Stocking Fillers for a 5 Year Old Girl
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I first wrote this list when my daughter was five, to share exactly what I'd bought her for Christmas. They're honest stocking filler ideas from a mum who had a five-year-old girl at the time, not a list of random products.
She's 14 now (where did that time go?), so I've been back to update it with what still works, what's changed and how we save money on Christmas presents today.
If you're stuck for ideas, here are the stocking fillers my daughter loved at five, plus plenty more small gifts and budget ideas. Buying for a boy too? Here are some ideas for a gift for a 5 year old boy who has everything as well.
What I got my daughter for Christmas at five
These are the stocking fillers and small gifts I actually bought her. Some of them, like the unicorn lights, came from Hawkin's Bazaar, which sadly closed all its shops in 2020.
Unicorn lights
When my daughter was five, she was obsessed with unicorns. She told us that when she was a grown up, she'd be able to ride one!
If your five-year-old loves unicorns too, unicorn fairy lights for her bedroom make a lovely stocking filler.
Scooter accessories
She needed a new scooter that year, but the one we chose only came in blue and green. She loved pink and purple, so we bought some scooter accessories to make it hers.
We got purple tassels for the ends of the handlebars, and a Scooterheadz purple pony head that turned her scooter into a ride-on horse! If your five-year-old loves her scooter, accessories are an affordable stocking filler that she'll use all year.
Lego Friends
Our daughter absolutely loved Lego, and she was ecstatic the first time she saw Lego Friends in our local supermarket. Small boxes start at around £5, so they make perfect top-up gifts.
Drawing pads and glitter pens
Check the craft section in your local supermarket for giant drawing pads and glitter pens. They're cheap and cheerful, and they let your five-year-old get creative.
Crafty bits are easy to find in supermarkets, The Works, The Range and lots of other affordable shops. For older children, or adults who enjoy creative activities with their kids, paint-by-number projects from platforms like Canvas By Numbers can inspire both skill-building and bonding.
DIY jewellery kits
My daughter loves making things, especially things she can wear. She loved it at five and she still loves it now!
A jewellery kit with elastic string and beads will keep a five-year-old girl happy for hours, designing her own bracelets and necklaces.
Fluffy socks
No stocking is complete without a pair of Christmas socks. These days, I always put in some cosy fluffy slipper socks, and they'd still suit a five-year-old perfectly.
You can pick them up for a couple of pounds in supermarkets and Primark, and there's a Primark discount hack that can save you even more.
Kids' nail varnish
This one needs supervising, but there are lots of non-toxic nail varnish brands that make polish especially for kids. Her very own nail varnish will make her feel super special and grown up.
Personalised gifts
There's something magical about a child receiving a gift with their name on it, especially from Santa and his elves. Try to choose something that will be used over and over again, so it's not just a novelty.
A personalised pencil case, water bottle or t-shirt with her name on all work well. Many companies offer fast t-shirt printing, so you can get your gift in time for Christmas.
Healthy snacks and treats
When my kids were five, they loved Bear dried fruit snacks and Organix Goodies bars. These were the treats I didn't mind them having lots of on Christmas Day!
They loved having a multipack all to themselves without having to ask me for a snack like usual. And I never felt guilty about them eating these healthier treats for a day or two.
We still buy Bear snacks now. They're 100% fruit, and the dried strawberries are a big favourite in our house.
Sweets and chocolate
Now they're older, we give them sweets and chocolate too, always the vegan versions. Their favourites are the vegan Percy Pigs and Nomo chocolate bars, especially the Christmas reindeer Nomo cookie bars.
I also add a few small selection packs, and chocolate coins are a must! If you're happy for your five-year-old to have sweets and chocolate, these would suit her just as much as a teenager, and there are lots of vegan options around now if you're a vegan family like us.
More stocking filler ideas for a 5 year old girl
Above is everything I got my daughter that year. But if you need more ideas for stocking fillers, top-up gifts or small presents, here are 15 more:
- Playdough and cookie cutters: great for creativity and fine motor skills.
- Small puzzles: perfect for problem-solving and concentration.
- Sticker books: cheap, and they keep little ones busy for ages.
- Bubble wands: a fun, inexpensive way to entertain a five-year-old.
- Small books and colouring books: great for encouraging a love of reading.
- Temporary tattoos: a fun way for her to express her personality.
- Hair accessories: hair bands, clips and headbands she can choose herself.
- Small soft toys: the Christmas Jellycat selection has some adorable Christmas-themed small teddies that are rather unique!
- Finger puppets: great for imagination and storytelling.
- A personalised t-shirt: lots of companies offer fast t-shirt printing, so you can add her name or a festive design.
- Rings and bracelets: perfect for dressing up.
- Doll sets: mini or small sets are another lovely choice for five-year-old girls who enjoy imaginative play.
- A snow globe: a little bit of Christmas magic she can shake again and again.
- Fidget toys: pop-its, squishies and sensory toys are cheap and kids love them.
- A magic wand: perfect for fairy, princess or unicorn fans.
If you're still stuck, check out the pocket money toy sections in gift shops and local toy shops.
I also got my five-year-old daughter a unicorn moodlight and a colour-melting unicorn candle, which was obviously a supervised family activity!
Stocking fillers under £5
You really don't need to spend a lot on stocking fillers. Lots of the ideas above cost under £5, including:
- Lego blind bags or minifigures
- Fluffy socks and Christmas socks
- Sticker books and colouring books
- Bubble wands and playdough
- Hair bands and clips
- Chocolate coins and small selection packs
- Bear dried fruit snacks and Organix Goodies bars
I buy most of ours from supermarkets, The Works, Primark, Amazon and Holland & Barrett. It's worth picking things up as you see them throughout the year, rather than leaving it all to December. Even starting in October can help to spread the cost over a few months. If you do end up leaving it late, here are my last-minute Christmas shopping tips to help.
How we save money on Christmas presents
We don't have a separate budget for stocking fillers. Instead, we have an overall budget per child for all their presents, and the small gifts come out of that. Here's more on Christmas budget planning if you want to get organised.
This year, we've been saving up all our points to put towards the kids' presents. That includes Nectar points, Morrisons points and apps that turn receipts into cash or rewards that can be exchanged for Amazon vouchers.
I stopped cashing out a few months ago, so it all builds up in time for Christmas. It makes a real difference, and it feels like getting some of the presents for free!
Next year, I plan to save all our loyalty points for the entire year, so we have as many as possible to start spending on presents in December and help towards the cost of Christmas. Here are more ways to buy Christmas presents on a budget too.
Reusable Christmas sacks instead of stockings
We don't do traditional stockings anymore. Instead, we use reusable Christmas sacks in different sizes.
The smaller sacks are filled with the small gifts, and the larger ones hold the bigger presents. They save on wrapping paper every single year, and they still look lovely on Christmas morning.
If you do want to wrap stocking fillers, gift bags and tissue paper are much quicker than wrapping paper, and you can reuse them too.
Final thoughts
Once you get going, you'll realise there are lots of stocking fillers that are perfect for a five-year-old girl, and most of them are really affordable.
The best ones tend to be things she'll actually use, like craft kits, scooter or bike accessories, fluffy socks and her favourite snacks. Then all that's left is to put on a Christmas film (or two) and get everything wrapped! Here are some unique ideas for a memorable family Christmas to make the day even more special.
