Gift guide · 12 ideas
Stocking stuffers for kids
Small presents that keep them busy all through winter break, rather than plastic that breaks before Christmas dinner.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
A kid’s stocking is easy to fill and hard to fill well. Multipack toys tend to break by lunchtime; the stocking stuffers that last give them something to do: a walkie-talkie mission in the backyard, a bug under the microscope, a rock to paint and hide.
These suit roughly ages 4 to 10, and each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists. A few say 6 and up on the box, the walkie-talkies and the rock painting kit among them, so check the age on anything for a younger child, especially where there are small parts or batteries.
Walkie-talkies
Backyard missions, messages from the treehouse and secret codes after lights out: a pair of walkie-talkies gets played with long after the other presents. Expect the first mission before breakfast.
Retevis RT628 Kids’ Walkie-Talkies (2-pack)
$20–$30
A simple pair for younger children: switch on and talk, with hands-free VOX, eight volume levels and a keypad lock so a game isn’t cut short by a channel change. At 3.5 oz each, with rounded edges, they clip to a collar or a backpack strap and stay put when kids run and climb.
What owners say: Parents find them easy for children to pick up, with clear sound and plenty of range for outdoor play, and say the kids keep at them for hours; a few had an antenna snap off in a fall, and opinions on battery life vary.
A closer look: Each radio takes three AA batteries, which aren’t in the box, so a set of rechargeable AAs and a charger keeps them going between games. For hide-and-seek, switch the hands-free VOX off, or every giggle goes out over the air and gives the hiding place away.
- Pack of two radios
- Hands-free talking mode
- 3.5 oz each, rounded edges
Heads up: Retevis gives the range as up to 1 km, about 0.6 mile, so these suit the backyard, the park and the campground rather than long hikes.
View on Amazon See our top 5 walkie-talkies →A handheld microscope
Curious kids bring every bug and pebble indoors, and with a screen instead of an eyepiece they can take a closer look on their own, even the youngest.
BMDSAE Handheld Digital Microscope for Kids (2in screen)
$20–$30
Oversized focus dials made for small fingers, and a 2MP camera that saves 200-plus photos or videos. Point it at a leaf, a ladybug or a fingerprint and it’s up on the screen.
What owners say: First-graders can work it on their own, and the detail it shows on everyday objects turns science into fun. It works straight out of the box.
A closer look: Start at the lowest zoom and bring it slowly closer: most blurry pictures are just too close. Turn the LEDs down for shiny things like coins, where full brightness causes glare, and plug it into a laptop to turn the photos into a ready-made school project.
- Up to 1000x magnification
- Saves 200+ photos
- Oversized focus dials
A glow-in-the-dark rock painting kit
Painted rocks to hide around the park for other kids to find, a craze that began on Cape Cod in 2015 with a few message rocks left on a beach. Painting fills a wintry afternoon, and the hiding waits for a dry day.
JOYIN Glow-in-the-Dark Rock Painting Kit
$10–$20
Smooth rocks, three kinds of paint (standard, metallic and glow-in-the-dark), two brushes and transfer stickers for turning pebbles into creatures, patterns or kindness rocks to hide around the park. The glow paint makes a nighttime rock hunt in the backyard a real adventure.
What owners say: Plenty of nice rocks and paint that suits them make it easy to get going, and it holds children’s attention for a long time. The glow is the mixed part: bright for some, disappointing for others.
A closer look: Hold the glow-painted rocks close to a bright light for half a minute or so before lights out; the longer they charge, the brighter they shine. A coat of clear varnish helps rocks that live outdoors last longer.
- Ages 6 to 12
- Glow, metallic and color paints
- Transfer stickers included
Kids’ headphones
For the long drive to Grandma’s or the flight home after Christmas. A volume limit looks after their ears while the car stays quiet.
Botesty Sound BS01 Kids Wireless Headphones with LED Lights (blue)
$10–$20
Two volume limits, 85dBA for every day and 94dBA for planes and road trips, soft memory-foam cushions on ear cups that swivel to fit, and up to 85 hours of play with the lights off. A cable in the box keeps them going if the battery does run down.
