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Top 10 Stocking Stuffers for kids

Top 10 Stocking Stuffers and Small Gift Ideas

Finding a stocking filled with small surprises is one of the most exciting parts of the holidays! To help parents make the most of these tiny treasures, Experts at Play at Educational Insights are here with 10 small gift ideas guaranteed to bring big smiles, spark lasting joy, and keep kids’ interest well into the new year.

Playfoam Pals Holiday Ornaments – Give the gift of holiday spirit with this 2-in-1 craft set! Kids decorate the ornaments with the included stickers and hang them on the tree, then sculpt the Playfoam inside into the perfect pretend play props for the Snowy Pals figurine hidden in the Playfoam! When they’re done, squish the Playfoam flat and begin again—Playfoam never dries out, so the fun never ends!

 

Playfoam Build-a-Snowman – Kids can squish and squash these packs of Playfoam into their very own no-melt snowmen, then accessorize them with the included hat, scarf, carrot nose, arm branches, eyes, and buttons. This set of three kits is perfect for spreading across sibling stockings, too!

 

Playfoam Putty 4 Pack – Stimulate sensory play all season long with Playfoam Putty! A uniquely textured putty is perfect for squishing, squashing, and sculpting, and makes a crackle sound with every squeeze! Perfect for screen-free ASMR play. Plus, all that squeezing and squashing builds fine motor skills.

 

Playfoam Pals Snowy Friends – Inspire hours of pretend-play fun! Each special-edition snow globe pod contains a snowy mix of Playfoam perfect for sculpting a squishy, squashy, play world, and a hidden mystery Pal to play in it! Kids will want to collect them all!

 

Playfoam Shape & Learn 4 Pack Slip some learning into their stockings! This pack contains four sets of sculptable Playfoam, each with a set of shape, letter, number, or counting cards. Kids shape the Playfoam to match the object on each card, practicing critical preschool skills the creative way!

 

PaperCraft Doll Fashion Party – Encourage creativity with this set of four PaperCraft booklets, each featuring extra-large, stick-on (and off, and on again) dolls and fashions for endless mix and match outfits and hours of creative play. And with four sets you can spread them across other sibling’s stockings or give as small gifts to other friends and family.

 

GeoSafari Jr. Dino Discovery – Turn Christmas day into a prehistoric party with a real dino dig packed with surprises! Kids scoop and dig in the reusable dino dirt to find and excavate Triceratops or T-Rex bones, then assemble the bones to create a complete skeleton. Kits also include fossil molds and a volcano carry case!

 

GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars – Kids can scope out everything from Santa’s sleigh to the first buds of spring with this set of focus-free binoculars featuring 2x magnification and extra-large eyepieces! Perfect for nature walks, sky gazing, and more.

 

Design & Drill Robot – Tis’ the season for STEM learning and this DIY robot is the perfect introduction for preschoolers! Kids snap the pieces together, then use the included screwdriver and colorful bolts to decorate their rockin’ robot pal. When they’re done, it’s time for robot-themed pretend play

Make the most of your stocking stuffers! The right small gifts for the holidays can surprise and delight kids for months to come.

 

Top 10 Stocking Stuffers and Small Gift Ideas

Finding a stocking filled with small surprises is one of the most exciting parts of the holidays! To help parents make the most of these tiny treasures, Experts at Play at Educational Insights are here with 10 small gift ideas guaranteed to bring big smiles, spark lasting joy, and keep kids’ interest well into the new year.

Playfoam Pals Holiday Ornaments – Give the gift of holiday spirit with this 2-in-1 craft set! Kids decorate the ornaments with the included stickers and hang them on the tree, then sculpt the Playfoam inside into the perfect pretend play props for the Snowy Pals figurine hidden in the Playfoam! When they’re done, squish the Playfoam flat and begin again—Playfoam never dries out, so the fun never ends!

