Here are the best 25 toys under $25. Also known as, stocking stuffers for kids. Kids use open-ended toys to fuel their creativity. And you know what? I fully support art supplies, gadgets, and office supplies as toys. I want my kids to be problem-solvers, independent thinkers, and able to express emotions while finding creative outlets. This list of 25 toys under $25 does just that! These stocking stuffers are our home’s most used and well-loved toys.
And yes, I went just a wee over 25 toys. I couldn’t help myself! This is such a fun list of ideas. And spoiler, you don’t have to stuff a stocking if you’re not up for it. Sprinkle these throughout your holiday celebration.
RELATED: Love art? We do, too. We dedicated an entire art cabinet to our supplies!
What should you put in your kid’s stocking?
Add practical items to your kid’s stockings that they can revisit often. Don’t feel the pressure of choosing items that will get tossed aside to have a full stocking. This list will keep you mindful of practical toys under $25 that will be used beyond taking out of the packaging.
As I made this 25 toys under $25 list, I felt that adding a few art supplies was necessary. Providing time and a few supplies for kids to work on art in the downtime helps them manage frustrations and express feelings.
Good toys for kids:
- Appeal to all of the senses
- Encourage a growth mindset
- Help children learn how to focus
- Increase self-esteem
- Inspire imagination and creativity
- Provide an opportunity for open-ended play
Art supplies are toys that we can integrate into our days of play! Put art on repeat with your independent playtime, and you will see concentration soar.
Practical stocking stuffers under $25
Drumroll, please, for one of my favorite toy lists for kids! Here are 25+ toys our family has used and enjoyed over the last eight years. Rather than calling these cheap stocking stuffers for kids, I suggest calling them fun and budget-friendly stocking stuffers for kids. Cheap implies they will be a one-and-done toy, and this list is the opposite.
Also, realizing we are not all stuffing stockings, some of these suggestions are a wee bit too large to be in one anyway. Perhaps this list also needs to be named my favorite things under $25.
Yomega YO-YO
This is the perfect starter yo-yo for kids. It is responsive so that the yo-yo will return to the hands.
Moon Ball
This Moon Ball is a lot of fun to play with! It bounces super high, and kids love testing its limits. This makes a fun gift that gives kids something to do after unwrapping. (wink, wink)
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
It’s a fast-paced game for kids that follows a super fun sequence. Flip your card as you repeat the pattern. If it matches, be the first to slap the pile! It is so simple, yet so fun. We love it!
Kanoodle
This makes the perfect stocking stuffer for big kids! It’s fun to play with someone by your side or solo. Over 200 brain-teasing challenges.
Atomic Fidget Ball
We recently got this fidget ball on a trip, and the boys used it in the car along with waiting for food at restaurants. Makes a great gift for ages 8+.
Digital Coin Counting Bank
Have a child who enjoys collecting coins? This digital coin-counting bank is a game changer. Include a small bag of coins and have your child slide each coin into the container as the counter adds it.
Multicolor Pens
Is there anything more exciting than a multicolored pen? I think not. I have one on my desk right now and still get geek out.
Simple Stopwatch
Have a child that constantly asks you to find how many seconds it takes them to run to the car? This is your gift. This stopwatch makes a great indoor and outdoor activity to self-entertain.
Master Lock
A lock on a toy list? You know it. Invite your child to practice opening and closing the lock. Trust me. This is pure gold entertainment for kids!
Odometer and Speedometer
Have a biker that likes to track their speed and distance? This is such a fun and simple gift you can use all of 2024.
Kwik Stix
Paint in a stick? Yes, please!
Tenzi
This fast-paced game is a blast for all ages. Roll the colored dice and try to get all the same number. Great for number recognition!
Frozen Treat Set
If you have the Melissa and Doug wooden ice cream set, this is a nice addition to continue the play.
LumiPet Nightlight
Hello, most adorable and well-loved nightlight! My four-year-old is so happy to meet you. These nightlights are super soft and come in a variety of animal options. It makes an excellent gift for many ages!
Magnetic Wands
Ever wonder what’s magnetic? I bet your kids do! Include these magnetic wands in your stocking and watch your child roam the house discovering what makes something magnetic.
Crystal Growing Hedgehog
This hedgehog is a go-to gift for older kids. It’s like a chia pet but cuter, cooler, and faster. Kids make a simple mixture with water and the included solution, and a day later, crystals magically appear, and then your big kid has an adorable decor item for their room.
Mini Sketch Pad
I love, love, love this sketch pad! Mostly because I can watch my kids dive into their thoughts and have a place to put ideas. My oldest uses his sketchbook for math problems, and my five-year-old creates the most incredible designs. I love the look and design of these sketchbooks.
Number Click Counter
You will have to trust me when I say your child needs a click counter. It sparks all sorts of child-lead play, and this six-pack is perfect for your home and birthday gifts.