What owners say: The Bluetooth connection holds steady, the sound is good and a charge can last for days. They also survive being banged around, which counts for a lot with children.
A closer look: Ten minutes on a USB-C charger gives over nine hours of play, which helps when they turn up dead on the morning of a flight. The lights cut the battery to about 20 hours, so switch them off for long trips and keep 94dBA for the plane.
- Volume limit 85 or 94dBA
- Plays up to 85 hours
- Swivel memory-foam ear cups
A star projector
Bedtime goes better with a slow-moving galaxy on the ceiling, and a timer switches it off once they’re asleep, which helps on the overexcited nights around Christmas.
Mooyran Astronaut Galaxy Star Projector
$30–$50
A little white astronaut whose helmet throws eight nebula effects and breathing green stars across the ceiling. The head sits on a magnet, so it can tilt toward the ceiling or a wall, and the arm and moon base pose like a figure on a shelf.
What owners say: Owners like how it looks on a shelf and how well the colors and brightness fill a kid’s room, though some had one stop working and others found the remote confusing.
A closer look: It comes with a USB cable but no wall plug or remote battery, so keep a spare phone charger by the bed. Turned right down with the 45-minute timer set, it makes a gentle night light for children who don’t like the dark.
- 8 nebula effects, green stars
- 45 or 90-minute timer
- Magnetic head tilts to aim
Beaded jump ropes
Jump rope is a recess staple, and with their own rope they can practice on the driveway over winter break, ready to show off when school starts again.
Leeboom Soft Beaded Jump Ropes (3-pack)
Under $10
Three soft beaded ropes in green, pink and blue, so siblings or friends can jump together. The beads keep the rope’s shape as it swings and click on the ground, which helps children learn the rhythm, and it doesn’t tangle.
What owners say: Parents find the soft beads don’t break and the length is quick to change between heights, so children pick up jumping easily; beginners and adults use them too. The three colors go down well.
A closer look: Adjust each rope so the handles reach the armpits when the child stands on the middle, and it’ll suit them as they grow. The soft beads are gentle if a rope catches a leg, and their click on a sidewalk or gym floor helps keep the count.
- Soft beads on nylon cord
- 9.2 ft, adjustable
- Three ropes: green, pink, blue
A light pad for tracing
A kid who draws all day can trace a favorite character, then try one of their own. It keeps them happily busy at the table while Christmas dinner cooks.
HSK A4 LED Tracing Light Pad
$10–$20
A thin, aluminum-framed pad that lights the page evenly at up to 6,000 lux, with up and down buttons for the brightness and a lock that stops a stray elbow changing it mid-trace.
What owners say: Both diamond painters and vinyl weeders rely on it, and the five brightness levels that lock in place get a special mention. Its light weight and roomy surface, big enough for photo projects, win praise too.
A closer look: To lock the brightness, hold the up and down buttons together for three seconds until the light flashes once; the same again unlocks it. It comes with a USB cable but no plug, so it runs from a laptop or any USB phone charger.
- 13 x 9 in pad
- Dims, with a lock button
- Lights the page evenly
A bell for their bike
A small upgrade for last year’s bike, or the new one waiting under the tree. Fitting it together on Christmas morning is half the fun.
ROCKBROS Loud Classic Bike Bell
$10–$20
A brass dome over an internal striker gives this bell a pleasant, sustained ding that people nearby can hear, and the brass build is sturdy. Two anti-skid pads fit it to bars from 22.2 to 31.8mm, on either side of the bar.
What owners say: Owners describe a loud, pleasant ring that cuts through background noise, and like the sturdy lever, the classy look and the shims that let it sit snugly on different bars.
A closer look: Measure the bar where the bell will go: beside the grip most flat bars are 22.2mm, and the bars thicken toward the stem. Choose whichever pad gives a snug fit, tighten the screw with the hex key in the box, and turn the bell until the lever sits right under the thumb.
