In addition to shopping for the perfect gifts for family and friends, finding the best stocking stuffers for kids has also become a top priority this holiday season.
While tweens typically have Christmas lists that make it easier to pinpoint what they want, it can be a little more difficult to identify the best stocking stuffers for toddlers and younger kids. This holds particularly true when it comes to figuring out the best stocking stuffers for 1-year-olds to 3-year-olds since they’re still a bit too young to request gifts for the holidays.
If you’re on the hunt for the best stocking stuffers for kids and don’t have time to research, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got you covered with this gift guide that has the top stocking stuffer ideas for kids of all ages. Kids will soon be making their lists and checking them twice as Santa begins conducting his annual quality assurance checks to see who’s been naughty or nice, so we're here to help you get to work!
Best kids stocking stuffers under $10
Great for play or as a collector’s item, each ball features five miniature replicas of home decor and lifestyle pieces. From mini candles and teacups, this stocking stuffer is sure to amuse them (and their parents, too).
Perfect for budding beauty queens (or if they just admire watching their mom or older sis doing their makeup in the mirror), this adorable Lip Smacker inspired by the iconic Sanrio character will have them lighting up.
This fast-paced, Shop TODAY editor-loved board game is now available in a miniature version that can easily fit in a stocking. “It’s great to take on the road with kids and keep them entertained,” says associate editor Kamari Stewart.
Budding young artists love to color, but it could get messy very quickly. Crayola stops hard-to-wash scribbles in their tracks with their mess-free Color Wonder sets, where marker colors only appear on the pages and off the walls and floors.
This squishy, squeezable, sensory toy is a Shop TODAY 2025 Gift We Love, winning for its ability to serve as the perfect fidget during meetings, while focusing on homework or even long car rides.
When squished fast, it grows firm, yet when squished and squeezed slowly, it becomes more malleable.
If they’re strong with the force, they’ll surely love this Darth Vader keychain. If “Star Wars” isn’t their thing, Lego has a ton of different keychain options from “Harry Potter“ to Santa.
Say goodbye to bedhead and unruly hair by pulling it back with one of these two claw clips. They're recommended for ages 4+ for practical use or playtime.
These little plushies went viral on TikTok, racking up more than 57 million views. Not only are they super cute, but kids can use them to show their moods without saying a word by flipping between the angry and happy faces.
As long as there are no sore losers in your group, your family will have a great time playing the brutal version of this classic card game. With new rules and tougher action cards (like a Wild Draw 10!), this one isn’t for the faint of heart.
This hands-on stocking stuffer is full of surprises, including a hidden figurine that children can sift through the slime to find. Plus, the kit comes with shimmery sparkles and scent boosters to make it a full-sensory experience.
These suction cup spinner toys can be attached to a baby’s highchair or other hard surfaces, and can be removed and replaced with no commitment. A fun and affordable stocking stuffer for 1-year-olds, this three-piece set helps build hand/eye coordination while keeping little ones occupied.
This isn’t your typical brain-teasing puzzle — for starters, it’s a huge TikTok phenomenon! Its hashtag currently has over 645 million views, with players young and old taking on over 200 challenges testing one’s problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Best kids stocking stuffers under $25
These authentic fingerboards are a perfect stocking stuffer for the skateboard fan. The set comes with four boards that they can build any way they want and will be a delight for the kid who loves collecting toy sets.
“My son loved putting these together. There was enough for him to bring one to each of his friends at school. Now they play with them together at recess,” shared one reviewer.
It doesn’t seem like a toy (much less a kids’ stocking stuffer) at first glance, but this no-battery-required clicker counter is actually a hit among kids, according to reviewers. And not just because of the fun colors — kids who love counting (this goes up to 9,999!) and fidget toys will get a kick out of this clicker.
“My 7-year-old twin granddaughters LOVED playing with them to the exclusion of wanting to play or open up other gifts!” raved one grandmother who bought them as stocking stuffers.
With 750 questions spanning a number of topics, including a new technology subject, these Q and A-style learning cards will keep them occupied during road trips, while waiting for dinner or when wanting to quiz their younger siblings.
Available for pre-K through 6th grade, reviewers say that their children love learning via these decks of cards, oftentimes going through the prompts so fast they have to buy more.
Blending classic creativity with a modern techie feel, Crayola’s Wixels set features two-color maps to create a whimsical unicorn or any other design their heart’s set on. They’ll never know they’re also practicing essential life skills like concentration, focus and patience in the process!
Take them on a winter journey with this Lego holiday train set. We can’t believe our eyes either, but Lego always finds a way to make the impossible possible with its thoughtful kits. This mini builder set is ideal for kids ages 6+ and comes with 73 pieces to create their own wintry escapade.
Maurice Sendak has been a mainstay in home libraries for many generations, and this pocket-sized collection of books (seriously, each page-turner measures 3-by-4 inches) is a great introduction to several stories that have stood the test of time.
Since its inception in 2018, this game has accumulated over 19,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.Whether they play with their friends or family, this is a great way to upgrade game nights. “The game’s concept is delightfully quirky, centering on a food fight between two of the most beloved Mexican dishes, tacos and burritos,” shared one reviewer.
This bestselling, award-winning toy just look like an ordinary cube, but just wait until their fidgety hands get a hold of it! We bet they’ll spend hours trying to nail the 70+ shapes it’s capable of becoming.
Trendy stocking stuffers for kids
Get them excited for bath time with these adorable bath toys. The set comes with Bluey and her entire family — Bingo, Chilli and Bandit — that can be used for stacking and pouring. And when summertime is back around, they’ll love the cups for the beach or pool, too!
How sweet are these little cuties? Furby Furblets have been all the rage ever since they hit the scene, even ending up on Shop TODAY’s Gifts We Love list in 2023.
Make bath time fun with this multicolored set of 300 fizzy tablets. All they need to do is drop their favorite color into the water or mix and match to create new ones and watch them fizz. Better yet, these won’t stain the tub or your towels, and they come in eco-friendly packaging.
These cozy slippers from the popular sock brand Bombas will be a real delight for parents of toddlers. They help keep you little one’s feet warm and protected, offering a plush liner, double padded sole and gripper bottoms so they won’t slip as they toddle around the house.
This electronic pet thrives when fidgeted with, making it the perfect companion for those who need fidget toys to focus. Children can click the kitten's ears, press the mouth (that doubles as a button), or move its arms up and down to "fill" its heart.
According to the brand, their sensory play jars are known as the "calm down jars," offering an engaging and calming form of play. They can decorate and fill the jars with the included tools to add lights and details that will keep them screen-free.
This kit comes with everything they need to head into the new year with a shimmery, sparkly set of nails. It comes complete with a nail file, sheets of gems and stickers as well as two colors.
Road-tripping over the holidays? Keep young ones busy with a personalized activity book filled with custom-made puzzles built around their image and interests.
How we chose the best stocking stuffers for kids
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there that would make great stocking stuffers for kids. We use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guide for stocking stuffers under $10, as well as gift guides for toddlers, 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds and more.
