Looking For Non-Toy Stocking Ideas

My mother-in-law still fills stockings for her three grown children plus spouses...she fills it with travel sized items, plus things like chapstick, small tissues, etc... my DH uses them when he travels and I use them for when we have guests.
I love to add pencils, erasers, bookmarks, fun socks, small puzzles or travel sized games for my son. As for my DH, I add small things like sockets, or drill bits, (he is always in need of those) as well as pens and markers for his office.

socks and underware are always expected by my family...
gift cards for McDonalds....gloves and caps for the cold weather.
Annette

My husband started us on this tradition. Each year everyone gets new toothbrushes. I try and find fun ones for the kids. Maybe a character on them. Just something they WOULDN"T get from the dentist. Unless of course you have an extra cool dentist who gives out those kind of brushes ;)

my kids love to get the individual packets of different flavored cocoas/ ciders in their stockings. They are also really into mechanical pencils!

We sometimes put in a handheld game like Yahtzee. There is always nail polish, chap stick, a small Swiss army knife. Those always come in handy when opening kids toys.

Fun socks and underwear (I always got underoos!).

little books from the book store are always fun, were doing that this year. Toothbrush, or electric might be fun for kids, with cool character toothpaste. A magazine is good for adults and older kids.... I like the fun sock idea, going to steal that. We have a science shop, and they have little test tubes of science experiments.....the kids loved them last year. And candy....always a hit. Fun pens, or cool crayons are good....And our kids get cd's and dvd's in their stockings....and last year a watch.
Hope this helps, good luck!! I've got to finish up my stuffers too....great tips from the ladies.

I think gift cards are my personal favorites!

Fun Bandaids! My daughter
gets princess or Tinkerbell ones.
We gave them to her last year and
she is asking for them again this
year. I also bought Curious George
ones for my 11 month old. Love
this post. I have been looking
for more ideas too!

Chapstick, socks, thank you cards, hair clips, fun snacks (banana chips, pretzel rods w/ cheese sauce, 100% juice boxes - stuff we don't normally buy!), small craft kits from dollar bins at Michaels (paint by number, etc.), stickers, $5 gift cards to fave place for a date w/mom or dad, knit gloves, stocking hat, art supplies, lotion/bath stuff. That's all that comes to mind right now, and I suppose some of that you may consider in the toy category.... Hope it helps!

I put a special ornament that has each child's name on it to add to their collection. I also always give socks - I try to find unusual ones. I also go to World Market or I just saw at Blockbuster that they had candy in mini boxes of board games - and the candy is shaped like the game pieces - how unusual! I'm getting those even though my kids are 26,22 and 20! :)

We always put fancy chocolate bars, burts bees lip balm and the usual $1 toys in our stockings. Have also done movies, coupon books, love letters to each other in a card. I've thought it would be fun to give out a set of 12 postcards using pictures from the last year specific to the town + area we live in. They are pretty cheap to get printed. :) Love all these ideas, so glad you asked the question!

My mom always gives us a notepad,pen,chapstick,tape and stickers.That's one thing I always look forward to in the stockings.Merry Christmas!

My 7 year old is just finding an interest in cooking so I am including her own measuring spooons and cups, a few cookie cutters, kid friendly recipes (including some family favorites), and a kid sized apron. Bath foam and soap, glow sticks, and art supplies are always hits too.

Oh there are some great ideas here!!!
I picked up some clip on reading lamps for my kids - for when it is dark in the car, or when the power goes out or just for fun in their beds at night.. Both of my kids are readers.. I got one for my stocking, too...Local independent bookstore...
And both are getting a travel kit... a cute girl one, a boy one.. from Albertson's... (grocery store).
Last year - Hot Chili socks (cold weather gear), and a stuffed critter... one of those TY Beanie Babies ones you get at Hallmark.. usually the annual Christmas theme... but our Hallmark closed.. sigh..
As an aside.. Both of my kids have their own mini fake trees for their bedroom window sills... The trees always need something new! Perfect stocking stuffer...

i'm actually posting about this tomorrow.. see last year's post about it. hope it gives you some inspiration!
http://martawrites.blogspot.com/2008/12/grocery-store-stockings.html

There was a time when my kids didn't drink much soda (don't know how we got away from that habit). Anyway, we would put the round, special holiday bottles of soda in their stockings. They are also crazy for root beer, so we are always on the lookout for unusual brands that aren't available in our area.

my mom puts bandaids (in their favorite character)in the grandkids' stockings.

my Mom always put items in our stockings that went with our collections-- a Christmas ornament, a miniature or figurine, a small vintage kitchen item, etc. whatever my sisters or me collected. Or, small spice mixes, dip mixes, soup mixes, tea, whatever went with our favorites and tastes.

Santa always brought my husband's family those cute little boxes of sugary cereal (they didn't have it often). My kids still think it's really cool to find them in their stockings.