 

Playfoam Build-a-Snowman – Kids can squish and squash these packs of Playfoam into their very own no-melt snowmen, then accessorize them with the included hat, scarf, carrot nose, arm branches, eyes, and buttons. This set of three kits is perfect for spreading across sibling stockings, too!

 

Playfoam Putty 4 Pack – Stimulate sensory play all season long with Playfoam Putty! A uniquely textured putty is perfect for squishing, squashing, and sculpting, and makes a crackle sound with every squeeze! Perfect for screen-free ASMR play. Plus, all that squeezing and squashing builds fine motor skills.

 

Playfoam Pals Snowy Friends – Inspire hours of pretend-play fun! Each special-edition snow globe pod contains a snowy mix of Playfoam perfect for sculpting a squishy, squashy, play world, and a hidden mystery Pal to play in it! Kids will want to collect them all!

 

Playfoam Shape & Learn 4 Pack Slip some learning into their stockings! This pack contains four sets of sculptable Playfoam, each with a set of shape, letter, number, or counting cards. Kids shape the Playfoam to match the object on each card, practicing critical preschool skills the creative way!

 

PaperCraft Doll Fashion Party – Encourage creativity with this set of four PaperCraft booklets, each featuring extra-large, stick-on (and off, and on again) dolls and fashions for endless mix and match outfits and hours of creative play. And with four sets you can spread them across other sibling’s stockings or give as small gifts to other friends and family.

 

GeoSafari Jr. Dino Discovery – Turn Christmas day into a prehistoric party with a real dino dig packed with surprises! Kids scoop and dig in the reusable dino dirt to find and excavate Triceratops or T-Rex bones, then assemble the bones to create a complete skeleton. Kits also include fossil molds and a volcano carry case!

 

GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars – Kids can scope out everything from Santa’s sleigh to the first buds of spring with this set of focus-free binoculars featuring 2x magnification and extra-large eyepieces! Perfect for nature walks, sky gazing, and more.

 

Design & Drill Robot – Tis’ the season for STEM learning and this DIY robot is the perfect introduction for preschoolers! Kids snap the pieces together, then use the included screwdriver and colorful bolts to decorate their rockin’ robot pal. When they’re done, it’s time for robot-themed pretend play

Make the most of your stocking stuffers! The right small gifts for the holidays can surprise and delight kids for months to come.

 

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Inspire New Interests with Holiday Gifts for 5- and 6-Year-Olds

Your just-starting-school aged kiddo is doing some pretty amazing growing up! Before your very eyes, your little one is probably becoming more independent; getting better at drawing and coloring; discovering new hobbies (daily?); and getting really curious about the world around them. This holiday season, surprise your 5- or 6-year-old with super fun toys and games that also help them discover new interests and build their kid-confidence. The Experts at Play are here to help with this list of our favorite holiday gifts for 5- and 6-year-olds, including:

PaperCraft Fashion Parade – Your little fashionista will LOVE this oversized paper doll set featuring 24 dolls and 160 outfits to color, mix and match and you’ll love to see them building fine motor skills and expressing their creativity and individuality! Dolls and outfits come in a travel-ready, spiral-round book for fun on the go and easily stick (and unstick) to tables, walls, doors, and floors for a real-life fashion parade.

Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Fire Truck – Great for fans of first responders! Busy builders use a real, working, kid-safe drill to build their very own firetruck, complete with a hinged ladder and fire and water toppers, at the same time building critical fine motor skills! An included Bolt Buddy firefighter, fire chief, and Dalmatian dog pal are perfect for hours of imaginative pretend play fun.

Design & Drill Adventure Circuits – Inspire an interest in engineering, engage your kiddo’s natural curiosity, and encourage problem solving with a DIY circuit set designed specifically for 5-year-olds! Kids use a real, working power drill to drill, bolt, and connect circuits and complete 20 different missions. Kids will not only be totally engaged in STEM learning, they will also feel proud of their problem-solving skills after completing the missions!