- Brass dome, nylon base
- Fits 22.2–31.8mm handlebars
- Rings a long, sustained ding
A ping pong set for any table
A net that clamps onto the kitchen table turns a slow afternoon of winter break into a family tournament.
FBSPORT Ping Pong Set with Retractable Net
$10–$20
A net that pulls out to 5.25 feet and clamps onto almost any table up to 1.8 inches thick, plus two paddles and six balls, so the dining table or a picnic table becomes a ping pong table in a minute.
What owners say: Fun for all ages and quick to clamp onto a dining table, it fits most surfaces. The net divides people: some say it stays put, others find the tension weak or parts wearing out within weeks.
A closer look: The net clamps on at each side and winds back in at the press of a trigger when the game’s over. It’s a set for casual games on the kitchen table or a picnic table rather than serious rallies, and the carry bag keeps paddles, balls and net together.
- 2 paddles, 6 balls, net
- Carry bag included
- Net extends to 5.25 ft
Binoculars
Planes going over, a hawk on a fence post, the far end of the ballpark: a pair of their own turns every walk and car ride into a game of spotting.
Hontry 10x25 Compact Binoculars
$20–$30
Palm-sized at about 9.6 oz, and the eyepieces close up narrow enough to fit a child’s face as well as an adult’s, so the whole family can share them on walks.
What owners say: Small enough for a pocket on hikes, they give crystal clear views that hold up in low light and work fine with eyeglasses, and birdwatchers rate them highly.
A closer look: Keep them in the car’s glove box for walks and day trips: small binoculars that are always there get far more use than big ones left at home. Fold the barrels until a child sees one round picture, not two, and they’re set up for them.
- 10x magnification, compact size
- Water-repellent body
- Weighs about 9.6 oz
Heads up: They’re splash-resistant rather than waterproof, so keep them in the bag when the rain sets in.
View on Amazon See our top 5 binoculars →A snap-together circuit kit
For the kid who takes everything apart to see how it works, here’s something they’re meant to take apart and build again and again over the holidays.
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Kit (100+ projects)
$30–$50
Numbered, color-coded parts snap onto a plastic grid to make more than 100 working projects, from a flying saucer that lifts off the base to alarms, lights and sound effects, with no soldering or tools. The full-color manual starts simple, so many children can build the first circuits on their own.
What owners say: Instructions are easy to follow, and children can build the first projects right away with no help. It holds their interest well, so the learning keeps going.
A closer look: It needs two AA batteries, which aren’t in the box, so buy them with it. The parts work with Elenco’s bigger Snap Circuits sets, so a child who gets hooked can add one later rather than starting again.
- Over 100 projects
- Ages 8 and up
- No soldering or tools
A kids’ camera
A camera of their own means Christmas Day photographed from three feet up: the dog, the tree and a lot of grown-ups’ knees. They’ll want to show you every shot.
ARNSSIEN Kids Camera with Flip Lens (toddlers)
$10–$20
The lens flips through 180° for selfies, a 2.4 in screen frames the shot, and the storage card comes already fitted, so it works straight out of the box. Ten puzzle games, 31 frames and a real speaker for stories and songs loaded onto the card.
What owners say: Owners say it’s just right for toddlers, with clear enough pictures and games that keep them busy, and one is still going after a year; battery life gets mixed reports.
A closer look: Leave the card in: it’s already fitted, and the card reader in the box moves the photos across. Load a few songs or stories onto the card and the speaker turns it into a car-trip entertainer, and do as the maker suggests and set the date and time on the first day.
- 2.4 in screen
- Memory card pre-installed
- 180° flip lens for selfies
Filling a kid’s stocking
- Put the thing they can play with right away at the top. It buys you an extra half hour in bed.
- Get the batteries now: the walkie-talkies take AAs, and anything rechargeable is worth charging before it’s wrapped.
- Mix something for outside, something to make and something for bedtime, and winter break is covered.
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
Not quite right? Our gift finder picks from all our lists.
Try the gift finder
