When my daughter was 2 years old, I thought she really “got it” about Christmas, but then when she turned 3 was when I really think she understood exactly what was going on. At that point she was able to help me wrap presents, put ornaments on the tree, and bake Christmas cookies! She even helped me hang up our stockings on the mantel.
I get really excited about putting out Santa gifts, but I get equally as excited about stocking stuffers. Stockings were the first thing we opened on Christmas morning as kids, and my sisters and I would get small things that were still thrilling: stickers, a coloring book, a brand new box of crayons.
I have a few general “rules” about stocking stuffers: they’re useful (toothpaste and a new toothbrush) or something consumable (a coloring book and crayons). I usually add new ornament (like the 2020 photo frame you can see in the picture above!) and some other items that might be things I needed to buy anyway.
Here’s what’s on my list and some others that might be helpful for anyone else looking for stocking stuffers for 3 year olds or 4 year olds!
The Best Stocking Stuffers for 3-4 Year Olds
What to put in your 3-4 year old’s stocking
Stickers
At the age of 3 we went through a Thomas & Friends phase, but you can find stickers for pretty much everything.
Scavenger hunt game.
The perfect rainy day game! (One of my best friends is getting this for her daughter and I totally stole the idea from her!)
Toothbrush and mini paste.
My daughter LOVES to brush her teeth, but a toothbrush is a great stocking stuffer anyway. The year she turned 3 she got a Thomas & Friends toothbrush and this princess toothbrush set too. I think this year Santa will bring the Thomas toothbrushes for my little guy and another princess set for my daughter.
Princess “Lipstick” aka chapstick.
She’s always putting on my lipstick, but these will be a hit with any 3 year old!
Elsa hairbrush.
This is my favorite brand of hairbrush, so for Valentine’s Day my daughter got one featuring Elsa & Anna. She loves having a brush just like mine!
Underwear.
Yes, it’s a practical gift. But it’s also something I’m going to buy anyway and it takes up space! Hah. But for real, just pick a theme that they’ll love and add it in!
Books
We read a LOT of books in our house. Now that we aren’t going to the library every week, we’ll put a couple of books in her stocking. This Little Blue Truck’s Christmas book is a new favorite.
A new coloring book.
We color pretty much every day, so we go through coloring books pretty fast. Throughout the year I look through coloring books periodically and throw out the ones that are filled up (of course taking out some pages to keep!). I like to keep a few themed coloring books- cars, princesses, etc. – so there’s something new for our daily coloring adventures.
A preschool-readiness tracing book.
We had so much fun with this one! It helps with tracing letters and numbers but also straight lines, curvy lines, etc.
Hair bows!
I found the best deal on a full set of bows- velvet bows for the winter months or linen bows for the summer months.
A foam craft kit.
I stocked up on foam craft kits a few weeks ago, and we already have gone through 3 of them.
These fun magnet men
They double as a great travel toy!
An ornament.
Every year I buy an ornament related to something my kids are really into at the time. The year my daughter turned 2 was a tractor to represent farms, and when she was 3 she picked out Thomas (from Thomas & Friends). Last year was Paw Patrol, and this year my kids already chose a fire truck (for my little guy who loves to pretend he’s a firefighter) and a unicorn (for my rainbows-and-unicorn-loving girl). It would be fun to include a new ornament in the stocking, so they could go put it on the tree! Don’t forget to write their initials and the year on the bottom of the ornament! I also love to get photo frame ornaments and put a memory from the year in there!
A small pack of M&Ms.
We try not to encourage candy in the house, but Christmas is a special day worthy of a special treat!
Socks.
Okay, sounds boring, but part of each morning is letting my little ones decide what they’re wearing that day. Maybe they choose a shirt or a pair of pants and I pick something coordinating, but at the age of 3 my daughter always took great care in deciding which socks to wear each day! (Future fashionista, for sure) I’m going to add some more crew cut Minnie Mouse socks (these Minnie Mouse socks look so cozy and warm!) and some wool (warm) socks with grips into her stocking. The speed that these kids can run in the house…
What other items would you add to a stocking for a 3 year old? Or a 4 year old?
Most items above are on Amazon, so you can get them in time for Christmas even if you wait to buy until the last minute!
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