I hope it's ok to put this here. I always get stumped every year on what to stuff the stockings with.

I have kids who range in age from 1 year to 17 years old.

I'm thinking candy of course, but it's hard to remember what I did last year and the year before.

If this is not ok then delete or move it.

Thanks for any help.

[sunrise]

I was thinking recently that I was going to get each of my kids (teens and young adults) one of the smaller-sized, colorful steel water bottles that are used a lot now instead of plastic water bottles. They should fit in a stocking (and take up a lot of space so that makes less room for me to have to fill ). I am back in school now, and all the kids have them. I have two myself but they are the large size and I think a smaller one would be handy.

I almost always put a pair of socks in the stockings. And a tangerine.

Would love to hear other's ideas.

Oh, I love the water bottle idea. And the socks too. Thanks.

[shezbut]

Crayons and a Fun Pad are always good stocking stuffers. Older kids, I would probably do word search puzzle books. Those things are always fun!

I also like to put in fruit, nuts, stickers, and some candies. This year, I bought some Brach candies to be a little different. Certainly not "usual" candies for them to eat.

LOL, sunrise, my parents always put an orange or tangerine in my stocking when I was a kid!

[kitty004567]

I love the Target dollar section for stockings. I've given flashlights (both keychain and small maglights) aways useful. Stickers for younger ones. My parents used to put several smaller items in our stockings and fill the rest of them with nuts (in the shell) instead of candy or something. Much healthier.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by kitty004567

I've given flashlights (both keychain and small maglights) aways useful.

I like the flashlight idea. Those automatically retractable measuring tapes (for the older "children") are handy too (from the tool section at the store). Last year I put a small stapler in my college age daughter's stocking and she says she uses it all the time.

[Mia2010]

Nail polishes, polish removers, emery boards, clippers, little makeup things, ( the flashlight idea sounds cool ) , candies, candy canes, key chain,

im 17, and these are a few things i love getting in my stocking. Its fun when its got small things in it cause theres so much stuff.. it doesnt matter how expensive the stuff is its just fun waking up to your stoking when its stuffed with cute little things

Hope this heped

By the way, no matter what you put in the stockings im sure your kids will love them

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

[Radien]

earbud headphones, i know my mom got a pair with a year warranty for my sister for less then 20 which is useful since she seems to blow them out every month. Lip Balm is also a good idea and my parents used to put silly putty in mine when I was little.
It is usually the random little things in my stocking that I end up loving the most, so going to a dollar section or somewhere like that and just picking some cute things could make for amazing stocking stuffers your children will love.

[SunnyD]

One thing I did before we had so many grand kids was to wrap all the stocking stuffers. The kids enjoyed unwrapping them and it held them off til after breakfast.

[Skully]

How about an iPod...if they don't already have that.

[hayward]

I've always added art supplies, good for any age. Dollar stores are good for this. Glue sticks, fancy markers/pens. Kids LOVE tape and think it's so cool to have their own to waste. Fancy pencils, erasers, cool rules or stencils. Clay/playdough.

And bookmarks.