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It doesn’t take much to delight a child — especially when it comes to stocking stuffers, where a little can go a long way. But whether you’re shopping for your 5-year-old nephew, your best friend’s newborn, your own kid — or three — finding those doodads and trinkets, even if they’re small, can be tricky. To help you fill your shopping cart in one fell swoop, I’ve rounded up a bunch of toys, books, and other goodies (many of which were personally recommended — and vetted — by Strategist editors and writers who happen to be parents) for the little ones in your life. To make things even easier, they all cost less than $20, and most things are available from Amazon (but some are from elsewhere for those who like to shop around).
I’ve made sure that everything on this list is truly stocking-size. Some toys might come in larger packaging, so I suggest taking them out and wrapping them individually or dividing them among your little recipients. For more — and bigger — gifts for youngsters, check out our guide to this year’s hottest gifts for kids as well as our roundups of gifts for kids of all ages. And for everyone else, here’s our holiday-gift-guide hub where you’ll find all of our best ideas in one place.
Update on December 15, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Stocking stuffers $10 and under
This mini-Spirograph is perfectly sized for stockings — and holiday travel.
This three-in-one Lego space-shuttle set can be turned into an astronaut and a spaceship. Says New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff, “It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Best $10 I’ve ever spent.”
If they want to take their hairstyling skills to the next level, Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang recommends this mini illustrated guide that her daughter is currently going through.
Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio always includes “an interesting piece of fruit” in her kids’ stockings — as well as some of their favorite gummy candies, like these mango-flavored ones that you can actually peel.
Swerdloff loves these buildable gummy candy blocks from the same brand.
These holiday-themed “smencils” are scented with five different flavors like gingerbread, candy cane, and mint cocoa.
Novelty lip balms are always a hit, according to multiple Strategist editors. I’m partial to this trio of Coca Cola– and Sprite-themed Lip Smackers.
If they’re always begging for a manicure, this set includes 26 press-on nails and sticker nail art that don’t require glue and are easy to remove.
I love everything eeBoo makes. These days, my baseball-obsessed kindergartener can’t get enough of this card game that simulates a real ball game.
Eva Chen and her kids love playing this card-game version of Monopoly — especially because you can easily take it anywhere. (She calls it a mix between Monopoly and Uno.)
Yang says a pad of rainbow scratch paper is always a hit.
Mesmerize your kiddo with this wood Jacob’s Ladder toy that will surely keep them occupied — at least until it’s time to unwrap the next gift.
Kids, apparently, love fart noises. It’s for this reason that play therapist Joseph Sacks says Flarp! is a (sometimes noisy) putty toy that “they’ll spend 45 minutes playing with.” He adds that “it’s cool, slimy, and they can make anything they want out of it.”
“A huge array of washi tape is really a great gift,” says Swerdloff, “and most importantly doesn’t destroy your house.” Trolio agrees: “My kids go through a ton, for all kinds of different uses.” Get them in a bunch of patterns, like this set that comes with 21 rolls.
Yo-yos are always fun and timeless, but add LED lights and you’ve got a really good time on your hands.
According to experts, tweens love anything mini and collectible, like these blind sets from Miniverse that come with tiny kits that let kids make their own resin cakes, sprinkles, and more. Try a couple because you never know what’s going to be inside.
Fun bandages like these unicorn-themed ones from Welly make ouchies feel instantly better. As a bonus: The tin box can double as a knickknack holder when it’s empty.
Kids love these little animal erasers that are like puzzles they can put together and take apart.
Yang loves these tiny puzzles from Mudpuppy that are available in dozens of different animals.
It doesn’t get more classic than a Slinky. This one is jumbo-size for double the fun.
Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone just got her second pack of these erasable bath crayons that she says “extended bathtime by at least ten minutes.”
We love this stocking-stuffer-size version of one of our favorite toys for 3-year-olds (though this one has smaller parts and is meant for kids 5 and older). Put together these hashtaglike shapes to create a narwhal.
You can’t go wrong with a lifelike animal figurine — like this three-inch baby rhino from Schleich, a German company that has been hand-painting its toys since 1935. The level of detail on this particular animal is impressive, even for Schleich.
Swerdloff says her kids recently got their hands on one of these squishy toys that sticks out its tongue when squeezed, “and it’s persisted as a funny little thing they play with.”
Kids will play with a Rubik’s cube for hours — even if they never end up solving it.
Bead kits are a huge hit among Trolio’s kids, “especially in this Eras moment.” This compact set comes with six key rings and enough beads to make 10 different pets.
Stocking stuffers $15 and under
My baseball-obsessed 5-year-old has been begging us for some Big League Chew gum, which I will be adding to his stocking.
Here’s a mini holiday-themed LEGO they can build in a couple of minutes.
This set includes five mini Barbies — we’re talking 1.5 inches tall — the perfect size for stockings.
My kids love drawing with all the fun art supplies Ooly makes, including these nice and thick paint markers.
Or try these fine-lined markers that are watermelon, orange, and marshmallow-scented.
A finger skateboard is surprisingly entertaining. When my son was younger, he’d launch it up and down the slide at the playground.
And a string of fairy lights to go complement them at night.
Try these adorable star-shaped pimple patches for the tween in your life.
Here’s a portable magnetic dress-up kit that a budding fashion designer would love.
Trolio’s daughter recently asked for this fidget cube, which has a different type of button on every surface that she says is “satisfying to play with but not 100 percent quiet.”
Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says her 3-year-old niece loves everything from Super Smalls, a jewelry brand for kids. This booklet comes with a bunch of jewels your kiddo can put on their faces (or on paper).
For the entomologist in training, this magnifying glass humanely catches bugs for observation. Afterward, simply release it outside.
This set of four books by Maurice Sendak is truly tiny, each volume measuring around three-by-four inches.
This new game from PopSockets takes fidget toys to the next level. According to the brand, it’s like a “magnetic skate park for your thumbs” — on a keychain.
Stocking stuffers $20 and under
Phaidon’s collection of children’s books is quite lovely. I love this slim board book about space that conveniently slips into a (large) stocking.
For the DIYer-in-training, here’s a handy tape measure that comes with an angle finder and level and a retractable “tongue.” My kids love this thing.
This three-inch-tall LEGO key chain has LED lights in its feet.
These chip-shaped snack-bag clips are sure to delight.
Squishmallows aren’t going anywhere. This mini set comes with six two-inch ocean-themed plushies.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
