It's a tradition in our family going back at least three generations that there's always an orange in the toe of your stocking, so I never skip that! As a kid I always got a new toothbrush too, and usually something like nice soap or some cute barrettes. This year my daughter will get a mini bottle of nail polish and my boys will get single serving packets of some fancy hot cocoa flavors. Just yesterday they told me they don't want to wear the scarves I knitted for them any more, they want gaiters instead, so tonight I am off to the craft store to buy some fleece and get sewing!
Oh, those sound like wonderful stockings! My dad always got an orange in his stocking growing up, but when I was a kid we actually had an orange tree and had oranges daily when in season (such riches!), so we didn't get one. But we were *told* about it every year, for sure!
Those fancy hot cocoa packets are such a neat idea! And the cold-weather gear...I remember getting a compact folding umbrella in my stocking one year when I was a kid and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
Chapstick is a must! The Chick-fil-A sauce made me laugh. My kids have only had it a few times (it's not anywhere near us), and they don't get the appeal. Haha. I love the idea of thank-you cards, though!!
I am with your kids! I don't like that sauce at all! But one of my kids would drink it if I let her!
I really scored in the card department this year -- my local grocery store had a buy 2 get 1 free on sets of ten cards, and the sets themselves were only 4 bucks.
Along the lines of the orange, we branched out and I would look for an offbeat or favorite fruit for each person. Preferably large in size. One really likes pomegranates, another mangoes. Come to think of it, my husband likes papaya which would be hilariously large if I could fit it in! Another tradition is for the younger kids a nice coloring book gently rolled with a small pack of crayons or the like.
Everyone also expects new socks and many do not ever buy socks knowing they will be replenished via their stocking!
I love stocking gifts the best, as you said they delight in a simple but fun way.
I my goodness, I laughed at the fruit! That is a great idea! I have some kids who really like expensive tropical fruits, but we can't buy them that often. I bet they would be thrilled to find some in their stockings -- I should do that this year!
A few of my people really like those chocolate oranges, so sometimes I do those in the toe. But my, those are pricey! Even simple stockings can become really expensive when you've got a largish family.
Exactly! I also used to get the chocolate orange, and yes to get 8 or 9 of them would turn Into real money. I forgot to mention that I find variety packs of socks at discount stores like tj Maxx and split them apart. My sons and daughters are adults now so size isn't an issue .
Growing up we would get oranges too! Until we specially requested mangos or avocados. 😆 My mom would always put pistachios in our stockings and a special chocolate bar.
Last year my small group moms got things that come in packs of several in number, then we went out to coffee and divided up the loot! Our kiddos ranged from 8-4yrs, so it was more trinket toys, but it made it more affordable and fun to share.
This is my first year doing stockings for our two boys. So far for our older boy (2.5yo) I’m doing a small wooden puzzle, a make-your-own yoto card of friends and family reading stories for him, and some new bath toys. Younger brother (3mo) is getting his first sippy cup, his brothers old teething toys, and some of the same bath toys.
I was trying to think of things, like you, that were inexpensive but also things they already needed or would get regular use out of.
Stockings seem shockingly huge to me now though? It’s kind of daunting to fill them!!
They do seem to get bigger and bigger. One year in June the Lands' End embroidered, personalized ones were on sale for $8 each so I got them for everyone...they are reasonably sized and I think that helps keep both costs and expectations down! You could consider keeping an eye out for such a sale on your preferred version of not-enormous stockings?
Fun ideas here, Dixie! I especially like the idea to shop from kids at the local craft fair. My children love making things and selling them at our fair, and having support from parents is so sweet to see.
We always do an orange in the toe, followed by a bunch of pistachios. And chocolate, always!
I try to get things we need--toothbrushes, nice pens or pencils, socks, underwear, chapstick, hand cream, and unusual or rarely purchased expensive candy. My kids stockings are fairly small, thanks to my grandmother giving a small one to our oldest. I made the rest of my kids' stockings on the same pattern to be fair. They're far less concerned with the "what" of the contents than that they're all surprises.
St. Nicholas, who visits on Dec 6, leaves satsumas, Christmas/religious books, and chocolate coins in my children's shoes.
A couple years ago, our first Christmas with a baby, with in-laws in town, i filled the toes of the grown-ups' stockings with lindt chocolate truffles as my mom did every year. In the postpartum blur, I turned on the gas fireplace before we took the stockings down. My husband's custom personalized "spot clean only" Pottery Barn stocking turned into a bag of chocolate soup. It's never fully recovered but I eventually managed to remove most of the solid chocolate residue. That being said, I grew up with Lindt Chocolate or other seasonal Costco goodies in my stocking. Also toothbrushes and tooth floss.
