Stocking Stuffer Gifts For Kids

Every year a new toy comes out that all the kids have to have. This year is no exception, but what do you get to fill those stockings? I have been hard at work putting together a list of fun and wonderful stocking stuffer ideas that I plan on sending along straight to dear, old Santa in the North Pole. I hope it gets to him in time. If not, I posted it here. So, Santa, I know you are reading this, and since I have done all this work for you, I think I deserve something extra special in my stocking. I was thinking a diamond ring. Nothing too big or too flashy, just a simple diamond ring would be fine. White gold, of course. Anyway, here is my list of stocking stuffers for the kids.  I have a little bit of everything to take care of all the little ones on your list.

Kids Voice Scrambler: This little device will entertain kids (and annoy parents) for hours. The voice scrambler records the child's voice, and can be played back at varied speeds for different tones and effects. They can sing The Chipmunk's Christmas song and play it back at a faster speed, to give their voices that characteristic high pitched sound. They can slow it down and act out a slow motion football play or fight scene. This fun (for kids) and irritating (for parents) toy can be found at Pottery Barn Kids for $12 and is recommended for kids ages 6 and up. Not a bad price for a great stocking stuffer that sounds like a lot more fun than a lump of coal.

HexBug: HexBugs are a lot of fun! These tiny little scurrying bugs are amazing. They are touch and sound activated. They scuttle around on the floor, avoiding obstacles through the use of their antenna, in the same way that real bugs do. They come in several different colors and run on your basic watch batteries. These things are the perfect stocking stuffer for the science-minded child on your list, or even a child who just loves bugs. Even little girls would get a kick out of these little creatures. I found these are Hearthsong.com for $9.98, but I have also seen them several other places for similar prices. These cute little HexBugs are intended for children ages 8 and up.

Paint-A-Snowman Kit: Kids love to make things. The sense of accomplishment they get from completing a project on their own, and having something they can save for years. The Paint-A-Snowman Kit gives kids the opportunity to create their very own work of art that can be displayed for all to see for many Christmases to come. I painted a Santa figure when I was a kid, and gave it as a gift to a family member. Years later, that same Santa was given back to me. Seeing that little figure all those years later made me smile. Someone cared about that gift enough to keep it for many years, remembering who made it, and gave it back to me. I relived to fun I had painting it. This craft kit can give kids that same joy in ways video games just can't. This charming kit can be found at Magic Cabin for $17.98. The wooden snowman craft is intended for kids ages 5 and up.

Zoobles Playsets: These things are all the rage with kids these days. My daughter has been talking about them for weeks, and has added them to her Christmas wish list. They are similar to the Littlest Pet Shop sets, in that they come in small to larger sets, feature cute little animals, and are a lot of fun for kids for not a lot of money. These sets are so adorable! The sets come in small, stocking stuffer sized sets for about $6-$10. I have found these everywhere, from Walmart and Toys 'R' Us to Amazon and Gifts.com. Prices do vary by site. The recommended age range for the Zoobles playsets is 3-11, so they are a toy that kids will love to play with for more than just a week or two.

Sugar Cookie Peeps: Peeps used to be just for Easter. We all remember those delicious, little marshmallow chicks. I still love to eat them today. Of course, everyone knows they are best when they are just a little bit "stale", but kids will eat them all right out of the package if you turn your back for long enough. There have been several Christmas versions of the tasty, sugary peeps, but these are too cute to pass up. They are in the shape of cute little gingerbread men and women, complete with festive green and red accents. At just a few dollars pretty much anywhere, these marshmallow treats are perfect for any kid, or anyone who is still a kid at heart.

Water Powered Space Rocket: I found this little retro gem at retroplanet.com for only $4.99. Give you kids an idea of what toys were like when you were a kid with this water powered rocket. You pump it up to shoot, similar to a squirt gun, and it can shoot the rocket up to 35 feet! Kids will learn a little about science in the process of having fun. Of course, make sure they wait till the weather warms up a little before they take it outside and launch their rockets. Well, unless you live down here where it's warm. I love retro toys because they seem to have an amazing charm that toys today just don't have. I guess I am a softy when it comes to nostalgic items, but so what??

Face Painting Pencils: Remember how much your kids beg you to get their face painted when they go to the fair, or carnival? Well, now they can have that same fun at home, anytime they want. My daughter would love to get a set of face paints. This is a great gift for a wide range of ages, with adult supervision, of course. These can also serve double duty, and be used to decorate a child's face at Halloween, or be used as a feature of a child's birthday party. I am sure your kids would love to go to Grandma's for Christmas dinner with a snowman or Christmas tree painted on their face. I found these at Overstock.com for $15.49, but I am sure they can be found a lot of different places, as well.

Lego Star Wars Watches: These watches come in several different styles based on different characters of the Star Wars movies with a Lego theme, of course. The watch band is multi-colored and has the look of Lego bricks. The face of the watch features a different Lego Star Wars character, depending on which watch you get. Kids can connect and build their very own watch, and change it when they want to. It's a customizable watch, and with more watches comes more options. Some come with a mini Star Wars figure, as well. This is a great gift for Star Wars fans, young and old. It also helps teach kids to tell time, as the watch is analog, not digital. I found these everywhere for around $12-$20.

