Stocking fillers and gift suggestions fill up parent groups as parents and caregivers can be stumped for ideas for the children and other family members in their lives. I’ve found as I now have children, I want less “stuff” and more experiences or even just a break/nap. But to help anyone that may be looking for their additional needs children, I’ve listed some of the “stuff” my kids have enjoyed over the years.
Stocking Fillers:
When I first started playing Santa Claus, I organised stocking fillers into the categories of “Fun, Educational, Clothing, Creative, and Treats” because I wanted each of the items to be purposeful not just entertaining for a fleeting moment and forgotten about. Since having Nasir’s Global Development Delay diagnosis, stocking fillers have become more about supporting Nasir, Rahim’s, and now Aisha’s progress with the smaller items that pad the bigger gifts we give them. It can be hit and miss as it is with gifts. Sometimes the stocking fillers go to the back of the closet until they are rediscovered and given a new life. Other times, the kids just aren’t ready for that type of toy.
Stocking Filler Staples
Here are some timeless stocking filler staples that work well for children of all ages:
Practical Staples
Socks – Fun patterns or cozy options for the colder months.
Toothbrush – Upgrade to a character-themed or electric toothbrush for excitement.
Hair Accessories – Clips, hair ties, or headbands.
Lip Balm – Kid-safe, fun flavors like strawberry or vanilla.
Bath Products – Bath bombs, bubble bars, or colorful soap.
Treat Staples
Chocolate Coins – Wrapped in gold foil for tradition.
Candy Canes – Classic peppermint or fun fruity flavors.
Mini Snacks – Small bags of popcorn, pretzels, or dried fruit.
Hot Chocolate Sachets – Add mini marshmallows for a sweet touch.
Activity Staples
Crayons or Mini Coloring Books – Endless fun for little artists.
Stickers – Themed packs based on their favorite shows or interests.
Mini Puzzles – Pocket-sized jigsaws or brain teasers.
Small Figurines – Like animals, cars, or popular characters.
Card Games – UNO, Go Fish, or a travel-sized deck of cards.
Fun and Novelty Staples
Bouncy Balls – Simple, affordable, and universally loved.
Yo-Yo – A retro classic that never gets old.
Slime or Putty – Glittery or glow-in-the-dark options are extra fun.
Keychains – Personalized or themed for bags and keys.
Glow Sticks – Perfect for instant fun.
Accessories Staples
Jewelry – Beaded bracelets or charm necklaces for younger kids.
Small Wallet or Coin Purse – For their allowance or play money.
Hats or Mittens – Holiday-themed or character-based options.
These fillers are versatile, budget-friendly, and bring joy to children year after year!
The suggestions below are mostly a HIT with my boys. These as non-gender specific but there is a lack of “girlie” things because I’ve been a boy mum for most of my mum life. Stocking fillers will get a bit more varied now that our girl is around but she is loving a lot of the items that her brothers still play with like the rubik’s snake. Rahim has been creating lots of different shapes with it. He made a transforming dinosaur for his sister.
Fine Motor Skills
Item
Type
Description
Used For
Additional Skills Supported
Water balloons
Toy, outdoor
Small balloons filled with water.
Throwing, aiming, sensory play
Gross Motor Skills, Sensory Exploration, Hand Strength, Visual-Spatial Skills
Social Skills, Executive Functioning, Emotional Regulation
Social Skills
Item
Type
Description
Used For
Additional Skills Supported
Character masks
Costume accessory
Masks for pretend play and dress-up.
Group play, imagination
Creativity, Confidence, Peer Interaction
Christmas headband/hat
Dress-up accessory
Festive headwear for celebrations.
Social gatherings, pretend play
Imaginative Play, Peer Interaction, Confidence
Temporary tattoos
Craft, decoration
Removable decorative tattoos.
Group play, personalization
Sensory Exploration, Fine Motor Skills, Self-Expression
Bubbles
Outdoor toy
Solution for blowing bubbles.
Group games, cooperative play
Sensory Exploration, Turn-Taking, Visual Tracking
Treats
Item
Type
Description
Used For
Additional Skills Supported
Popcorn
Snack, treat
Light, fluffy snack made from corn kernels.
Snack time, movie time, treats
Sensory exploration, fine motor skills (eating), social skills (sharing)
Chocolate Coins
Candy, treat
Round chocolate wrapped in foil to look like coins.
Holiday treat, special occasion
Social skills (sharing), sensory exploration, fine motor skills (unwrapping)
M&M’s
Candy, treat
Colorful, candy-coated chocolate pieces.
