You know what they say about good things…they can be crammed into a stocking with lots of other good things!
Here are 27 ideas for small-in-stature gifts for kids that are inexpensive, too. All of them are under $20 and twenty-one are under $10—with eleven gifts for just $5 or less!
Happy shopping!
Under $20
1. Bicycle Bell
Pimp your child’s ride with a cool bicycle bell like this Nutcase bullseye bike bell. $15.99 at Raspberry Kids
2. Areaware Micro Cubebot
This beechwood robot folds into a 1.5×1.5 inch cube. No batteries required! $10.95 at Rolo Store
3. Magnetic Putty
Aaron’s Thinking Putty is regular putty with a twist. Be amazed as this putty defies gravity due to magnetic forces. (Magnet included.) $17.99 at Treasure Island Toys
4. Slanguage Cards
Make learning a new language fun with these quirky pronunciation flash cards. $13.95 at Rolo Store
5. Reusable Name Labels
Kids can label all their stuff for school or just to claim it so their sister doesn’t touch it. These Emily Press labels are reusable, so you won’t have to scrape them off a school textbook at year’s end! $19.95 for 80 at Emily Press Labels
6. Toy Train Engines
Whether you’re a Thomas or Brio family, new train engines are always a hit and will set you back in the $12–$18 range. $16.99 shown at Mastermind Toys
Under $10
7. Bath Crayons
Make bathtime fun with these tub crayons. $7.95 at Indigo
8. Living Royal Socks
Liven up your child’s sock collection with these photo realistic socks. $6.99 at Mastermind Toys
9. Juggling Balls
Don’t you wish you’d learned to juggle back when you had the time? Occupy kids away from a screen with these juggling balls. $6.99 at Treasure Island Toys
10. Skip-Bo Card Game
Another diversion from the boob tube or iPad, Skip-Bo is a classic game that kids and adults can play together. $9.93 at WalMart
11. Kids’ Cutlery
Sugar Booger silverware sets are perfect for little hands. Older kids might get a kick out of Fred Chopstick Kids ($8.99) instead. $8.95 at Ore Originals
12. Hohner Blues Band Harmonica
This starter instrument is fun and compact and much, much less annoying than a kazoo! $7.99 at Long and McQuade
13. Animal Toothbrush Cover
The perfect gift to prep for an upcoming slumber party or overnight trip to Grandma’s house. $6 at Urban Outfitters
14. Non-Toxic Nail Polish
The worry-free way to decorate their nails, Suncoat is a non-toxic brand that has a Suncoat Girl line (with sparkles!) especially for kids. $7.99 at Suncoat Products (also available at health-food stores)
15. Let’s Hang Zipper Pulls
Kidrobot is known for its selection of everything weird and wonderful in toys, and these zipper pulls are no exception. The other kids at school won’t have these! $6 at Magic Pony
16. Kids’ Hand-Crank Flashlight
Not only is this hand-crank, battery-free flashlight kid-sized, kid-safe, and environmentally friendly, it’s handy to have for when the power goes out and your own flashlight’s batteries have died! $5.99 at Ikea
Under $5
17. Mini-Figures
Kids can always use more mini-figs for their Minecraft, Lego, or Playmobil sets. $3.99 as shown at the Lego Store
18. Temporary Tattoos
Kids can’t get enough of temporary tattoos. These panda temporary tats, by a Toronto designer, are as cool for young kids as they are for tweens. $5 at Me Hoi
19. Stickers
Any toy store, bookstore or dollar store has a selection of stickers. These image-change donut stickers are just one cool option we’ve found. $2.99 at Mastermind Toys
20. Barrettes and Bows
Tame your child’s mane with cute hair accessories like this handmade Hello Kitty–inspired clip from a Vancouver-based crafter. $4 at Etsy
21. Seedling Trick Glider
Try to fly these neat little gliders in a straight line—you’ll never have so much fun failing. $1.50 at Kol Kid
22. Kids’ Band-Aids
How’s this for a last-minute gift? Make boo-boos better with kids’ own collection of bandages. We love these Muppet Band-Aids for nostalgia’s sake. $4.99 at Well.ca (also available at drugstores)
23. Whoopee Cushion
Hours of fun. For the kids, at least! Just watch where you sit for the next month or two. (Don’t say we didn’t warn you.) $2.99 at Party City
24. Hand Helicopter
A simple, classic toy that’s as fun as it was when your parents were kids. Locally and sustainably made. $1.99 at The 100-Mile Child
25. Koosh Ball
Remember these? We have no idea why this rubber toy that was all the rage in the eighties is still such a hit with kids. Don’t overthink it—just be thankful it doesn’t require batteries or make noise. $4.99 at Sensory Kids
26. Schleich Animal Figures
The realistic-looking animals in this ever-expanding line of collectibles are of excellent quality and fun to play with, as well as a good way to learn about the natural world. $3.99 as shown at Schleich online
27. Frog Prince Soft Toy
Give and give some more with this plush toy inspired by the Frog Prince tale. For every toy sold, the IKEA Foundation donates 1 euro to children’s education programs. $4.99 at Ikea
Read more:
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