Yahoo News Best stocking fillers for kids to bring pure joy on Christmas morning
On the leaderboard of festive highlights, waking up on Christmas morning surely features in the top three.
Not just because all those weeks of anticipation are finally coming to an end, nor that the day ahead is packed with more eating, drinking and raucous merriment than you could shake a candy cane at. No, it’s because waking up on the 25th means that the stocking stuffed with gifts at the foot of the bed is finally up for grabs.
And if it’s exciting for the grown-ups, imagine the serotonin levels ricocheting around in the kids. What’s not to love? Presents they can unwrap and play with in bed (leaving you to snatch a few more seconds of precious sleep), the tiny parcels of joy are designed to ramp up their festive buzz before they launch themselves face-first into the main pile of gifts under the tree.
To help you curate the perfect stocking for your little ones, we’ve put together a hit list of the best options around. From miniature dolls and cars to tiny quizzes that’ll test their motor skills, plus the odd sweet treat, we present the best stocking fillers for kids.
We’ve arranged the list is age ascendant order for ease.
See our favourites below
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LE TOY VAN Doll House Pet Set
This charming play set is ideal for young animal lovers. Made from sustainable materials and painted in jolly colours, it helps inspire play and is great for early learning development.
Buy now £8.95, Liberty
Carioca Jungle colour roll and pencils set
Keep your pint-sized princes and princesses up to their eyes in colouring with this self-adhesive roll that comes with a set of eight colouring pencils. Let them stick it to the table or walls safe in the knowledge it won’t leave behind any unsightly residue.
Buy now £8.00, Selfridges
Boden Sparkle Headband - Gold Christmas Reindeer
Antlers aren’t just for reindeers. This sweet pom-pom studded headband is the perfect finishing touch for festive family photos.
Buy now £17.00, Boden
Mimi & Lula Fairy Wand
Bring an extra sprinkle of magic on Christmas Day with this darling star-topped wand, an ideal accessory for your little one.
Buy now £8.00, Selfridges
Paw Patrol True Metal Movie Vehicles gift pack
Are they potty for Paw Patrol? Bring squeals of delight on Christmas morning by adding this gift pack into their stocking. The set features six cars with their canine drivers, ready and raring to go. Suitable for ages 3+.
Buy now £23.00, Selfridges
Disney Toy Story Gripper Socks
It’s playtime for tiny feet in these adorable socks made up to resemble the heroes of Disney’s Toy Story. They’re ideal for Christmas morning as the grippy soles will help limit the mayhem as kids run around in excitement. Fits ages 2 - 6 years.
Buy now £9.74, SockShop
LEGO Batman™ vs. The Penguin™ & Harley Quinn™
If your little one is already LEGO mad, breathe fresh life into their playbox with a new set themed on Batman. This 63-piece set includes Penguin and Harley Quinn minifigures along with the caped crusader and will keep them playing in bed until a decent hour. For ages 6+.
Buy now £13.49, LEGO
Disney Store Disney Princess Doll 12-Pack Gift Set
Stocking fillers for children need to walk that tightrope of being exciting enough to keep them occupied in their rooms yet quiet enough not to wake you at 4am when the excited little guys inevitably wake up.
Behold, this epic doll set, featuring pretty much every Disney princess under the sun. If you’re thinking this might be a bit much for one stocking why not split the pack with a friend or between other kids you might be shopping for?
Buy now £88.00, ShopDisney
Donkey Think Big XXXL Pencil
Encourage literary greatness with this supersized pencil complete with a rubber tip.
Buy now £7.60, Liberty
Build Your Own Honey Bee
Keep your little ones as busy as a bee with this kit that will see them making their very own insect from sustainable cardboard. Once made, the bee’s wingspan measures 27cm across. A fun little build to encourage an interest in STEM subjects.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
The Den Kit Company Fire on a Plate Kit
Get children embracing the great outdoors with The Den Kit Company. The brand specialises in kits that teach little ones about the wild and encourages curiosity in nature. For stocking fillers, this mini kit will show them how to ignite and control fire. Recommended for children aged 6+ under adult supervision. Move over Bear Grylls, there’s a new young cub in town.
