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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 October 4, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Stocking stuffers $10 and under
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.”
Glittery pens for filling out the above Mad Libs — and more. (My kids love drawing with all the fun art supplies Ooly makes.)
If they prefer something they can erase, 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 20 press-on nails that don’t require glue and are easy to remove.
These moon- and star-shaped window stickers cast prismatic rainbows all over a room.
And a string of fairy lights to go complement them at night.
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.)
A set of temporary tattoos for the monster-truck fanatic.
Strategist senior editor Winnie 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.” Our senior editor, Jen 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 space-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.
The more developed artist will appreciate these fine-lined markers that are watermelon, orange, and marshmallow scented.
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.”
A finger skateboard is surprisingly entertaining. When my son was younger, he’d launch it up and down the slide at the playground.
Kids will play with a Rubik’s cube for hours — even if they never end up solving it.
Stocking stuffers $15 and under
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.
If you didn’t get a chance to try out these self-sealing, reusable silicone “water balloons” this summer, they transition rather seamlessly into bath toys as well.
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.
This set of four books by Maurice Sendak is truly tiny, each volume measuring around 3-by-4 inches.
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.
Even more adorable is this eggplant bag charm, a genre of accessory that’s all the rage among tween girls.
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.
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.
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.
