Stocking stuffers for kids are part of an ancient holiday tradition

Christmas stockings are a beloved holiday tradition, and as Christmas rolls around each year, and the christmas decorations appear, families are anxious to find the perfect stocking stuffers for kids. 

Although there is much lore behind the celebrated tradition, no one is entirely sure where custom originated.  In Holland, Dutch children would put out their wooden clogs on Christmas Eve for Saint Nicholas to fill with goodies.  In other countries, since children traditionally hung their socks by the fireplace to dry after washing them, Saint Nicholas would fill the socks or stockings with small gifts Christmas Eve. 

According to one Italian legend, a poor nobleman squandered his wealth and property, leaving his three daughters penniless.  On Christmas Eve, Saint Nicholas visited the peasant home and tossed three pouches of gold coins down the chimney, which landed in the drying stockings that the girls had hung by the fireplace.  This legend may have led to the practice of using gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins as Christmas stocking stuffers for kids.

German custom has is that on Christmas Eve, Saint Nicholas would fill stockings with five specific gifts, with each gift designed to stimulated one of the senses.  For example, a German child?s stocking would be filled with 1) Fruit, nuts or candy (something to taste) 2) A noise making toy (something to hear) 3) brightly colored jewelry, or colorful paints (something visually pleasing) 4) cologne, perfume or spices (something that smells good) and 5) modeling clay, soft fabrics such as velvet, or perhaps a doll with soft clothing (something nice to touch)

Regardless of lore and legends, the fact is Christmas Stockings are hung on mantles around the world on Christmas Eve.  Nothing compares to a child?s joy and excitement of discovering gifts and treasures inside of their Christmas stockings.

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Here are some ideas for traditional and contemporary stocking stuffers for kids:

• Tasty treats such as Oranges, apples, nuts, chocolate (chocolate coins, chocolate bars, etc) Christmas candy such as candy canes

• Colorful, hands on arts and crafts supplies such as Playdough, silly putty, modeling clay, bendable pipe cleaners, glow in the dark stickers, glitter, watercolor paints and paint brushes, or school supplies such as crayons, markers, fancy pens or pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers, stencils, etc.

• Small toys such as Hot Wheels cars, Barbie dolls, action figures, costume jewelry, bubbles, temporary tattoos

• Educational toys, games, or puzzles, card games such as ?go fish? or ?old maid?, puzzles such as Rubix Cubes, computer or video games

• Books such as story books, books of poems or limericks, comic books, fun workbooks such as Mad Libs, coloring books and even book marks

• Sports and action oriented toys or games, such as jump ropes, yoyos, bouncy balls, baseballs, Frisbees, boomerangs, bean bags and Hackey sacks and even colorful flashlights.

• Seasonal clothing, such as hats, mittens, scarves, gloves, earmuffs, wool socks, packages of foot-warmers or handwarmers, Chapstick, small packages of Kleenex tissues.

• Small accessories and jewelry, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, wrist watches, cufflinks, buttons, sunglasses, key chains,

• Health and beauty products such as tooth paste, toothbrushes, floss, shampoos and conditioners, hairbrush, lip sticks, shaving creams, colognes, perfumes, make up, lotion, etc.

Whether your family opens stockings on Christmas Eve, Christmas or Epiphany, there is nothing more exciting than shopping for stocking suffers for kids, and certain nothing more joyful or rewarding than watching a child?s face brighten as they discover their stocking brimming with treasures.