The big ticket presents are all shopped and wrapped, nestled under the tree. So that only leaves the stockings to go.
This really is the fun part, when you can go to town and be as silly as you like. There’s a lot of quirky, cool and fun things out there that you can pick up for a handful of change, and we’re helping you find it.
Here’s a clever tip – stuff the stockings as full as can be, make it a rule that they open the stockings first and it’ll give you a bit of extra shut-eye before the kids demand to tackle what’s under the tree! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Hape Pan Flute
Just like the Pied Piper, music will follow wherever she goes – especially so when clutching a gorgeous Hape Pan Flute. This easy to play four tube pan flute will fill your home with dulcet tones for all of Christmas Day and beyond!
Find it at Kidstuff ($13).
Lil’ Modelling Clay
A super cute package from Seedling, it’s their modelling clay that never dries out. Yes, you heard right, never. Dries. Out. Model masterpiece after masterpiece with this four colour pack of clay. The only question is, what to create first?
Find it at Haggus and Stookles ($2.50).
Little Jump Frog Game In A Jar
Stockings could be hopping like mad if Santa drops a jar of frogs from his sleigh! This old school game of jumping frogs is sure to set the competitive pace after Christmas lunch. Who’s frog is the most jumpy of them all?
Check it out at Haggus and Stookles ($6.95).
Splish Splash! Bruin Sea Critter Bath Cups
Splish splash, water play is some of the best play! Take these six fishies to the (not so deep) waters of the bathtub or water play table for some serious stacking and draining water fun. Fill ‘em up and tip ‘em out, on repeat!
Find them at Toys R Us ($6.96).
In the swim
Odds are, the kids are gonna spend a swag of time at the beach or pool. Equip your little ones right and have a giggle too with these Crabby swim accessories from Sunnylife. There’s crab googles and matching crab armbands, plus a hilarious fishy swim cap. Too cute.
Find them at Treetop Toy Shop (from $14.95).
You dig it, I’ll roll it Sand Roller
Brilliant for the beach or the sandpit, these colourful sand rollers will see kids experimenting with creating all sorts of textures in the sand. An absolute bargain, why not collect all of them?
From Kmart ($2).
Classic Tin Frog Clicker
Talk about a blast from the past, drop a fun retro clickety-click frog clicker into the kids stockings this year!
Find them at Entropy ($2.95).
Puppies and watermelons! Scratch & Sniff Stickers
For kids who love to get busy sticking stickers, Peaceable Kingdom Scratch & Sniff Stickers are going to knock their socks off. Spoilt for choice, choose from over a dozen designs including Chocolate Labs, Watermelon and Yucky Smelly stickers!
Check them out at Silly Milly Moo ($4.95).
Zing Stikbot, turning screen time into a creative time
Combining imagination with screen skills and creativity, the Zing Studio Stikbots are popular with the older kids who love to share digitally. Style and pose the Stikbot and use the free app to create all manner of awesomeness in the digital world.
Check them out at Kmart ($5).
Hatchimals Colleggtibles
Hatchimals are still as popular as ever and we adore these sweet Hatchimal Colleggtibles. With over 70 characters to collect, each egg hatches a (cute and adorable) surprise!
Grab yours at Kmart ($5)
Smiggle Slime
Unicorn Goo and Pond Slime from Smiggle promises hours of icky, sparkly, slime driven fun – and there’s a sweet toy to find buried within these pots!
Shop them both at Smiggle ($8.95).
Make some Whoopie
You can spend up big on all sorts of toys, but cross our hearts this is the one the kids will love best. A whoopie cushion. That makes fart noises. Our editor Nikki adds one into her son’s stocking every year – tragically, it’s now a tradition at her place – and Christmas lunch has never been more hilarious. But not all whoopie cushions are created equal. Ridley’s Whoopie Cushions will last until well after everyone’s finished the plum pudding for maximum Christmas Day mayhem.
Get one at Yellow Octopus ($7.95).
It’s fashion darling, Paperdolls To Colour
An awesome addition to the craft box arsenal, Seedling Paperdolls To Colour include six coloured pencils, perfectly sized for little hands. Colour in the pre-cut dolls or dress them in all sorts of weird and wacky outfits, kids are only limited by their imagination here.
From Haggus and Stookles ($3).
For Christmas Chewers, Wooden Reindeer Teething Toy
For the bebe of the family, this beautiful Lil’ Creatures Lil’ Reindeer Natural Wooden Teething Toy will bring a smile to any pint sized dial and relief to emerging chompers.
Find it at Hard To Find ($23.95).
Be Brave, Double Dares Jelly Beans
Water or snot flavoured jelly bean anyone? As gross as they are fun, this Double Dares Jelly Bean box is sure to bring the laughs on Christmas Day. We dare you to not let them spoil your dinner!
From Kmart ($2).
Say Goodbye To Tangles, Knot Messy Hair Ties
Do you have a little lady with an eye for accessories? A different hair tie for everyday awaits with the awesome hair accessory selection from Cotton On Kids!
Find them at Cotton On Kids ($4.95).
Jingle ALL the way
One the lunch is eaten, it’s time to pull out this little gem for a Christmas game the whole family can play. Festive Play That Tune comes with a 150-page song book and a whack of kazoos. Simply play the kazoo and everyone has to guess what song you’re tootling. Cue the stomach-aching laughter!
Get it at Seed ($16.95).
Drink Up! Personalised Milo Tin
A favourite of Aussie kids, a Milo tin emblazoned with your little one’s name might have them thinking all their yummiest, malt infused Christmases have come at once!
Create yours at Cotton On Kids ($10).
Light Up The Dark with a Light Me Up Torch
The fun begins after light out kids! A handheld torch with four interchangeable discs, casting light filled shapes on the walls begs to be a bit of bedtime fun.
Find it at Cotton On Kids ($4.95).
Pamper time! Nailmatic Kids nail polish
Designed with littlies in mind, Nailmatic Kids nail polish is free of nasties and simply washes away with warm soapy water and a bit of gentle rubbing. Choose from every colour in the rainbow and variants of, littlies will be pointing their fanciest fingers this Christmas.
Find them at Nailmatic Kids ($12.95).
Tatts for that, mum
Give the grandparents a heart attack when you rock up for Christmas lunch with kids bearing arms of tatts! These tattoo sleeves are the ultimate in fun for tweens and teens. Plus, cleanskin dads will love them too.
Find them at Kmart ($5)
Looking for more great gift ideas? Check out our top picks for little kids, infants and grown-ups in our Christmas section.