This year for our toddler I stocked up on a bunch of montessori-inspired items–kid's vegetable knife, his own nail brush, squeegee, a wooden instrument. I love the "functional but cute" vibe of the child-size grown-up things that characterize the montessori classroom (or should I call it environment?) and think it's great inspiration!
Ah, man. Fruit roll ups! I was just thinking about those the other day. My mom never bought those so they were the first thing I looked for in other people's pantries when I was babysitting!
I always put jerky sticks in ours… it’s a two fold purpose 1) they love them and 2) I have zero qualms saying they can eat them at 6 AM because goodness knows everyone’s blood sugar can use it before the cinnamon rolls 😂
We usually do special candy, new toothbrushes, oranges, gum, maybe a small tool type thing or writing implements (usually by December the pencils are all disappearing). I cannot abide junk I have to store, so it’s either consumable or somewhat practical. I’ve gotten Mad Libs and a few card games that will probably be stocking stuffers and hair ties for the one girl :)
Jerky is a great idea. Definitely good to have something in there they can eat besides candy -- I like to think it helps with the blood sugar thing just a little bit, at least!
I usually replenish or add new coloring implements. This year each is getting a set of colored pencils in a pouch and the newly one year old gets the big egg crayons. They also seem to love those mini flashlights, magnify glasses, or small kid size binoculars.
Mini flashlights! I had forgotten about those but I did those one year and they were a hit. But I had never thought of magnifying glasses or binoculars...those are such good ideas! The coloring things, too.
My little Harry Potter lovers are getting HP novelty candies (chocolate frogs, Bertie Bot’s Every Flavor Beans, etc.)! And I made our family’s stockings this year … I’m horrified by how big I made them! What was I *THINKING*?!
Other fun things we’ve done:
- tic tacs
- gum
- novelty office supplies (post-it’s especially)
- at a certain age, cool bandaids they can use at will were a big hit
- electric toothbrushes
- my sister gets each person a tube of pringles (which she never buys otherwise) to help fill up the stocking, ha!
- fishing lures
- dollar store craft kits
- one year I got a tube of magnetic stretchy men and split it between the kids. I had no idea what a HUGE hit it would end up being… they get played with so much still!
I laughed at the Pringles! As soon as I read your comment I started thinking "she needs BIG stuff."
The tube/set of little things can be really handy for stockings, for sure. I sometimes get things like this from the party favors section -- a set of 6 bouncy balls, or kazoos, or whatever. Also I will often look in the model/toy section at Hobby Lobby for stocking stuffers, because they have sets of toy animals or soldiers that can be split up that way!
They are huge. And I made these with heirloom qualities in mind - extras for any possible babies we could have, future guests, or even possible future spouses. The horror I experienced when hanging the first one a few days ago has not left me.
Growing up, and still now when we visit my parents for Christmas, I would always get some good quality socks in my stocking amongst other little treats—a nail polish, seasonal chocolate, lotion, whatever. I like the idea going forward for my own kids’ (still babies) stockings of giving them “nicer” versions of practical items they use. A quality pen set, or luxurious body wash, or good loose-leaf tea aren’t things I might always get myself or kids, but can make everyday routines more special! They might cost more than $5, but at least you know they’re not just stocking filler to be tossed in a few days, and will actually get used.
Those are wonderful ideas. I think it helps underline the season of Christmas as one of feasting -- in ordinary times we use ordinary products/foods/etc., but during times of celebration finer ones make things more festive! What a wonderful lesson for the kids, that splurging (and still, they're not very expensive) on the extra-nice thing every once a while is a good thing. A great idea!
It's a tradition in our family going back at least three generations that there's always an orange in the toe of your stocking, so I never skip that! As a kid I always got a new toothbrush too, and usually something like nice soap or some cute barrettes. This year my daughter will get a mini bottle of nail polish and my boys will get single serving packets of some fancy hot cocoa flavors. Just yesterday they told me they don't want to wear the scarves I knitted for them any more, they want gaiters instead, so tonight I am off to the craft store to buy some fleece and get sewing!
Oh, those sound like wonderful stockings! My dad always got an orange in his stocking growing up, but when I was a kid we actually had an orange tree and had oranges daily when in season (such riches!), so we didn't get one. But we were *told* about it every year, for sure!
