Finding surprise stocking stuffers is what I live for during the holiday season. Sounds weird, I know but I love when a stocking has fun and unique items that the receiver of said stocking is not expecting. But, surprise stocking stuffers that are different and maybe even a bit quirky, can be a challenge to find and they are often a lot more expensive than I would normally want to spend on a stuffer. So, to help out my last minute shoppers this year, I have compiled a list of cool and curious items for your stocking stuffer needs. :-)
Surprise Stocking Stuffers
Stretchy Sand
Unlike anything you have ever seen or played with before is Stretchy Sand! This unique item is solid like clay, flowy like sand and stretchy like slime. You will want to spend hours kneading your Stretchy Sand, shaping it into fun creations or just stretching it! It comes in four vibrant colours: pink, purple, green and blue and is appropriate for ages 3 and up. You can find Stretchy Sand at Indigo, Mastermind Toys and the Hudson’s Bay.
Foam Alive
Foam Alive is the best activity to play with for mess-free, satisfying fun. You can mold your Foam Alive into any kind of shape you can think of and then watch as it slowly starts to separate and flow like magic! It really looks like there is actually something alive inside your foam!! You have to see and feel Foam Alive to believe it. Appropriate for ages 5 and up. Foam Alive can be found at Walmart, Indigo, Shoppers Drug Mart and more.
National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig
National Geographic’s Shark Tooth Dig Kit let’s your kiddos dig up and explore fossils from three different species of shark. They will actually get to hold and examine genuine shark teeth fossils from the ocean’s deadliest predators! There is a full-colour learning guide included full of amazing shark facts and photos to help kids identify the teeth of the sand tiger shark, the otodus and crow sharks. Your children won’t even know they are learning because they are having so much fun! Recommended for children ages 6 and up, the Nat Geo Shark Tooth Dig can be found at stores such as Staples, Toys R’ US, Walmart and more.
National Geographic Instant Snow
Even though there is snow outside right now, I bet it melts when you come indoors, right? 😉 Well, now you can create snow in your home, even in the summer by playing with the National Geographic Instant Snow Kit! All you need to do is just add water to the instant snow powder and watch as the snow expands. The instant snow can be frozen into blocks to build an igloo or make a snow fort. It is even reusable by heating the instant snow gently in the oven where it will turn back into a powder for storage until you next want to use it. The instant snow comes with five science and five art projects. It is suggested for ages 6 and up and can be found at Mastermind Toys, Indigo and other fines stores.
The UpsideDown Challenge
Why not flip the world upside down during your next game night with The UpsideDown Challenge Game! Players will compete to do challenges like giving high-fives, writing their name and catching a crumpled up ball of paper and more, all while their vision is flipped upside down. Even the simplest of tasks becomes difficult when the world is flipped upside down! I dare you not to laugh. 🙂 The UpsideDown Challenge Game is suggested for ages 8 and up and can be found at stores like Canadian Tire, Walmart and Mastermind.
SmartLab Toys Tiny Science
The tinier the tools, the bigger the science! How small is the smallest ball of slime you can make? Find out with Tiny Science! This miniature science lab features 20 precision science instruments in a custom case. You can mix up tiny chemistry experiments in the itty-bitty beakers, test tubes and flask. Have a look through the teeny-tiny magnifier to see little specimens up close. Everything fits nicely in the carry case so you can take your Tiny Science on-the-go! The included science activity book features 20 experiments for you to try out. Suggested age is 8 and up and you can find this item on Amazon and Wordery.
SmartLab Toys Tiny Baking
Now you can whip up a super-small culinary concoction using your teeny-tiny kitchen tools found in SmartLab’s Tiny Baking Kit! The kit comes with a 17 piece Tiny Baking set featuring 20 great recipes to try out! This kit is sure to entertain with real food meeting up with real science. Now your kiddos can fill up their bellies (and yours too) while they fill up their minds with amazing science. Suggested age is 8 years and up and this item can be found on Amazon.
SmartLab Toys Tiny Robots
The Tiny Robot is an exciting introduction to mini machines and robotics. This mini robotics kit comes with everything children need to design and build miniature working machines from an assortment of real mechanical parts. The kit travels well, for on-the-go play. You can learn basic mechanical engineering, like how to assemble robots and what makes them work. You will find that the Tiny Robot kit teaches the same content as beginner STEM robotics clubs do. Suggested age is 8 years old and up. Tiny Robots can be found on Amazon.
National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes
National Geographic brings home the best variety of geodes in the world. Children will have a blast when they break open these rocks to find the crystal treasure held inside. Just imagine the surprise! This amazing earth science kit provides a great hands-on science experiment that you and your kiddos are going to love having fun with. The recommended age for the National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes kit is 8 years and up. You can find this item at Mastermind Toys, Indigo and Walmart.