Snack time, treats
Sensory exploration, social skills (sharing), fine motor skills (picking up)
Gifts:
For children:
These are mainly what we’ve given to our boys over the years as well as brushing over some current interests. Now we have a daughter, we’ll be exploring her interests but so far she’s a princess loving one year old as well as taking off with whatever her brothers have.
Lots of parents opt for the “Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read” so I have organised these sections to suit the suggestions. They tick the developmental boxes as well as their interests at any given time. It’s always lovely to watch them rediscover old toys in amongst their new ones.
Something They Want
Item
Description
Suitable for
Age Range
Guitar/Ukelele
A musical instrument for learning and playing music.
Children interested in music
6+ years
Spiderman web toys
Toys related to Spiderman, including action figures and web-slinging gadgets.
Spiderman fans, active kids
4-10 years
Wooden food
Toy food items made of wood, typically for play kitchens or food-related roleplay.
Kids who love pretend play
3-8 years
Instax
Instant camera that prints photos instantly.
Photography enthusiasts
7+ years
Godzilla / King Kong toys
Action figures or collectible toys based on these iconic movie monsters.
Godzilla and King Kong fans
6+ years
Ice cream maker
A machine to make homemade ice cream or frozen desserts.
Kids who love sweets
8+ years
Sphero Mini
A small robotic ball that can be controlled through an app for fun learning activities.
Tech lovers, STEM enthusiasts
8+ years
Hot Wheels
Die-cast miniature cars that can be raced or used in various playsets.
Car enthusiasts
4-12 years
Spidey Dino Webs
Spiderman and dinosaur-themed web-slinging toys for imaginative play.
Fans of Spiderman or dinosaurs
4-10 years
Something They Need
If you’re asking why children “need” a tablet – Check out this post to find out how we’ve used a tablet to support Nasir’s development.
Item
Description
Suitable for
Age Range
Swimming gear
Swimwear designed for kids.
Children who love water activities
3-12 years
Character Backpack
A backpack featuring popular character designs.
Kids who are fans of characters
3-10 years
Tablet
A tablet for educational or entertainment purposes.
Kids, tech enthusiasts
5+ years
Tablet cover
Protective cover for tablets, often featuring designs or characters.
Kids who own tablets
5+ years
Bento box stainless steel
A compact, eco-friendly lunch box designed to hold meals.
School-aged children, lunch packers
4+ years
Character hat
Hats designed with characters from popular media.
Kids who love to dress up
3-10 years
Something to Wear
Item
Description
Suitable for
Age Range
Character pyjamas
Pajamas featuring popular characters from movies or TV shows.
Kids who enjoy themed clothing
3-10 years
Character socks
Socks with character designs, often from popular TV shows or movies.
Kids who like fun socks
3-10 years
Character swimming gear
Swimwear featuring popular characters or themes.
Kids who love swimming
3-10 years
Character clothing
Everyday clothing featuring popular characters or designs.
Character-loving kids
3-10 years
Character costume
Full costume for dressing up as a favorite character.
Kids who enjoy dress-up play
3-10 years
Unicorn necklace + unicorn hair clips
Jewelry set featuring unicorn-themed accessories.
Kids who love unicorns
4-10 years
Something to Read
Item
Description
Suitable for
Age Range
Books (e.g., Dog Man, Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Humorous and engaging books with illustrations and relatable stories for young readers.
Explore the ABCs with affirmations designed to fill your little one’s heart with positivity and self-love.
Children learning ABC’s and positive self-love
All ages
Other Family Gifts:
I hope everyone doesn’t feel the need to be impressive with what they gift as the cost of living, especially in New Zealand is crippling many households currently. Something more thoughtful and thought out, I know in my case, would be appreciated. I do my best to make sure gifting is purposeful, economic, and sustainable not something that the receiver would be too disappointed in (or hopefully not at all), useful, and good for the environment as much as I can. This can really narrow ideas down, but it does leave a lot of room for creativity. I have had handmade gifts I appreciate more than store bought gifts so I would hope that others feel the same when it comes to what my family and I present. This being said, gifts, wherever they come from, big or small, always leave room to be hit and miss.
Here are some we’ve gifted over the years. They range in price and size but have been categorised into similar groups. Hopefully they spark ideas or maybe you find something you like.
Home & Garden
Item
Description
Suitable for
Outdoor plant + setup (e.g., Midnight tomatoes)
A kit for growing tomatoes, including food for the plants.
Gardeners, anyone interested in home gardening
Vegepod
A self-watering vegetable growing system for outdoor use.
Gardeners, people interested in sustainable living
Indoor plant (e.g., Prayer plant)
An indoor plant known for its colorful leaves and low maintenance.
Indoor plant enthusiasts
Humidifier
A device that adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness.