Those fancy hot cocoa packets are such a neat idea! And the cold-weather gear...I remember getting a compact folding umbrella in my stocking one year when I was a kid and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
Chapstick is a must! The Chick-fil-A sauce made me laugh. My kids have only had it a few times (it's not anywhere near us), and they don't get the appeal. Haha. I love the idea of thank-you cards, though!!
I am with your kids! I don't like that sauce at all! But one of my kids would drink it if I let her!
I really scored in the card department this year -- my local grocery store had a buy 2 get 1 free on sets of ten cards, and the sets themselves were only 4 bucks.
Along the lines of the orange, we branched out and I would look for an offbeat or favorite fruit for each person. Preferably large in size. One really likes pomegranates, another mangoes. Come to think of it, my husband likes papaya which would be hilariously large if I could fit it in! Another tradition is for the younger kids a nice coloring book gently rolled with a small pack of crayons or the like.
Everyone also expects new socks and many do not ever buy socks knowing they will be replenished via their stocking!
I love stocking gifts the best, as you said they delight in a simple but fun way.
I my goodness, I laughed at the fruit! That is a great idea! I have some kids who really like expensive tropical fruits, but we can't buy them that often. I bet they would be thrilled to find some in their stockings -- I should do that this year!
A few of my people really like those chocolate oranges, so sometimes I do those in the toe. But my, those are pricey! Even simple stockings can become really expensive when you've got a largish family.
Exactly! I also used to get the chocolate orange, and yes to get 8 or 9 of them would turn Into real money. I forgot to mention that I find variety packs of socks at discount stores like tj Maxx and split them apart. My sons and daughters are adults now so size isn't an issue .
Love the idea of unusual or unexpected fruit!
German Christmas chocolates from Aldi go in our stockings!
Oh my goodness YES. Aldi is such a good source of special Christmas candies!
Aldi chocolate is delicious!
Growing up we would get oranges too! Until we specially requested mangos or avocados. 😆 My mom would always put pistachios in our stockings and a special chocolate bar.
Last year my small group moms got things that come in packs of several in number, then we went out to coffee and divided up the loot! Our kiddos ranged from 8-4yrs, so it was more trinket toys, but it made it more affordable and fun to share.
That sounds so fun. I love the idea of putting stockings together with friends!
The kids do love those little toys! Sometimes they can be quite clever, too.
I love these suggestions!
This is my first year doing stockings for our two boys. So far for our older boy (2.5yo) I’m doing a small wooden puzzle, a make-your-own yoto card of friends and family reading stories for him, and some new bath toys. Younger brother (3mo) is getting his first sippy cup, his brothers old teething toys, and some of the same bath toys.
I was trying to think of things, like you, that were inexpensive but also things they already needed or would get regular use out of.
Stockings seem shockingly huge to me now though? It’s kind of daunting to fill them!!
Sounds like a great plan, Greta!
They do seem to get bigger and bigger. One year in June the Lands' End embroidered, personalized ones were on sale for $8 each so I got them for everyone...they are reasonably sized and I think that helps keep both costs and expectations down! You could consider keeping an eye out for such a sale on your preferred version of not-enormous stockings?
Books are also good for taking up space!
Fun ideas here, Dixie! I especially like the idea to shop from kids at the local craft fair. My children love making things and selling them at our fair, and having support from parents is so sweet to see.
We always do an orange in the toe, followed by a bunch of pistachios. And chocolate, always!
Yes, we just had our church craft fair this past weekend -- and I brought my dollar bills to funnel toward the kid-vendors!
Pistachios are my husband and one of my son's favorite nuts so we often have those, for sure!
I try to get things we need--toothbrushes, nice pens or pencils, socks, underwear, chapstick, hand cream, and unusual or rarely purchased expensive candy. My kids stockings are fairly small, thanks to my grandmother giving a small one to our oldest. I made the rest of my kids' stockings on the same pattern to be fair. They're far less concerned with the "what" of the contents than that they're all surprises.
St. Nicholas, who visits on Dec 6, leaves satsumas, Christmas/religious books, and chocolate coins in my children's shoes.
The surprise is the fun, as you say!
A couple years ago, our first Christmas with a baby, with in-laws in town, i filled the toes of the grown-ups' stockings with lindt chocolate truffles as my mom did every year. In the postpartum blur, I turned on the gas fireplace before we took the stockings down. My husband's custom personalized "spot clean only" Pottery Barn stocking turned into a bag of chocolate soup. It's never fully recovered but I eventually managed to remove most of the solid chocolate residue. That being said, I grew up with Lindt Chocolate or other seasonal Costco goodies in my stocking. Also toothbrushes and tooth floss.