National Geographic Crystal Gardens
Now you can grow crystal-covered trees with the National Geographic Crystal Gardens kit! The set combines the science of a crystal-growing lab with the creativity of an art project. Children can watch in awe as crystals grow from the branches of the included evergreen and cherry trees, just like magic! You won’t need to wait long for the magic to happen either – the first crystals will appear in minutes, but then the trees will take up to six hours to be covered in a beautiful crystal display. A full-coloured learning guide teaches children, ages 8 and up, all about crystals and more! Find this gem at Toys R’ Us, Staples, Walmart and others.
National Geographic Dinosaur Dig KitÂ
Now you can spark your child’s love of history and science and teach them all about dinosaurs with National Geographic’s Dinosaur Dig kit! Using the included magnifying glass and archeological tools, your kiddos will have an exciting hands-on experience discovering three real dinosaur fossils. Add to your rock collection when you dig up dinosaur poop, as well as a mosasaur tooth and bone. Recommended for ages 8 and up, this item can be found at Walmart, Indigo, Staples and more.Â
National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit
Grow amazing glowing crystals in your own home with the National Geographic’s Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit. The set comes with a detailed learning guide that is packed full of interesting crystal facts and a real fluorite specimen! Your children will have an amazing time with this kit and will be learning too. Recommended ages are 8 and up and this item can be found at Indigo, Mastermind Toys and more.Â
National Geographic’s Da Vinci’s DIY Science & Engineering Construction Kit
Now you can discover da Vinci’s workshop with National Geographic’s amazing da Vinci’s inventions products. There are no special tools required for you to build these awesome inventions from Leonardo da Vinci. Everything you need is included: laser-cut wooden components, rubber bands, sand paper and easy to follow instructions. This Nat Geo set is recommended for ages 12 and up and can be found at Indigo, Walmart and more.Â
The Giveaway
One lucky MapleMouseMama reader will win a National Geographic Crystal Gardens Kit!!! To be eligible to win please complete the Rafflecopter below with your qualifying answers. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents over the age of 18. Please read our giveaway rules before entering. This giveaway will end on January 8th, 2021 at 11:59pm. Good luck!!Â
Which of these incredible surprise stocking stuffers do you think your children (and you 🙂 ) would enjoy playing and creating with?
FT&PD
Suz
**Disclosure: We were gifted the above items to play with and to review. All opinions are my own.Â
**If you would like me to review your product, service, restaurant or travel destination, please send me an email at rudges2@gmail.com , tweet me at @MapleMouseMama  or DM me on Instagram!!
I think we would enjoy the National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig.
They are all great but I think they would love the shark tooth and crystal ones.
I think they would love the SmartLab Toys Tiny Robots and the crystal garden
I think my grandson would enjoy the National Geographic’s Dinosaur Dig kit.
They’d enjoy the Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit
I think we would have the most fun with is the upside down game we love our game nights.
I already bought the foam for a little special needs girl; that stretch sand looks great too!!
the shark tooth dig. my son loves things like this.
thanks so much for the chance
The stretchy sand looks tactile and interesting!
I think we’d really have fun with the Geodes. I loved them when I was a kid!
We would enjoy them all but I think the younger kids would love the National Geographic Dinosaur Dig Kit the most!
I think we would have the most fun with is the National Geographic Crystal Gardens. Thanks 🙂
My kids would like the tiny bakery.
SmartLab Toys Tiny Baking
Now you can whip up a super-small culinary concoction using your teeny-tiny kitchen tools found in SmartLab’s Tiny Baking Kit!
I think we would have the best with is the National Geographic Crystal Gardens
I think my kids would like the National Geographic’s Dinosaur Dig kit.
My grandsons would love the National Geographic Crystal Gardens Kit
the foam is cool
I think my granddaughter would enjoy each and every one of them!! but i think she would really like tiny science!
The Shark Took Dig would really go over well.
They would like the National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes because they like to smash stuff with hammers.
My son would love the SmartLab Toys Tiny Science
My grandson would love several of these stocking stuffers! He loves dinosaurs, so choosing the National Geographic Dinosaur Dig Kit.
The crystals Garden Kit would be interesting for the kids
My kids love anything science, so… all of them! The tiny robots are super cute.
The tiny baking kit
Stretchy sand for the young ones!
This is fun and good learning experience for kids
They would love the crystal kit of the baking kit for the smaller grandchild
we would love crystal garden
The Glow in the Dark Crystal Lab is what would appeal to my family.
crystal garden
The shark dig would be perfect for my son
My kids & I would love to try SmartLab Toys Tiny Science
The National Geographic Instant Snow Kit would be a fun project to try.
