I don’t know about you I find Christmas tricky for my preschoolers. We have three children so there are already loads of toys around and I don’t just want to buy them junk… here are some ideas for stocking stuffers for preschoolers that might inspire you without breaking the bank! These ideas are best for the 3+ crowd and would also work for many school-aged children.
Craft kits or craft supplies
I don’t know a child who doesn’t like craft and it can be a simple way to fill in an afternoon. Craft supplies also get used up so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to keep them for very long! I’ve taken to buying craft kits for my children’s friend’s birthdays and I reckon they work well for Christmas as well. Finding craft kits for boys can be slightly trickier but they’re around… These Mosiac kits are around $7 and come in a range of images for both girls and boys.
You don’t need to buy kits, though. Just pop into your local Warehouse or $2 store and you’ll be amazed at what you can find.
Bubbles
Another great activity on a sunny afternoon is bubble blowing. From the cheap and cheerful, to the full-noise-action, you can find bubble blowers for any age or stage. If you want something exciting, check out the range of bubble blowers available from iQ Toys.
You can also make bubble mixture easily at home. Check out this post that also explains some of the science behind bubbles.
Gardening gear
Christmas is a great time for gardening and it’s a wonderful activity to do with your children. Garden tools for children (or just normal ones!) are available from garden stores and you can get cute little mini tools like these ones, which are perfect for little hands.
Gardening is a great way to help your children learn about where their food comes from and can also be a fun time to talk about bugs and insects. There are loads of New Zealand books for children that tell you all about what’s in your garden.
Camping / outdoors gear
Whether or not you are a ‘great outdoors’ kind of family, kids love camping gear. Our kids have little camping lanterns by their beds at night and think that their camping chairs are about the best things ever. Every camping store in the country is having a sale right now and you’re bound to find some bargains. How about an orienteering compass or adventure pack?
Musical instruments
If you have steady nerves, you might like to consider musical instruments. There are lots of different children’s sized instruments available and beginners’ ukeleles and recorders are pretty cheap. The lady in the music store also suggested that harmonicas are a great first instrument for children and you can often find these for around $10… but I’m not sure that I am quite bold enough for that!!
So there you go! Five great stocking stuffer ideas for preschoolers. Cheap and fun for everyone! Do you have other ideas? Would love to hear them! Just add them in the comments below…