Circuit Explorer Rover – Light up the learning this holiday season with a 3-in-1 circuit building, construction play, imagination building set! Kids follow the symbols to assemble the vehicle and connect its circuits all by themselves, then blast into STEM learning and pretend play fun with a Communication Station, rotating Radar Dish, Powered Space Rover, and free-wheeling Space Rover, both with light-up headlights.

The Playfoam Game – Family game night just got squishier! Encourage those social skills, foster creativity, and build fine motor skills and hand strength with The Playfoam Game! Fun for the whole family, players take turns racing against the clock to sculpt or guess a clue using squishy, squashy, non-toxic Playfoam.

GeoSafari Jr. Kidscope – Help your curious kiddo answer some of their most pressing questions about the world around them with this kid-tough microscope featuring 15 slides with 60 amazing images, 200 fun facts, 3x magnification, extra-large eyepieces, and an easy-focus knob. This introductory microscope was designed specifically with kids in mind and is the perfect gift to support STEM learning and scientific discovery. 

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Globe –Expose your tiny traveler to the wonders of the world and introduce them to exciting, new places without ever leaving home! With this talking globe, featuring the voice of Wildlife Warrior Bindi Irwin, touch the smart stylus to any spot on the globe to hear a cool fact, measure the distance between two locations, or just explore

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Wildlife Camera – Is your child an animal lover who can’t get enough of furry, scaly, and feathered creatures? Take a photo safari with Wildlife Warrior Robert Irwin! Kids can view 130 built-in high-def images and listen to more than 200 fun facts and quiz questions designed to engage curious kids in the amazing wildlife of the world.

Design & Drill Toolbox – Busy builders can experience the thrill of the drill, using a real, working, kid-safe drill and five manual tools to build patterns and pictures out of colorful bolts. They’ll also be building fine motor skills, practicing early STEM skills, and gaining an understanding of how tools work! When they’re ready for a break, all parts and pieces pack easily into the included tool kit ‘til next time. 

This holiday season, help the little ones on your list develop their interests, find new passions, and ignite the spark that keeps them coming back for more!

Inspire New Interests with Holiday Gifts for 5- and 6-Year-Olds

Your just-starting-school aged kiddo is doing some pretty amazing growing up! Before your very eyes, your little one is probably becoming more independent; getting better at drawing and coloring; discovering new hobbies (daily?); and getting really curious about the world around them. This holiday season, surprise your 5- or 6-year-old with super fun toys and games that also help them discover new interests and build their kid-confidence. The Experts at Play are here to help with this list of our favorite holiday gifts for 5- and 6-year-olds, including:

PaperCraft Fashion Parade – Your little fashionista will LOVE this oversized paper doll set featuring 24 dolls and 160 outfits to color, mix and match and you’ll love to see them building fine motor skills and expressing their creativity and individuality! Dolls and outfits come in a travel-ready, spiral-round book for fun on the go and easily stick (and unstick) to tables, walls, doors, and floors for a real-life fashion parade.

Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Fire Truck – Great for fans of first responders! Busy builders use a real, working, kid-safe drill to build their very own firetruck, complete with a hinged ladder and fire and water toppers, at the same time building critical fine motor skills! An included Bolt Buddy firefighter, fire chief, and Dalmatian dog pal are perfect for hours of imaginative pretend play fun.

Design & Drill Adventure Circuits – Inspire an interest in engineering, engage your kiddo’s natural curiosity, and encourage problem solving with a DIY circuit set designed specifically for 5-year-olds! Kids use a real, working power drill to drill, bolt, and connect circuits and complete 20 different missions. Kids will not only be totally engaged in STEM learning, they will also feel proud of their problem-solving skills after completing the missions!

Circuit Explorer Rover – Light up the learning this holiday season with a 3-in-1 circuit building, construction play, imagination building set! Kids follow the symbols to assemble the vehicle and connect its circuits all by themselves, then blast into STEM learning and pretend play fun with a Communication Station, rotating Radar Dish, Powered Space Rover, and free-wheeling Space Rover, both with light-up headlights.