This year for our toddler I stocked up on a bunch of montessori-inspired items–kid's vegetable knife, his own nail brush, squeegee, a wooden instrument. I love the "functional but cute" vibe of the child-size grown-up things that characterize the montessori classroom (or should I call it environment?) and think it's great inspiration!
Oh no! What a sad loss of truffles...still, I bet that stocking sure smells good now!
We have done things like that for our babies and toddlers, too. A new cup or spoons for the new eater, or teethers or a wooden toy.
I did 90s candies for the sweet portion of stockings last year and it was a big hit. Fruit roll ups, candy necklaces, pez, that sort of thing.
We pretty much do what you do. Simple, cheap, fun. And the same amount for each kid, to keep the peace!
Ah, man. Fruit roll ups! I was just thinking about those the other day. My mom never bought those so they were the first thing I looked for in other people's pantries when I was babysitting!
Love the idea of blank notecards! Have shared it with some friends
It does increase the motivation to write those thank you notes, I find!
I always put jerky sticks in ours… it’s a two fold purpose 1) they love them and 2) I have zero qualms saying they can eat them at 6 AM because goodness knows everyone’s blood sugar can use it before the cinnamon rolls 😂
We usually do special candy, new toothbrushes, oranges, gum, maybe a small tool type thing or writing implements (usually by December the pencils are all disappearing). I cannot abide junk I have to store, so it’s either consumable or somewhat practical. I’ve gotten Mad Libs and a few card games that will probably be stocking stuffers and hair ties for the one girl :)
Jerky is a great idea. Definitely good to have something in there they can eat besides candy -- I like to think it helps with the blood sugar thing just a little bit, at least!
Yes! I loved getting my own pack of beef jerky.
My kids this year requested Jiffy peanut butter because I made them switch to the healthier sugar free kind this year
That is hilarious!!
I usually replenish or add new coloring implements. This year each is getting a set of colored pencils in a pouch and the newly one year old gets the big egg crayons. They also seem to love those mini flashlights, magnify glasses, or small kid size binoculars.
Mini flashlights! I had forgotten about those but I did those one year and they were a hit. But I had never thought of magnifying glasses or binoculars...those are such good ideas! The coloring things, too.
My little Harry Potter lovers are getting HP novelty candies (chocolate frogs, Bertie Bot’s Every Flavor Beans, etc.)! And I made our family’s stockings this year … I’m horrified by how big I made them! What was I *THINKING*?!
Other fun things we’ve done:
- tic tacs
- gum
- novelty office supplies (post-it’s especially)
- at a certain age, cool bandaids they can use at will were a big hit
- electric toothbrushes
- my sister gets each person a tube of pringles (which she never buys otherwise) to help fill up the stocking, ha!
- fishing lures
- dollar store craft kits
- one year I got a tube of magnetic stretchy men and split it between the kids. I had no idea what a HUGE hit it would end up being… they get played with so much still!
I laughed at the Pringles! As soon as I read your comment I started thinking "she needs BIG stuff."
The tube/set of little things can be really handy for stockings, for sure. I sometimes get things like this from the party favors section -- a set of 6 bouncy balls, or kazoos, or whatever. Also I will often look in the model/toy section at Hobby Lobby for stocking stuffers, because they have sets of toy animals or soldiers that can be split up that way!
They are huge. And I made these with heirloom qualities in mind - extras for any possible babies we could have, future guests, or even possible future spouses. The horror I experienced when hanging the first one a few days ago has not left me.
Oh goodness!! I bet they are beautiful and special, though! Everyone just needs to get a six-pack of socks at the bottom!
They are, and they make me so happy to see them on the mantle. I just hope everyone likes Pringles… ha!
Growing up, and still now when we visit my parents for Christmas, I would always get some good quality socks in my stocking amongst other little treats—a nail polish, seasonal chocolate, lotion, whatever. I like the idea going forward for my own kids’ (still babies) stockings of giving them “nicer” versions of practical items they use. A quality pen set, or luxurious body wash, or good loose-leaf tea aren’t things I might always get myself or kids, but can make everyday routines more special! They might cost more than $5, but at least you know they’re not just stocking filler to be tossed in a few days, and will actually get used.
Those are wonderful ideas. I think it helps underline the season of Christmas as one of feasting -- in ordinary times we use ordinary products/foods/etc., but during times of celebration finer ones make things more festive! What a wonderful lesson for the kids, that splurging (and still, they're not very expensive) on the extra-nice thing every once a while is a good thing. A great idea!