I think my son would love the DaVinci’s catapult!
She would like the Tiny Baking set.
I think my little niece would love the Crystal Garden she would enjoy
We would enjoy the National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes. It would be fun to break open a rock to find a crystal
We would enjoy the National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes as it would be fun breaking the rock to find the crystall
The UpsideDown Challenge would be awesome to play, looks like a lot of fun!!
Dinosaur Dig Kit ! But they all are awesome !
We would enjoy smashing open the Geode Kit!
Foam Alive for sure would be a huge hit
She would like the Shark tooth dig kit.
I would absolutely love a geode of my own. My nephew would adooooore the catapult
The stretchy sand.
All of these kits are so cool! I think my grandson would love the SmartLab Toys Tiny Robots the most.
the Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit would be nice!
I think my twins would have fun with the Tiny Baking Set. Thank you
The shark tooth dig would be neat!
My nieces and nephews would enjoy all of these kits, but I especially like the National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes kit.
My daughter really wanted to try the Stretchy Sand.
S o hard to pick, my granddaughters would love all of them. I really like the National Geographic collection. Beautiful gift for those age hard to buy for.
I forgot to say my favourite is the National Geographic Crystal Gardens
the dig kits! i’m still into that kinda thing now
I actually think we would have the most fun with the Geographic Crystal Gardens. But they are all great stocking stuffer ideas!
I bought the Break Open Geodes Kit for my eldest. But she may have to wait until her birthday to get it! It looks like something she would really enjoy. The tiny baking looks really cool too!
We would have lots of fun with the National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit
The Dino Fossil Dig Kit would be something my grandsons would absolutely love!
Alysia loves to build, so I think that she would like the Da Vinci’s DIY Science & Engineering Construction Kit best. I didn’t even know that existed, so thanks for telling me.
My kiddo would love the Shark Tooth Dig and the Crystals!
My grandchildren would love the National Geographic’s Da Vinci’s DIY Science & Engineering Construction Kit
I love the National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig. This would be so much fun for the boys. Merry Christmas!
oh my son will love this
My family would enjoy the National Geographic Crystal Gardens.
The crystals would be awesome for my granddaughter
We would enjoy all of these, especially the National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit, National Geographic Crystal Gardens, Foam Alive, SmartLab Toys Tiny Baking & Tiny Science sets and National Geographic Instant Snow (how cool!!).
My kids would love stretchy sand in their stockings for sure.
dino fossil dig kit. my son is a huge fan of dinosaurs!
My son would really like the crystal gardens. He’s into science!
The upside down game!
My son would like the DaVinci’s catapult. He loves building things like that.
My nephews would enjoy National Geographic’s Da Vinci’s DIY Science & Engineering Construction Kit
The TIny Baking kit is so adorable! Id love to gift that
I think my little miracle would like the Stretchy Sand
My son would like the National Geographic’s Da Vinci’s DIY Science & Engineering Construction Kit.
We would most enjoy National Geographic Dinosaur Dig Kit .
My kids would enjoy SmartLab Toys Tiny Robots!
The National Geographic ‘Instant Snow’ looks fun! Thanks:)
Kids would love the Stretch Sand
The little science or little baking kits would definitely entertain my kids.
Davinci Catapult would be a winner here
without a doubt DaVinci’s catapult would be a hit here
Those are all such neat gift ideas. My kids would love the National Geographic Break Open 2 Real Geodes
National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig sounds wonderful.
We would love the crystal growing kit or the break open the geode kit. So much fun for kids!
My kids would love any of the National Geographic kits. They received the Instant Snow one and we had tons of fun with it on Christmas Day. I think the Tiny Baking set is so cute!
We would like to try the Mini cooking kit.
We’d love the Break Open 2 Real Geodes, and then to find a way to repurpose it the Geodes afterward, i’m thinking like a flower pot perhaps!
The Upside Down Challenge looks like a lot of fun. Plus the Crystal Garden kit.
I would love the National Geographic Crystal Gardens Kit
We would like to try the Mini Cooking Kit and the National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig.
My Devyn would love any o them
Tiny Bots.. my son is into battlebots right now.
I love the crystal garden and the shark tooth dig. I don’t know how much the kids will love it, but this bid kid would definitely have fun.
We love to play games and i think The UpsideDown Challenge would be a great addition to our games night. I think the kids would love it.
My grandson loves Dinosaurs so i think the National Geographic Dinosaur Dig Kit would be a real hit.
My grandson’s would love the Dino Fossil dig kit.
National Geographic’s Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Growing Kit