The Playfoam Game – Family game night just got squishier! Encourage those social skills, foster creativity, and build fine motor skills and hand strength with The Playfoam Game! Fun for the whole family, players take turns racing against the clock to sculpt or guess a clue using squishy, squashy, non-toxic Playfoam.

GeoSafari Jr. Kidscope – Help your curious kiddo answer some of their most pressing questions about the world around them with this kid-tough microscope featuring 15 slides with 60 amazing images, 200 fun facts, 3x magnification, extra-large eyepieces, and an easy-focus knob. This introductory microscope was designed specifically with kids in mind and is the perfect gift to support STEM learning and scientific discovery. 

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Globe –Expose your tiny traveler to the wonders of the world and introduce them to exciting, new places without ever leaving home! With this talking globe, featuring the voice of Wildlife Warrior Bindi Irwin, touch the smart stylus to any spot on the globe to hear a cool fact, measure the distance between two locations, or just explore

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Wildlife Camera – Is your child an animal lover who can’t get enough of furry, scaly, and feathered creatures? Take a photo safari with Wildlife Warrior Robert Irwin! Kids can view 130 built-in high-def images and listen to more than 200 fun facts and quiz questions designed to engage curious kids in the amazing wildlife of the world.

Design & Drill Toolbox – Busy builders can experience the thrill of the drill, using a real, working, kid-safe drill and five manual tools to build patterns and pictures out of colorful bolts. They’ll also be building fine motor skills, practicing early STEM skills, and gaining an understanding of how tools work! When they’re ready for a break, all parts and pieces pack easily into the included tool kit ‘til next time. 

This holiday season, help the little ones on your list develop their interests, find new passions, and ignite the spark that keeps them coming back for more!

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5 Must-Have Materials for a Well-Stocked Art Cart

The more accessible your art materials are, the more likely your kids are to use them! And with so many emotional, developmental, and educational benefits to crafting, encouraging arts and crafts is a super smart idea. EI’s Experts in Play are here to help you stock your art cart with five must have materials sure to inspire your kids to get crafty every day of National Craft Month – and beyond!1. PaperThe foundation for all kinds of projects, you’ll want to supply several different kinds of paper, including scratch paper, construction paper, cardstock, and even sheets of cardboard. Cut any bits left over from previous projects into shapes and squiggles to be used in future projects.2. Pencils, Crayons, and MarkersInclude basic graphite pencils as well as colored pencils (chunky sizes are easier for little hands). Go for washable markers and be sure to separate each type of supply into its own cup or bin so kids can easily find what they need.3. Paints and PaintbrushesWatercolors are wonderful for quick and easy painting projects. Tempera paints are washable and come in a huge range of colors that sticks to paper, cardboard, cloth, and even wood. They’re also great for finger painting! You’ll want to stock your cart with several sizes of kid-friendly paintbrushes, as well as a cup for water, a plastic palette, and a smock.4. Sculpting MaterialsEncourage 3-D creativity with sculptable materials like air dry clay (or Fimo for older kids). Non-toxic, moldable Playfoam® is the perfect compound for your art cart since it never dries out and your kids can reuse it again and again.Photo Credit: @madina_toys5. ExtrasInclude a bin for the extras, including child-safe scissors, glue sticks, pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, beans, beads, and glitter, if you dare.Once you’ve stocked your art cart with the basics, you may need a bit of inspiration. Visit our Pinterest page for endless creative craft ideas for little ones. Welcome spring with crafts including step-by-step instructions for drawing Hoppy Floppy and creating a chick and a bunny out of Playfoam pods!
5 Must-Have Materials for a Well-Stocked Art Cart
The more accessible your art materials are, the more likely your kids are to use them! And with so many emotional, developmental, and educational benefits to crafting, encouraging arts and crafts is a super smart idea. EI’s Experts in Play are here to help you stock your art cart with five must have materials sure to inspire your kids to get crafty every day of National Craft Month – and beyond!1. PaperThe foundation for all kinds of projects, you’ll want to supply several different kinds of paper, including scratch paper, construction paper, cardstock, and even sheets of cardboard. Cut any bits left over from previous projects into shapes and squiggles to be used in future projects.2. Pencils, Crayons, and MarkersInclude basic graphite pencils as well as colored pencils (chunky sizes are easier for little hands). Go for washable markers and be sure to separate each type of supply into its own cup or bin so kids can easily find what they need.3. Paints and PaintbrushesWatercolors are wonderful for quick and easy painting projects. Tempera paints are washable and come in a huge range of colors that sticks to paper, cardboard, cloth, and even wood. They’re also great for finger painting! You’ll want to stock your cart with several sizes of kid-friendly paintbrushes, as well as a cup for water, a plastic palette, and a smock.4. Sculpting MaterialsEncourage 3-D creativity with sculptable materials like air dry clay (or Fimo for older kids). Non-toxic, moldable Playfoam® is the perfect compound for your art cart since it never dries out and your kids can reuse it again and again.Photo Credit: @madina_toys5. ExtrasInclude a bin for the extras, including child-safe scissors, glue sticks, pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, beans, beads, and glitter, if you dare.Once you’ve stocked your art cart with the basics, you may need a bit of inspiration. Visit our Pinterest page for endless creative craft ideas for little ones. Welcome spring with crafts including step-by-step instructions for drawing Hoppy Floppy and creating a chick and a bunny out of Playfoam pods!
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Wake Up and Play!

