Top Ten Gift Ideas for Children's Stocking Stuffers

Santa Claus comes to every house! He leaves wonderful gifts under the tree. Fun gifts, amazing gifts, and luxury gifts. HOWEVER....there comes a time when "Santa" needs the help of his "Parent Partner". With all the wonderful gifts they get, there comes a time when practicality comes to the surface and needs to be accomodated! BUT... Santa still says it has to be fun and enjoyable! Just because it is practical and useful, doesn't mean it has to be boring!

Here are 10 gift ideas for a child's stocking.

1. A certificate saying "Give this certificate to Mom/Dad. It is good for one week of NO KITCHEN DUTY. Love, Santa". Use any chore your child does! Boy, if Santa can get you out of kitchen duty what kid wouldn't love it!

2. Gift Certificates to their favorite food place. Since most kid's meals are under $5, get either $1 or $5 coupons so that they can also learn to count their money and plan their expenses so they can know how much they can get for their available money!

3. Tickets to a movie... WITH YOU. Or with someone else - grand parent or aunt/uncle. What a fun outing Santa created!

4. New school supplies - by now the crayons and pencils are on their last leads so a new box of colorful crayons and some pencils with fun decorations on them are just what Santa ordered! It will put the kids in a "good mood" when they return to school.

5. Single serving lunch snacks. There is a large variety of these kinds of snacks at the grocery stores and discount centers. Get some fun and unusual ones for the stockings. Cheese and crackers, bag of nuts, peanut butter and crackers, granola bars, cups of trail mix...the list goes on! Healthy, fun, edible - and from Santa - doesn't get much better than that!

6. New toothpaste and tooth brush. Don't laugh, think for a minute... With all the holiday eating and treats from the last 6 weeks, the kids are sure to be low on these necessities. But don't just get any tub of toothpaste. There are alot out there that are fun and totally kid-friendly. I just bought my 6 year old grand daughter a tub of Aqua Fresh, bubble gum flavor, anti-cavity, Dr, Seuss toothpaste. And since she likes the flavor, she tends to brush longer without "encouragement" from me! And have Santa throw in a new "character" tooth brush. Brush with a friend!

7. A "phone card" for extra phone minutes using the home phone. Is your family on a time limit for using the telephone? Have Santa bring good cheer with a home phone card for additional minutes on the telephone. "Good for 10 minutes on the telephone at any time you want". It will also teach them about "allocation of funds" which will be a great lesson for later years!

8. What girl doesn't like hair accessories! There are so many out there you can pick and choose all day long. Pass by the old covered rubber bands and head bands. Check out the lacey, frilly bands and the velor covered head bands. Mrs. Santa says that sequins, feathers and rhinestones decorate todays fashions, so choose fun, crazy, wild or flouncey - any little girl will love them!

9. All kids have a favorite meal. Let Mrs. Santa include in the stocking the ingredients needed for the child to make their own favorite meal - with instructions to have Mom or Dad teach them how! Not only do they get their favorite meal but they are learning to cook - the fun way! What a way to start them out on the education of home life!

10. How many times have you heard,"Mom, do I have to go to bed NOW? Can't I stay up a little later?" Well, Santa says yes...one time. He will put a voucher in the stocking stating,"This voucher good for one "stay up late" night on any night you don't have school the next day. Love Santa". (You can allow Santa to leave 2 or 3 of these vouchers if you like!) It can help the kids learn to allocate their time and not "waste" a "stay up late night", but save it for a special night.

For more ideas, just think like a kid! Remember back when you were a kid and what you would have liked to have gotten in the way of "freedom" at home or little specialities and treats. Be careful, don't go over board - there's always next Christmas!

© 2006 Frugal Money Saving Ideas