Stocking fillers and family games for Christmas

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Quick answer

The best stocking fillers are small, useful or fun enough to be used on Christmas Day itself: stationery sets for creative kids, a party game for the whole family, tracker tags for the forgetful, and plenty of batteries so new toys work straight away. For family games, pick something with simple rules, quick rounds and a player count that suits your household. Keep it simple, set a budget per stocking, and remember that small things add up.

What makes a good stocking filler?

A great stocking filler is:

• Small enough to fit (or at least to poke out of the top).
• Useful or playable straight away on Christmas morning.
• Suited to the person, not just bought to fill space.

The best stockings mix something practical with something fun and a little treat. Many families also keep a “stocking budget” so it doesn’t creep up.

Stocking fillers by type

For creative kids

Stationery is a stocking classic for school-age children. Felt pens, pencils and highlighters get used for drawing, colouring and homework. The BIC Pastel Stationery Set with Felt Pens, Pencils and Highlighters is a good fit for a child who loves to doodle. Check the age guidance, as pen caps can be a choking hazard for very young children.

For the person who loses things

Tracker tags make a clever stocking filler for teenagers and adults. The UGREEN FineTrack Tracker Tags, 4 Pack work with Apple Find My, so they’re best for iPhone users. A four-pack means you could split them between stockings.

For music and radio lovers

A small portable radio is a thoughtful gift for grandparents, students or anyone who likes the radio in the kitchen. The Roberts PLAY11 Portable DAB/DAB+/FM Digital Radio is compact enough for a big stocking, or to sit under the tree.

The stocking filler nobody remembers until it’s too late

Batteries. Many toys and gadgets don’t include them, and finding the shops shut on Christmas Day is a festive tradition nobody wants. Stocking up on AA and AAA batteries now is one of the most practical things you can do.

• Energizer Alkaline Power AA Batteries, 32 Pack
• Energizer Advanced AAA Batteries, 12 Pack

Check what each gift needs before Christmas Eve. Some toys use button cells or rechargeable packs instead.

Family games for Christmas

What to look for in a family game

Factor	Why it matters	Question to ask
Player count	Needs to fit your group	How many can play at once?
Age range	Everyone can join in	Does it suit the youngest player?
Rules	Easy to start after dinner	Can you learn it in five minutes?
Round length	Keeps attention	Are rounds short or long?
Replay value	Gets played again	Will it still be fun in February?

Party games

Party games are great for mixed-age groups because they’re usually quick and silly. The Snort: Award-Winning Laugh-You-Lose Party Game is built around making each other laugh, which suits a post-dinner crowd. Check the age guidance and player count on the deal page before you buy.

Classic games and cards

Many families already have a favourite. A new deck of cards, a classic board game or a quiz game can all be good choices. If you’re buying for another family, ask what they already have to avoid duplicates.

Games for younger children

For little ones, look for games with simple rules and no reading required. Matching, memory and turn-taking games suit preschoolers.

Featured stocking fillers and games

Product	Best for	What to look for	Deal
Snort: Laugh-You-Lose Party Game	Families and mixed-age groups	Player count and age guidance	Snort Party Game
BIC Pastel Stationery Set	Creative school-age children	Age guidance for pens and caps	BIC Pastel Stationery Set
UGREEN FineTrack Tracker Tags, 4 Pack	iPhone users who lose keys	Apple Find My compatibility	UGREEN FineTrack Tags
Roberts PLAY11 DAB Radio	Grandparents and kitchens	DAB+ and portable use	Roberts PLAY11
Energizer Alkaline Power AA, 32 Pack	Toy-heavy households	Check which gifts need AA	Energizer AA 32 Pack
Energizer Advanced AAA, 12 Pack	Remotes and small toys	Check which gifts need AAA	Energizer AAA 12 Pack

Offers can change, so check each deal page for current details before you buy.

Stocking budget tips

1. Set a limit per person and keep a note of what you’ve bought.
2. Buy useful things you’d buy anyway, like batteries, and save them for stockings.
3. Share multi-packs across stockings, such as tracker tags.
4. Shop early, as popular stocking fillers can be harder to find in mid-December.
5. Keep receipts in case something needs returning.

Making Christmas morning easier

• Put batteries in the night before, if the gift allows it.
• Charge gadgets that come with rechargeable batteries.
• Download apps that toys or gadgets need, so you’re not waiting on Wi-Fi.
• Keep a pair of scissors and a small screwdriver handy for packaging and battery covers.
• Have a bag ready for wrapping paper and recycling.

Safety reminders

Button batteries can be extremely dangerous if swallowed, so keep them away from young children and check that battery compartments on toys are secure. For small children, avoid stocking fillers with small parts that could be a choking risk. Toys labelled “not suitable for children under 36 months” should be kept away from babies and toddlers.

Stocking ideas by person

• Young children: stationery, small craft kits, a book.
• Older kids and teens: a party game, a tracker tag for school bags, a small gadget.
• Adults: tracker tags, a portable radio, something for a hobby.
• The whole household: a family game and a big pack of batteries for everything else.