Spending time with your preschooler strengthens your family bond, encourages positive behavior, builds communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and so much more. All good, right? So next time you have a morning free, surprise your sweetie and spend a few straight hours playing – together! Below, the Play Experts at EI share some of our favorite games, activities, and songs perfect for whiling away the winter hours with your little one, like:

Games to Play Together:

I Spy with My Little EyeSnuggle up and see what you can see – together! Spy things that are big, small, short, tall, square, circular, soft, hard, things that are certain colors, things with wheels or paws… you get the idea! This is a great way to build your little one’s vocabulary and introduce early math skills like shape and size.The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!Spin the day away with everyone’s favorite preschool game! Celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of Amazon’s best-selling preschool games, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! helps kids master colors while building fine motor and pre-handwriting skills.Bean Bag TossStand close together and see how many times you and your cutie can toss and catch a beanbag or balled up sock. Add a bit of a challenge by taking a step backwards every so often, taking turns tossing your beanbags into a laundry basket or mixing bowl, or balancing a beanbag on your heads while you play. A fun way to develop those gross motor skills! 

Activities to Do Together:

Sensory BinsPreschool teachers trust these bins to build their students’ brains, including developing nerve connections, building language skills, enhancing fine and gross motor skills, and encouraging problem solving. Start by filling a large bin with Playfoam Pluffle, the mesmerizing, mixable, can’t resistable, feel-good fluffy stuff that never dries out. Then add a variety of objects for you and your little one to find, feel, describe, sort, match, and more. Find some fabulous Sensory Bin ideas on our blog and our Sensory Play Ideas Pinterest board.ColorWho doesn’t love to color? Grab some printer paper and a new box of crayons and let your inner artists loose or print some of our free, downloadable coloring pages featuring your kiddo’s favorite EI characters. The trick here is that you need to color, too. Talk about the colors you’re using, give your creation a name, and make up a backstory – where does this creature live? What does it eat? What does it do all day?LearnLearning is more fun together! Our free, downloadable preschool packet includes colorful and engaging early literacy, math, and art activities perfect for sneaking some learning into your together time. 