The Den Kit Company offers a range of exciting kits for kids, including potion making, bird’s nest, flower press, tree planting and more.
Buy now £24.50, NOTHS
Floral Friends Sanitiser Bottle
Older children should by now know the importance of hand hygiene. Encourage the practice with this cute bottle to hold a personal supply of hand sanitiser which they can attach to their school bag.
Buy now £3.50, Paperchase
World’s Smallest Voice Changer
This teeny megaphone will distort their voice into four different sounding ones. Batteries included... but maybe use half-charged ones to ensure peace in time for the Queen’s Speech.
Buy now £9.99, Prezzybox
PLAYMOBIL Back To The Future 70459 Marty and Doc play figures
Don’t let the fact that Robert Zemeckis’ movie masterpieces were released decades ago stop you from educating young ones on the epic films. Playmobil has reimagined Doc and Marty McFly as the cutest play figures complete with props like Marty’s guitar and a 1955 flyer with a Save the Clock Tower headline.
Buy now £8.00, Selfridges
Choc on Choc Decorate Your Own Chocolate Nutcracker
The iconic Christmas soldier, a nutcracker, gets a festive makeover courtesy of your kids thanks to this kit. Once suitably festooned with All Sorts, Smarties and other candies, he can join your Christmas table by interlocking the milk chocolate body into a chocolate base to hold him upright.
Buy now £15.00, NOTHS
Reese’s Smoothie Cup
Allow them to gorge on sweet peanut-buttery action thanks to Reese’s gift pack which has bitesize treats stuffed inside a capped smoothie bottle.
Buy now £10.00, Argos
Accessorize Cheerleader pom-poms
They’re already jumping for joy so you may as well help your Christmas cheerleader look the part. Perfect for playing with all year round.
Buy now £7.00, Accessorize
Marvling Bros Ltd Grow Your Own Baked Beans Seed Kit In A Matchbox
Cheap and cheerful, this pop art-style seed kit allows older children and teens to grow their very own haricot beans, the same used in baked beans. The box also includes tomato seeds so they can try and grow their own sauce.
Buy now £5.00, NOTHS
Rio Beauty Glow Smartphone Ring Light
If it feels like your teen is surgically attached to their handset, you’ll bank serious brownie points with this ring light. It delivers perfect lighting every time.
Buy now £8.00, Argos
Personalised Toblerone Bar
A classic for a reason, and now customisable with their name on. Sure-fire winner.
Buy now £12.99, Prezzybox
Kikkerland DIY Beeswax Lip Balm Kit
Pre-teens fascinated with beauty (but too young for makeup) can get their fix whipping up their very own lip balm this Christmas. This set has everything they need to start their natural beauty collection.
Buy now £10.00, Selfridges
Firebox Take Cooler Selfies Lens Kit
For kids old enough to own a mobile, this lens accessory kit will step up their selfie game.
Buy now £10.99, Firebox
Ban.Do Floral Deck of Cards
A pack of cards is a failsafe gift, but these come with a cool floral edge that make them perfect for whacking in a teenage stocking.
Buy now £20.00, Ban.Do
John Lewis & Partners Rubber Ducks, Pack of 6
Bathtime get a colourful makeover with this set of six multicoloured ducks, which offer broad appeal.
Buy now £8.50, John Lewis
Kmart UK Stock Sensory Toys Set
Weird toys doing the rounds in the playground is nothing new, but yesteryear’s Pokemon and POGs have been replaced by fidget toys. The simple toys are thought to lower stress and anxiety as they push, prod and pull the plastic. Well, at least it gives their eyes a break from screens. This set should be enough to fill up a few stockings.
Buy now £19.95, Amazon
F&M Chocolate Gold Coins 100g
The only currency that matters over Christmas? Gold wrapped chocolate coins, ideally held in a gauze sack so they can be devoured all at once. For that, Fortnum has you covered.
Buy now £5.95, F&M