Sing-a-Ma-Jigs: What are Sing-a-Ma-Jigs, you ask? I asked the same thing. I heard about them, but had no idea what they were. I looked it up. They are sooo cute!!! They are small dolls that sing. They remind me of characters from Sesame Street. They have three different settings; chatter, sing and harmonize. Yes, they harmonize, so get at least two of these cute little guys. Their mouths move as they sing their little song or harmonize with their friends. There are many different Sing-A-Ma-Jigs that come in different colors and have their own featured song. They run on two AAA batteries, which they come with. I have found these everywhere! Prices range from $9-$20, depending on where you get them, and they even have a special Santa Sing-A-Ma-Jig for Christmas. These crooners are recommended for kids ages 3 and up.

Squinkies Bubble Pack: Another toy with a strange name. How do we tell all them apart? Zoobles? Squinkies? Oh, well. Squinkies combine the fun of gumball machine toys with small playset style toys, similar to Zoobles and Littlest Pet Shop, but also feature toys aimed more at boys, as well. They come in little spheres, just like the gumball machine toys, and even feature larger sets that include different gumball machine style dispensers that hold all their sets. The bubble pack sets run about $10, and the "gumball machines" run about $12-$20. A bubble pack set comes with 12 characters and four spheres. They are small, so they are not intended for children under 3. You can find them anywhere, from Amazon to Target.

Zhu Zhu Pets: Yep. they are back again this year. Zhu Zhu Pets were the hot toy last year, and are still big this Christmas. They have become more customizable, with accessories and different styles for girls and boys. For those that don't know about Zhu Zhu Pets, they are little robotic, interactive hamster toys that kids are crazy about. They have a variety of playsets, houses, and accessories to give kids hours and hours of fun. The hamsters themselves, range in price from about $3 for the babies to $6 for the full sized hamsters. The playsets range in price from about $8-$20 depending on the size. They even have games for the DS and the Wii. My niece has asked for one, and so has my daughter. They have sets for girls and boys. They are recommended for kids ages 4-7, and can be found anywhere!

Silly Bandz: These things have been all the rage for a while now, and while their popularity has waned a little, they are still a popular stocking stuffer gift for your kids. They are the colorful, shaped bands that kids love. Kids of most ages love these things. Though I don't know why. You can't see the shape once you are wearing it, so they end up looking like a bunch of squiggly rubber bands. They come in so many different shapes, including princesses, sports and even Justin Bieber. Some schools have banned them, but others have not, and kids can still have a lot of fun collecting and sharing them. They are only a few dollars for a small pack of Silly Bandz, and they can be found everywhere.

Fisher Price Kid Tough Headphones: Kids are rough on their toys, and with all the high tech gadgets that use headphones, they need a sturdy pair that they aren't likely to break. Ear buds tend to be too big for small ears, so what to do?? Fisher Price has come out with Kid Tough headphones that solve that problem. They have a whole line of Kid Tough products that are great for your destructive little ones. The headphones come in blue for boys and pink for girls. They can be found directly from Fisher Price, and also Walmart and Amazon. They are recommended for kids ages 3 and up, and cost around $12-$15 depending on where you get them from. These are a great gift for kids, and are great for travel. Those airline headphones tend to be too big, and who knows who used them last.

Finger Drums: Have your kids been begging your for a drum set, but you just have no place to put one? Drum sets take up a lot of space. These, however, do not. This tiny drum set fits on your desk or table. It is a tiny drum set that really works. You just tap the drums with your fingers. The drums even light up as you tap, so you get a mini light show to go along with your amazing drum playing. Kids can even record their best drum riffs and play them back for everyone to hear. I found these at ThinkGeek.com, but I have also seem them at Amazon. Give your kids the drum set they want without taking up all the space in your house, and without the migraine that is sure to follow. The little drum set costs $24.99 at ThinkGeek.com and at Amazon.

Game Pens: These pens feature mini versions of popular kids games, including a mini etch-a-sketch and Operation. These are a fun gift for kids on the go. They have a little game at their hands wherever they go. The Operation game includes the tweezers in the cap of the pen and the pieces remain attached to the pen, so there is nothing to lose. The pens are a great travel item for kids, and not only give them a pen for drawing, but also a game to keep them entertained on plane trips or long car rides. I found these at Pottery Barn Kids for $9.00. Kids will be delighted to see these sticking out of their stockings on Christmas morning.

Dog Shaped Crayons:  I found these cute little crayons at Pottery Barn Kids for $9.00.  These crayons are the perfect stocking stuffer for your really little ones.  The dog shapes are easy for little hands to grab and hold onto.  Spark your child's creativity early with the adorable little wiener dog-shaped crayons.  Little hands will love to grab one of the four different colored dogs and start to draw.  Parental supervision is recommended in order to avoid the inevitable attempt at eating the crayons.