji goodness. Up your stocking stuffer game and add a "Gift Certificate" to the Mommy Nail Spa for all-you-can-paint manicures.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Materials: non-toxic paper
• Includes: 1 sheet, 64 stickers

This two-color nail polish set tucks easily inside a stocking, but also will spare parents any worry about spills given it’s water-based and washable. (No nail polish remover required.) To add to the fun, stickers are also included so kids can put the finishing touch on their DIY nail designs.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 7 and up
• Ingredients: water-based formula

My daughter received this as a birthday present six months ago, and it's been a hit ever since. It's such a great introduction to tech without an actual screen. The palm-sized little machine is tiny—and the reels are even tinier—but it really works. It's become a nighttime storytelling activity in our home before bed that manages to bring awe and delight without a sensory explosion.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Measurements: 2" L x 2" W x 1" H
• Includes: mini projector4 themed reels (Space, Ocean, Safari, Dinosaurs), ordering code for custom photo reel

Any gen-xer or elder millennial worth their weight in Nirvana albums knows the jingle for Chia Pets: Cha cha chia! That's right, before chia seeds were known as a superfood, we were using them in plant-growing gag gifts from the '80s and '90s. And now, they're having a cutesy revival. In this case, Uncommon Goods offers new animal figurines including llamas and sloths to grow cha-cha-chia sprouts on.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Materials: plastic, ceramic, seeds

Take a trip down memory lane when you, er, Santa, pops a View-Master in your kid’s stocking and they get to experience a 3D view of some of the best sights around the world—safari animals, ocean life and dinosaurs all included. In fact, this special edition set comes with five reels total, which means it’s a toy they can keep going back to and learning from with every click.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up

These water-activated light-up cubes—sold individually or as a set—will make bathtime a delight. Simply pop ‘em in the water and they’ll start to glow, then towel them dry and they’ll instantly turn off. Great for sensory play, but also imaginative story-telling: Each cube rests inside the face of the Glo Pal, which means kids can easily bring each character to life.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Includes: 12 cubes

These bath bombs will make any child excited to get clean. They dye the water, but not the tub, and the scents aren’t too cloying for grown-up noses. And yes, the toy inside is very exciting every time—kind of like fancy Cracker Jacks (but all cleanliness and no corn syrup–coated yumminess).

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Scents: Gummy Bear, Grape Soda, Dreamsicle, Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, and Galaxy

Struggle with bath time? Let Glo Pal Light Up Cube stocking stuffers come to your rescue again...and this time, Elmo can help too. These water-activated cubes light in the tub with bright shades of pink, yellow, blue and red, putting a smile on even the most tub-averse. Each individual cube has a minimum of 16 lighted hours, which automatically turn on when placed in liquid and turn off when dry. (Like magic!)

Fast Facts

• Ages: recommended 3 and up
• Materials: recycled plastic
• Batteries: 16 hours

OK, so we promised no boring gifts in your kid’s stocking this year, but this battery-operated (and character-covered) electric toothbrush is a necessity that also feels fun. How so? You can pick and choose from a range of familiar favorites like Bluey, Batman, Pokemon and more. Kids will love the soft bristles, plus the ability to control the on/off switch themselves; parents will love the sparkling clean teeth after consuming so many cookies. (It’s worth noting that 1 replaceable AA battery comes included.)

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 and up
• Batteries: 1 AA battery included

What would a Christmas stocking be without a pair of socks tucked inside? These holiday socks from Bombas are warm and wintery with all the sock-tech that Bombas is known for: cushioned footbeds, seamless toes, Y-stitched heel, honeycomb arch support, stay-up technology, extra long staple cotton.

Fast Facts

• Sizes: junior (3-6)
• Materials:  69% cotton (supima®) 23% polyester 5% nylon 3% elastane

Truth be told, this stocking stuffer is also a great one to open on Christmas Eve. Written and illustrated by the unstoppable duo that is Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, this book features a hilarious exploration of how the heck Santa gets down the chimney—especially if there is no chimney to go down? Bottom line: Prepare to laugh out loud and also interview your child about their own hypothesis on this topic.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 3 to 8

Your babe may not technically need a stocking stuffer, but this one—a gift for you as much as for them—feels sentimental and sweet. Adorned with bows and inscribed with the words "Baby's First Christmas 2024," this is a keepsake your family can use for years to come.

Fast Facts

• Ages: any
• Dimensions: 4.25 x 1.5 x 1.5"

We’re huge fans of the quality of this Finnish brand. Sustainably made from super soft organic cotton and available in six different colors, you can pick and choose the beanie that best suits your child’s style. Yes, it’s a winter essential, but it’s also the kind of item that is fun to replace each year. Hey! Santa can be practical, too.

Fast Facts

• Sizes: 1-4Y, 5-7Y, 7-14Y
•  Materials: 100% organic cotton

What’s Christmas without a little reindeer-related fun? Your kids will LOL at Santa’s sense of humor when they pluck this bag of peppermint-flavored cotton candy—we mean, reindeer farts from their stocking. It’s nut-free and melts in your mouth.

Fast Facts

• Ages: 2 and up
• Ingredients: cane sugar