People with dry skin, allergies, or living in dry climates
Outdoor lanterns
Decorative lanterns designed for outdoor spaces.
Gardeners, people who enjoy outdoor living
Picnic basket
A basket to carry supplies for a picnic outdoors.
Families, outdoor enthusiasts
Outdoor bean bag
A comfortable outdoor seating option for relaxing.
Anyone who enjoys outdoor relaxation
Metal bird
A bird silhouette garden decoration.
Gardeners, birdwatchers
Tech & Gadgets
Item
Description
Suitable for
Digital photo frame
A frame that displays digital photos.
Photography lovers, families
Smart Watch fitness tracker
A smartwatch designed to track fitness, heart rate, and other health metrics.
Fitness enthusiasts, tech lovers
Sphero Mini
A small robot ball for interactive play and learning.
Kids, tech lovers, STEM enthusiasts
Alexa
A voice-activated assistant for managing tasks and entertainment.
Tech-savvy individuals, smart home owners
Weather Station
A device that provides real-time weather data for your area.
Weather enthusiasts, gardeners
Instax
Instant camera that prints photos right after capturing them.
Photography lovers, families
Fashion
Item
Description
Suitable for
Death Row Records hoodie
A hoodie featuring artwork from Death Row Records, a famous label in hip-hop history.
Hip-hop fans, fashion-forward individuals
Wide Brimmed Sun hat
A fashionable sun hat providing extra coverage from the sun.
Anyone spending time outdoors, fashion lovers
Dress
A stylish dress for various occasions.
Women, fashion-conscious individuals
Unicorn necklace + unicorn hair clips
A jewelry set featuring unicorn-themed accessories.
Young girls, unicorn fans
Unicorn beadset
A bead kit to make your own unicorn-themed jewelry.
Craft enthusiasts, young girls
Hobbies & Crafts
Item
Description
Suitable for
Bracelet Making kit
A craft kit for making bracelets using beads and strings.
Craft enthusiasts, kids, jewelry makers
Ice cream maker
A machine that makes ice cream from scratch at home.
Families, food lovers, DIY enthusiasts
Painting/Print of favourite place
A custom painting or print depicting a person’s favorite location.
Art lovers, people with sentimental connections to places
Books & Media
Item
Description
Suitable for
The 50th Law
A book by Robert Greene and 50 Cent, combining philosophy and life lessons.
Adults, self-improvement readers
From crook to cook
A book by Snoop Dogg, offering recipes and life stories.
Snoop Dogg fans, aspiring chefs
Big panda tiny dragon book
A children’s book with themes of friendship and compassion.
Young readers, parents
The Subtle Art to Not Giving a F***
A self-help book by Mark Manson that challenges traditional notions of happiness.
Adults, self-improvement readers
Moana Road door mat
A door mat featuring Moana Road design, a New Zealand-based brand.
Homeowners, Moana Road fans
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, The Horse
A heartfelt illustrated book about friendship and life lessons.
Children, adults, art lovers
Home Décor
Item
Description
Suitable for
Message Lightbox
A lightbox that allows you to create customizable messages with letters.
Homeowners, people who like to personalize their space
Bosch Window Vac Solo
A vacuum designed for cleaning windows without streaks.
Homeowners, people who like cleaning gadgets
Miscellaneous
Item
Description
Suitable for
Wine Cooler set
A set of accessories for cooling and storing wine.
Wine lovers, hosts
Cast iron teapot
A teapot made of cast iron, known for retaining heat and enhancing the tea brewing process.
Tea lovers, kitchen enthusiasts
Jumbo tumbler
A large drinking cup or tumbler for beverages.
People who enjoy drinks on the go/Mums who drink unintentional cold coffees
Gaming store voucher
A voucher for shopping at game shops, an online store with a wide range of products.
Online shoppers, gift givers
Weighted Blanket
A blanket filled with materials like glass beads or plastic pellets, designed to provide calming pressure.
People with anxiety, insomnia, or seeking comfort
Stocking fillers and gifts can be more than just fun surprises; they can also be purposeful, support growth, and create lasting memories for everyone in the family. Thoughtfully chosen gifts that cater to unique interests or needs, whether for your kids or other family members, can bring extra meaning to the holiday season. From sensory toys and educational tools for the little ones to personalized items, hobbies, and home goods for adults, there’s something for everyone. Remember, gifts don’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful, a little creativity and mindfulness go a long way. Embrace the joy of giving and celebrate your family’s unique journey this festive season. Happy gifting!
Remember, the biggest gift you can give anyone is your time and love. If that’s all you can offer in any season, that’s enough. Always.
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