Songs to Sing Together:

I’m a Little TeapotTeaching your kiddos a new tune is always a blast. Here are the words, in case you need a refresher (or didn’t know there were actually two verses!). Don’t forget to show your little ones how to make their handles and spouts!5 Little MonkeysWarning – this little ditty may lead to some jumping on the bed. But it’s a classic every kid should know. Find the words here and encourage your kiddos to act the story out, complete with 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown on their fingers.Itsy Bitsy SpiderThis sweet sing-along story has a happy ending – and helps develop those fine motor skills with specific hand movements, shown here. Sing the song a few times, then see if your little one can remember the words – and the moves!Photo Credit: pre-kpages.comIf You’re Happy and You Know ItGet ready for some hand clappin’, palm-tingling good times! Show your sweetie how it’s done, then take turns calling out what to do if you’re happy – clap your hands, stomp your feet, nod your head, shake your tush, etc.Whatever you choose to do together, time spent playing with your preschooler has a host of benefits – for you both. So get out there and play, sing, dance, craft, read, tickle, snuggle, and love on your little one right now!
Wake Up and Play! Spending time with your preschooler strengthens your family bond, encourages positive behavior, builds communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and so much more. All good, right? So next time you have a morning free, surprise your sweetie and spend a few straight hours playing – together! Below, the Play Experts at EI share some of our favorite games, activities, and songs perfect for whiling away the winter hours with your little one, like:

Games to Play Together:

I Spy with My Little EyeSnuggle up and see what you can see – together! Spy things that are big, small, short, tall, square, circular, soft, hard, things that are certain colors, things with wheels or paws… you get the idea! This is a great way to build your little one’s vocabulary and introduce early math skills like shape and size.The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!Spin the day away with everyone’s favorite preschool game! Celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of Amazon’s best-selling preschool games, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! helps kids master colors while building fine motor and pre-handwriting skills.Bean Bag TossStand close together and see how many times you and your cutie can toss and catch a beanbag or balled up sock. Add a bit of a challenge by taking a step backwards every so often, taking turns tossing your beanbags into a laundry basket or mixing bowl, or balancing a beanbag on your heads while you play. A fun way to develop those gross motor skills! 

Activities to Do Together:

Sensory BinsPreschool teachers trust these bins to build their students’ brains, including developing nerve connections, building language skills, enhancing fine and gross motor skills, and encouraging problem solving. Start by filling a large bin with Playfoam Pluffle, the mesmerizing, mixable, can’t resistable, feel-good fluffy stuff that never dries out. Then add a variety of objects for you and your little one to find, feel, describe, sort, match, and more. Find some fabulous Sensory Bin ideas on our blog and our Sensory Play Ideas Pinterest board.ColorWho doesn’t love to color? Grab some printer paper and a new box of crayons and let your inner artists loose or print some of our free, downloadable coloring pages featuring your kiddo’s favorite EI characters. The trick here is that you need to color, too. Talk about the colors you’re using, give your creation a name, and make up a backstory – where does this creature live? What does it eat? What does it do all day?LearnLearning is more fun together! Our free, downloadable preschool packet includes colorful and engaging early literacy, math, and art activities perfect for sneaking some learning into your together time. 

Songs to Sing Together:

I’m a Little TeapotTeaching your kiddos a new tune is always a blast. Here are the words, in case you need a refresher (or didn’t know there were actually two verses!). Don’t forget to show your little ones how to make their handles and spouts!5 Little MonkeysWarning – this little ditty may lead to some jumping on the bed. But it’s a classic every kid should know. Find the words here and encourage your kiddos to act the story out, complete with 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown on their fingers.Itsy Bitsy SpiderThis sweet sing-along story has a happy ending – and helps develop those fine motor skills with specific hand movements, shown here. Sing the song a few times, then see if your little one can remember the words – and the moves!Photo Credit: pre-kpages.comIf You’re Happy and You Know ItGet ready for some hand clappin’, palm-tingling good times! Show your sweetie how it’s done, then take turns calling out what to do if you’re happy – clap your hands, stomp your feet, nod your head, shake your tush, etc.Whatever you choose to do together, time spent playing with your preschooler has a host of benefits – for you both. So get out there and play, sing, dance, craft, read, tickle, snuggle, and love on your little one right now!
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