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Stocking Stuffers to promote learning

November 13, 2014 Ticia 14 Comments

One of my hidden agendas with Christmas presents is to promote learning while having fun.  You could easily spend hundreds of dollars pursuing that goal, but today I’m going to share some stocking stuffer ideas that are less than $15.

stocking stuffers to promote learning

Random question I thought of as I took this picture.  Does your family wrap stocking presents, or do you just have them open?  I grew up wrapping stocking presents, and so the first year I went to go wrap them in white tissue paper (which is of course THE way to do them) and Jeff looked at me like I was crazy, “You DO NOT wrap stocking presents, that’s just silly.”

So do you wrap your stocking stuffers or leave them as is?

Stocking Stuffers to promote reading

There are a lot of great book series for kids, but I want to highlight 5 different games your kids could learn from.

  1. Bananagrams(strong reader)
  2. POP for Blends Card Game (learning to read)
  3. Quiddler (strong reader)
  4. Mini Word Puzzle Game (able to read)
  5. Snap It Up! Phonics(learning to read)

 

Stucking Stuffers to promote math

Math is a fun subject to learn through games, you can sneak in so much learning through games, and much more enjoyable for both parents and kids than flashcards.

  1. ThinkFun Math Dice Jr.
  2. Think Fun Math Dice
  3.  Addition Wrap-Ups
  4. Learning Wrap Ups – Multiplication
  5. Set: The Family Game of Visual Perception(introduce algebra concepts to younger kids)

 

Stocking Stuffers to promote science

This is a slightly different take than the previous two categories because there are some great science gear you can get for under $15 (and it fits in a stocking), and some great toys that will promote science learning.

  1. Pocket Microscope
  2. Safari Ltd Ocean TOOB(I cannot emphasize enough how great these are for early elementary science)
  3. Professor Noggin’s Wonders of Science
  4. My First Pocket Guide Stars & Planets
  5. Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Pocket Naturalist Guide Series)

 

Stocking Stuffers to promote history and geography

For my kids, I’ve found a large selection of games and toys increases their interaction and knowledge of history more than almost any other thing.  The first two items in this stocking stuffer list are MUST HAVE items in our house for homeschooling

  1.  Safari Ltd Jamestown Settlers TOOB
  2. WWII US Marines Figures
  3. Professor Noggin’s History of the United States
  4. Timeline Historical Events Card Game
  5. Flag Frenzy!

 

 

Stocking Stuffers to promote writing

Writing can be challenging for young kids because they don’t know WHAT to write or are still learning how to form their letters and words.

  1. Rory’s Story Cubes
  2.  Once Upon A Time
  3. Lisa Frank Sketch Stationery Set(these were the height of coolness when I was a kid)
  4. Blank Book(your best bet for large numbers of these are teacher supply stores or Oriental Trading from time to time)
  5. Journal (Notebook, Diary) (Small Journal Series)(craft stores and Barnes and Noble always have a great supply of these, all of my kids love little books)

 

Stocking Stuffers to promote critical thinking

Critical Thinking will be important as you continue in life past school, why is this decision better than the other, what are the risks and rewards of one choice over the other?  All of these games promote critical thinking and problem solving, and additional bonus, they travel well for waiting in doctor’s office or restaurants.

  1. Five Crowns
  2. HABA Catch Me Mini Game To Go
  3. HABA Orchard Mini Game
  4. IQ Twist
  5. ThinkFun Hoppers

Of course you can’t really go too far wrong sticking a pad of paper and a set of markers because you’ll be amazed what your kids will come up with just being left to create and having fun.

Today I’m joining up with many other fabulous ladies from Kid Blogger Network to bring you gift guides.  I’d highly recommend heading over to What do We Do All Day to see the other gift guides.

I’m also joining up with the ladies from iHomeschool Network for even more Gift giving ideas!

 

 

games, Homeschool Holidays Christmas, gift guide

Comments

  1. Claire says

    November 13, 2014 at 5:55 am

    We didn’t do stockings until the year following the cancer diagnosis. After that I wanted to make everything special. We do wrap though!

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      November 13, 2014 at 7:26 am

      After Jeff pointed that out, I was like, “Sure, let’s not wrap stockings, that’s so much easier.”

  2. Lindsay @ BytesofMemory says

    November 13, 2014 at 6:48 am

    Okay I seriously loved this list!! Thanks for putting it together!! We don’t wrap them.. but stockings are one of my favorite things!! We are reducing the number of gifts we give so this will be a fun way to put a few extra fun things in his stocking! Do you guys set a gift limit?

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      November 13, 2014 at 7:25 am

      We are trying a gift limit this year, I think of 5. But, I keep seeing more presents I want to buy, it’s SOOOOOO hard.

  3. Almost Unschoolers says

    November 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    I like every single one of those things! I’ve never wrapped stocking stuffers – but I don’t consider a stocking complete unless it’s got some fruit and nuts thrown in 🙂

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      November 14, 2014 at 8:44 am

      My Mom always put in lots of candy canes, so I always put candy canes in, even if my kids don’t really eat them.

  4. Marie-Claude Leroux says

    November 13, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    Great list! Stockings are my favorite at Christmas, curious small goodies, you never know what you’ll get 🙂 Oh, and we don’t wrap them either, the stocking is the wrapping – just cover the top with a square of tissue paper.

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      November 14, 2014 at 8:44 am

      Now that I’ve adopted Jeff’s plan, I don’t even put tissue paper on it, of course his family so overstuffs the stockings they don’t all fit in the stocking itself.

  5. maryanne @ mama smiles says

    November 14, 2014 at 1:45 am

    We filled stockings mostly with kid-made gifts, which are wrapped. Oranges and chocolate are not wrapped.

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      November 14, 2014 at 8:45 am

      Yummm…. chocolate.

      I like the idea of kid-made gifts, how fun would that be.

  6. Natalie PlanetSmartyPants says

    November 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    This is an awesome list. We don’t wrap our stocking stuffers – I love the idea of a pocket microscope as a stocking stuffer!

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      December 11, 2014 at 7:37 pm

      Me too. Shhhh, one of my boys is getting a real microscope for Christmas. I might still get that pocket one.

  7. Susan Evans says

    December 9, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    What a fun list! I still need to pick up some stocking stuffers, and these are great ideas.

    Reply
    • Ticia says

      December 11, 2014 at 7:37 pm

      Thanks! I’ve got a few more to pick up as well.

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Ticia Adventures in Mommydom Hi, I'm Ticia! This is the adventures of my family in life and learning. Follow along with us as we share our adventures. We're having a lot of fun and learning as we go.

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