Moose in the House game

I found this game at Barnes & Noble, and the only reason I didn't buy it for some nieces and nephews this year is because I'd already done their shopping. But next year I'm giving this to at least one set of relatives with kids -- especially because they're Canadian and I think they'll find it pretty darn funny, not to mention fun! The object of the game is to keep the moose out of your house and get it into your opponents' houses; cards have pictures of rooms, some of which have been invaded by the monster moose from the north! (If you have no idea how big a moose really gets, go to YouTube and search on "baby moose sprinkler", where you'll find an adorable video of twin baby moose playing in a yard sprinkler, with mama looking on.)

Back to the game, the box it comes in is pretty small as far as games go. According to Amazon, it measures 1.6 by 4.7 by 5.8 inches. So whether or not it fits in a stocking depends on how big that stocking is, of course! But it does make a lovely small gift in any case. Recommended age range is 8-12 years old, but I think it's the kind of thing parents can play with kids and still have fun, like Waterworks or Mille Bornes, two of my childhood favorites.

What: Moose in the House game
Where: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $9.99

Cocoa Puffs Lip Balm

I admit that this stocking stuffer idea is inspired more by nostalgia than anything else. I used to love Cocoa Puffs when I was a kid (and Cocoa Pebbles perhaps even more). I used to eat bowl after bowl of these cereals along with a glass of Welch's grape juice. It's a miracle I didn't go into sugar shock!

In any case, though, here's a way to enjoy the memory without the sugar -- Cocoa Puffs lip balm! I would think kids up to 8 or 9 years old might really like this -- any older and they might be too "sophisticated" for it! I found this on the Perpetual Kid website, and they also have Lucky Charms and Boo Berry cereal flavors, and Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll flavor, in case Cocoa Puffs aren't the thing.

What: Cocoa Puffs Lip Balm
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $2.99 (plus shipping)

Spot It

This "Spot It" game is the perfect size for a stocking stuffer! It comes in a 3.5 inch diameter, 1 inch high circular tin, and contains 55 cards with 8 symbols each. There are 4 different versions of the game, all of which incorporate matching symbols the most quickly. The product description says it's for 2 to 8 players, ages 7 and up. The compact size means it would make a good take-along game, as well. Looks like fun, don't you think?

What: Spot It
Where: Solutions
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 (plus shipping)

Penguin Rubber Duckies

Oriental Trading Company sure gets creative with its rubber duckies! They have tons of holiday-themed ones, including a nativity set, a traditional Christmas toy set, a Nutcracker set.... But the ones that caught my attention were these adorable penguin rubber ducks!

At $5.99 per dozen, they're certainly affordable, as long as you have several recipients. Actually, since you almost always have to buy by the dozen from this company, I advise going in with a friend or family member so you can order a few things, save on shipping, and split up the spoils -- it becomes fairly economical that way.

What: Penguin Rubber Duckies
Where: Oriental Trading Company
How much (as of today's post): $5.99 per dozen (plus shipping)

Clip-on Animal Flashlights

Check out these cute clip-on animal flashlights! They can be attached to keys, purses, backpacks and more, and contain a bright LED flashlight inside the animal's mouth. The choices include a T-rex, a green lizard, a blue lizard, a panda, a red frog, and a toucan. Personally I like the T-rex, with his oversize head and his stubby little legs. The flashlights measure about 3.5 inches at their longest dimension.

What: Clip-on Animal Flashlights
Where: Solutions
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (or 3 for $8.95 each) (plus shipping)

Tank Robot Keychain Watch

About two years ago, I posted a "luxury stocking stuffer" -- a spiffy Tank Robot Clock that was wonderful but that cost $45. Well, here is Tank Robot's baby sibling -- a Tank Robot Keychain Watch for $14.99. The clock came in red or black, but the keychain watch version comes in ivory, teal, or red. (I see right now that the Perpetual Kid website has only ivory in stock, but you can keep an eye out for when they get the other colors back in, or search for them elsewhere.

Perfect for clipping on a backpack, don't you think? They're made of metal and are 1.75 inches tall.

What: Tank Robot Keychain Watch
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $14.99 (plus shipping)

Lacing Cards -- Buy or DIY!

I love Eric Carle illustrations -- in fact, I've been to the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts -- so this set of animal lacing cards caught my eye. The box has 10 cards measuring 6.5 by 5.25 inches and 10 brightly colored laces to attract little ones' eyes. And at the same time, of course, lacing helps children develop all kinds of skills, including sequencing, dexterity, coordination, and fine motor skills.

