Looking For Non-Toy Stocking Ideas

Ithink this is a fabulous idea.. I am so doing this!

My parents put mini-puzzles in our stockings once. All present-opening was thoroughly trashed for a few minutes while we adult siblings madly raced to see who could finish our puzzle first, LOL.

Homemade gift certificates for things like "read a story together" "build legos together" "ice cream trip with Dad by yourself"

hehe... well my husband's deployed this year, so he's getting boot laces, Starbucks VIA instant coffee {which apparently tastes even better than the real thing!}, and hydration tablets :) also, I'm giving my dad chem lights {essentially Army glow sticks}, dad uses them to mark his tent ties when camping, but apparently they're big hits with kids too {the lady at the checkout said she always gives them to her kids!}

How about marbles or games or a cookbook for kids?

Toothbrushes! Santa cares a lot about dental hygiene! Toothbrushes end up in the Easter baskets too.

chapstick, hand cream, travel sizes of stuff, toothbrush, socks, lottery tickets, emery boards, nailpolish, ornaments

We always got a new toothbrush and toothpaste, and when we got older deodorant. socks even. Now when my sister got married she did the same thing and her husband was offended and thought that she meant he didn't have good hygiene :) I do the same thing for my kids and they love getting a new toothbrush. it helps to fill it up and so do socks (fun socks)

I am stuffing my kids stockings with toothbrushes, hot choco mix, hair accessories for my little girl and a train pencil sharpener for my little boy!

I always added some practical stuff to the stockings as well as the fun goodies. A new toothbrush, some chapstick, sock or underwear, new pens or highlighters, batteries for electronic gizmos...the sky's the limit (well, I suppose the size of the stocking is a limit, too!!). When my kids were very small, I read the Little House series for the first time, so I began putting a penny and an orange in as well. Although it was a little silly as they got older, they would have felt cheated without those two items.

Tangerine for the toe, banana next, package of socks(always 1/2 off on black friday), starsbucks giftcard or one pot coffee package, 2 candies, package of cocoa for underage or a mini liquor bottle for over 21, and a gadget/tool/girlie item as appropriate. Love the thank you note idea too... but the list is tried and true with my family for the last 26 years!

I just made a personalized engraved bookmark for my husband. Went to my local Sears engraving service. I actually used a metal luggage plate they had and am using it as bookmark. It only cost $8 and looks great.
I also made a name plate for his office desk but had a quote printed on it.
Idea for a child: my plan is to make a custom glass ball photo ornament for each year. We started with an Ultrasound photo this year (32 weeks pregnant right now!). That way our child will have a collection of photo ornaments documenting his/her growing up years when he/she leaves the house.
Merry Christmas everyone.

Lots of good ideas-
I was thinking of doing a gift certificate to McDonalds or other place for lunch.
Also, my daughter received two Visa gift cards for her birthday this year and she thought they were so cool! She had a lot of fun using them- you know, they are kinda like a debit/credit card so they sign the back and sign for their purchases. It was neat.

Mini torches, fun and useful.

Since I was a kid, we always received a new toothbrush in our stockings -- when my kids were little I included the fun "character" tubes of toothpaste. Any batteries needed for new toys were put in the stockings too. Another quick easy filler is the small travel sizes of lotion, shampoo, mouthwash. Kids can take them on sleepovers or just use them at home - they seem to think it's fun to have a mini bottle of mouthwash to use. :) Pens and pencils for school, glow sticks for campouts and lots of those little parachute men. :) Have fun shopping!! :)

A few times, when my children were younger, say 4 to 7 or 8, Santa put a box of bandaids in their stockings. I'm sure my children aren't the only ones who LOVED to "play" with bandaids. Bet you can find Star Wars bandaids or Little Kitty bandaids, etc.
Another suggestion for children or grown ups is some Christmas socks - Target has THE MOST adorable ones! I wanted to buy one of each pair!!!

I am so going to do this! My daughter always steals my scotch tape :)

yes, little books! i have a post coming up for just this thing...sort of...
*toothbrush
*seeds
*art supplies
*silver dollar or old coin
*tiny notebooks (handmade!)
*socks
*finger flashlight
*bookmark
*photobooth picture
*tiny framed photo
*bandages/plasters
*music
*metro/rail ticket for an adventure
*movie ticket
*break your own geodes
i'll stop..too much fun!

We're coffee lovers, so I usually put in coffee in some form - this year k-cups for our Keurig are going in for my husband and a personalized Starbucks gift card, too. Candles are a good choice, too. Small craft kits are good along with healthy snacks for the kids. When my daughter was an infant, I even put jars of baby food!
I just saw on someone's post the coupon idea! I was thinking of that this year. My daughter loves "Mommy and Emma days" so I was thinking of something extra special, like a breakfast sandwich from DD or Panera before school. Staying up later and watching a movie together. I have couple ideas like that.
My mother-in-law also puts wine in our stockings, which fills it up nicely :)

Pez Christmas dispenser. We use the same year after year & then add the candy. My son has a deer & my daughter a snowman.