Cubebot
This wooden Cubebot is a clever puzzle for children to manipulate and play with as a fidget toy. Move the body in different directions or fold it back into a cube. This fun toy is suggested for ages 6+.
Dry Erase Boards
Another home run has a dry-erase board. Use it for long car rides, airplane trips, and at-home downtime. Easy to store and fun for all ages to doodle and plan on.
Minifigure Lego Puzzle
We completed this Minifigure Lego puzzle as a family, which was a terrific experience. I noticed it calmed us as we worked together to complete it. This puzzle makes a great next-level puzzle for you and your big kid.
Label Maker
The boys got their hands on a label maker, and it has been a trip! It is an entertaining way to spend time at home.
Alphabet Trays
These alphabet trays are fun for DIY crayons and ice. We’ve done it all! Play a fun matching game, put it back in the mold as a puzzle, or add alphabet ice to your next drink. We use these often!
Kinetic Sand Beach Sand
Have you tried kinetic sand? It cleans up more easily than most sensory play and feels lovely in little hands. We keep ours in an airtight container when not in use.
Pull Wagon
Will this fit in a stocking? Probably not. LOL. Use this wagon for indoor or outdoor play. Made from 100% recycled plastic, Green Toys never disappoints!
Hole Puncher
Kids love a hole puncher, and this one is an excellent choice. Yep, it even keeps all the punched paper inside for less mess. Invite your child to punch holes and watch that fine motor strength build!
Washable Paints
We used this paint set when I first began painting with my boys. This is a perfect starter for those venturing into painting with kids!
Kid Scissors
Need child scissors? These blunt-edged scissors are a great way to help toddlers and preschoolers get comfortable with cutting.
Handy Scoopers
Use these scoopers with sensory play! Great to have around to scoop rice, small toys, or water. The open and close movements help with fine motor, cause/effect, along hand-eye coordination.
Wooden Stamp Set
Bring the alphabet into everyday play. We bought this stamp set years ago, and it is still on repeat. Upper and lowercase letters included!
Sticker Book
This sticker book is PACKED with a wonderful collection. We’ve been working off the same sticker collection for two years, and I will buy another when we finish. It’s fantastic!
Sticker Seek and Find
This sticker pad is also a blast! Play seek and find for your next Breakfast Invitation or take on the go to a restaurant. We love seeing the images and matching them with stickers.
Colored Tape
We LOVE colored tape over here. The boys create forts in their rooms, make art on cardboard, and find ways to use this tape that would never have crossed my mind. This is a simple gift that will go a long way!
Washable Markers
Are all your markers missing caps? Here is your chance to restock. A pack for you and a pack for your child to forget to put the caps on. (oy!)
White Paper Roll
New here? A white paper roll is our lifeline. File this under the top five supplies we will always keep on hand. Sometimes, we create simple learning games, and other times, we roll them out and free draw. Having a white paper roll within reach has prompted endless play! So much so that I will be bold and call this a toy. If you’ve followed for a while, you’ll understand why. (wink, wink)
Squigz (mini)
These. Are. Fun. Stick these little suckers on many surfaces to keep toddlers entertained for dinner prep!
Jumbo Droppers
Yahoo! Here is another favorite. Bring on water play inside, outdoors, or in the bath. A fun way to explore color mixing and squeezing to strengthen small hand muscles. Use these now so that the pencil grip can develop later.
Jumbo Tweezers
These tweezers come with way more than you would ever need. But have no fear! You can keep some and add others to future birthday gifts. Like the jumbo droppers, these tweezers will help strengthen hands for writing, buttoning, and eventually typing those middle school essays.
Plastic Geometric Shapes
Create something new with these tactile shapes. Begin to explore lines and corners and how shapes connect to make a larger shape. Great for learning through play.
Geometric Solids
We use these geometric shapes on the light table a lot. We also use these shapes for free play stacking and explorations. Have no fear! The back of the box reminds us of what each 3D shape is called to extend the conversation.
Counting Bears
Whoop! Whoop! Add this to the list of the top five as well. Again, I use these bears both in the classroom and at home. Sort them by color, separate them by size, or integrate them into imaginary play. WE LOVE THESE BEARS!
More Toy Lists for Kids
What a great list of 25 toys for less than $25! Which toy is your favorite?
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodness no. Kids love cardboard boxes. Toys are meant to enhance interests. We can get excitement out of gifts from a variety of prices. Think about what your child enjoys and gift around that interest.
Counting clickers, a new pack of markers, and colored tape make fun stocking stuffers. Add toys in the stocking that your child may not have asked for, but you know will be used in everyday play.
Children should be given the number of toys that feel right for their family. Remember, kids, don’t need much. Think about your child’s interests and what excites them. Use this gift guide of toys for kids to help narrow your search and find the perfect gift!