Of course, this is something that you could easily make yourself for less! You could use extra sturdy cardstock or cardboard, and stamp them with fun images or even just paint or draw. You can look in the dollar store for inexpensive colored shoelaces. You could even put a set of cards with the laces in a store-bought or handmade drawstring bag. The images could even be photographs that you've taken of your kids or pets. The possibilities are endless!

And you know what? I'm just now having a flashback.... I'm pretty sure my mom made lacing cards for us out of recycled Christmas cards at one point!

What: Lacing Cards
Where: Chinaberry or DIY!
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 (plus shipping)

Ambulance Bandages

These are among the cutest novelty bandages I've seen: little ambulances and emergency response vehicles with a decidedly Japanese flavor. There are 24 latex-free bandages in assorted sizes, packaged in a tin that measures 2 5/8 inches wide by 3 5/8 inches high.

This would also make the cute centerpiece of a little homemade first aid kid that you can put together for a college student's dorm room, especially if your college student is into Japanese anime or manga.


What: Ambulance Bandages
Where: Spoon Sisters websiteHow much (as of today's post): $5.95 (plus shipping)

Build-Your-Own-Kaleidoscope Kit

Here's a fun stocking stuffer that makes a great parent-and-child activity for later on: a Build-Your-Own-Kaleidoscope Kit. This kit lets you assemble the included plastic lenses, mirrored strips, and cardboard tubes to showcase the colored beads, and you can add your own little decorative bits and trinkets as well. I can also envision drawing on the outside tube to personalize the kaleidoscope, or perhaps decorating it with stickers.

I imagine the crafty among you could also figure out how to do this yourself from scratch -- I think it's a bit beyond me, though!

What: Build-Your-Own-Kaleidoscope Kit
Where: FredFlare.com
How much (as of today's post): $14.00 (plus shipping)

Mushroom Pencil Sharpener & Eraser

In keeping with yesterday's small, cute art and school supply type stocking stuffer, here is another cutie from the Library Foundation of Los Angeles: a mushroom pencil sharpener and eraser in one. They're two inches tall and come in several colors, although you unfortunately don't get to choose the color. Still, most kids won't mind which color they get, since they're all adorable.

What: Mushroom Pencil Sharpener & Eraser
Where: Library Foundation of Los Angeles
How much (as of today's post): $3.00 (plus shipping)

Mini-Capsule Colored Pencils

I know colored pencils are colored pencils, and you can surely find a set cheaper if not so elegantly packaged. But it's the lovely packaging that would make this set of mini colored pencils such a perfect stocking stuffer. The 12 pencils are only 2 inches tall, so this little set will fit almost anywhere.

I found these in the Library Foundation of Los Angeles store. There's a good bet you could find them, or something very similar, in an art supply store, though.

What: Mini-Capsule Colored Pencils
Where: Library Foundation of Los Angeles
How much (as of today's post): $4.50 (plus shipping)

T-Rex Folding Comb

The Fred Flare website calls this the "bonehead folding cone," but I maintain that it's actually a T-Rex folding comb. And if you have trouble getting your under-ten-years-old boy (or tomboy, for that matter) to remember to comb his hair once in a while, maybe this will do the trick! The comb is plastic, of course, and measures approximately 3.75 by 4.25 inches when closed.

What: T-Rex ("Bonehead") Folding Comb
Where: FredFlare.com
How much (as of today's post): $8.00 (plus shipping)

Zoo Mania Pencil Toppers

I remember loving school supplies as a child, especially brand new school supplies at the start of the school year, like a pencil box to keep in the desk, and new crayons, and a cute little stapler.... And what child doesn't like special decorated pencils, or pencils with cute little toppers? If this is your child, here's an inexpensive stocking stuffer: Zoo Mania Pencil Toppers. They come in all sorts of animals and all sorts of sets. The best part is, you can order amounts that work for you: individual toppers for 50 cents each; a set of five for $1.99. Or if you want to spread these out over the year, or have lots of kids, neighbors' kids, nieces, nephews, etc., you can buy a set of 10 for $3.95, or a bundle of 25 for only $7.99.

I think the only problem will be kids fighting over who gets which one!

What: Zoo Mania Pencil Toppers
Where: Adam's Animals website
How much (as of today's post): $1.99 for set of five (plus shipping)

Splashimals Floating Cards

Here's a cute stocking stuffer for the little ones: Splashimals Floating Cards. Obviously they're waterproof, making them just right for bathtime. But they're also pretty clever in an of themselves. There are 15 animals split into two cards each, and their names as well as their pictures are split right down the middle. The pictures are set up so you can mix and match the cards and create brand new animals like the "pentle" (penguin and turtle) and the "ostriphant" (ostrich and elephant). Can you believe there are more than 225 possible animal combinations?!

The cards measure 2 5/8 inches wide by 4 inches high, and come with a zippered mesh bag for storage. I think these are terrific, and the waterproof quality for bath time is just icing on the cake.

What:
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $11.95 (plus shipping)

Mudpuppy "N is for Nature" Flashcards

I'm generally in favor of anything that is fun, educational, and eco-minded, so naturally I think this Mudpuppy "N is for Nature" flashcard set would make a nice stocking stuffer. According to the product description, the set includes "26 durable, two-sided cards on a reclosable ring." The front of each card has the uppercase letter and a corresponding image from nature, while the back side has both the upper and lowercase letter plus words that begin with that letter. The cards are printed with non-toxic inks.

For me, reading is one of the greatest joys in life. I believe in starting kids early on the alphabet and a love of reading -- not to mention a love of nature!

What: Mudpuppy "N is for Nature" Flashcards
Where: ChildTrek.com
How much (as of today's post): $11.95 (plus shipping)

Compass Set in Tin

Happy Fourth of July!

This "first compass" set would make a great stocking stuffer for any child who likes to explore. The little tin contains the compass, which is mounted in a wood frame that hangs from an adjustable 28-inch cord, and a booklet with directions and some nature tips. The Chinaberry website recommends this compass for children aged 7 to 11. Let's get those kids away from the television and out in the fresh air!

What: Compass Set in Tin
Where: Chinaberry website
How much (as of today's post): $14.97 (on sale from $17.95) (plus shipping)

KinderGlo Night Lights

Fridays are "luxury stocking stuffer" days -- days where I post about special items that are a little more expensive than you generally want to spend. I include them because I do think it's nice when a stocking contains at least one item that is more "gift-like", if that makes sense. And this one is too cute for words: KinderGlo Night Lights, which are available in the shape of a brontosaurus, an owl, a crescent moon, and (my favorite) a T-rex! These are portable, cool-to-the-touch night lights that you can set on the soft red, blue, or green, or you can let them cycle between all three! You can leave them on all night or set them for a 30-minute auto shut-off.

Last but not least, the night lights come with a charging station and a six-foot charging cable, and they are BPA and lead-free. Seems like they've thought of everything! The moon is the largest with height and width at 5.5 inches, while the rest are no more then 4 or 4.5 inches on their longest dimension.

What: KinderGlo Night Lights
Where: Vat19.com
How much (as of today's post): $23.95 to $25.95 (plus shipping)

Aquarius Card Game

I'm a big fan of "game night," and here is a game that has rules adaptable for kids as young as three years old. The ThinkGeek description calls it a "hippie version of dominoes", and I admit that the bright colors are a lot more striking than the black and white of regular dominoes! The "Element" cards have artwork of earth, air, fire, water, and space, and each player (up to five) has an assigned element that they have to match cards to. For kids 3-5, you play a simple version just matching up elements; for kids 5-6 you use the "goals" and "elements" but no action cards; and for older players you add action cards. I like that the game seems so flexible, and that families with kids covering a wide age range can still play together.

What: Aquarius Card Game
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $14.99 (plus shipping)

Blank Puzzles

Here's something fun for kids: blank puzzles with either 12 larger pieces or 35 smaller pieces. In either case, the completed puzzles measure 8.5 by 11 inches, or the size of a standard piece of paper. The "frame" for the pieces therefore would be too big to put in the stocking, but that doesn't have to stop you from putting the pieces in a ziploc baggie (especially since you can get those with snowflake and other Christmas designs) in the stocking. A blank puzzle for your child to decorate him or herself would be great, or if you're a crafter or inkstamper, you could also create a cute personalized puzzle for your child. Come to think of it, you could create a personalized puzzle for just about anyone, and you do have the 35-piece option for older recipients so as not to make it too easy for them!

What: Blank Puzzles
Where: Romp website
How much (as of today's post): $5.00 (plus shipping)

Peanut Butter & Jelly Pouch

Check out this peanut butter and jelly pouch from FredFlare.com! It's made of fabric, and each half of the sandwich is a zippered pouch. When you close the two halves, they snap together with a magnetic closure. It measures 4.5 by 5 inches. I think it would be great for kids and tweens.

What: Peanut Butter & Jelly Pouch
Where: FredFlare.com
How much (as of today's post): $10 (plus shipping)