When I was a kid, I got fruit, nuts, and candy as "stocking stuffers" for Christmas. Our family also celebrated Chanukah, and I received a small gift -- usually a calendar or book -- on the first night. These days, there are even more ways you can be creative and cool without spending a lot of money. We've found the best gifts under $10, so you can shop for all your grandchildren and not break the bank! 

by Katrina Hayday Wester

Infants | Toddlers | Ages 4 - 8 | Ages 8 - Up

Age 4 - 8

Groovy Girls: Vanessa, Victoria and Verity (by Manhattan Toy Co., Ages 3-12, $9.99)  Last year our tester's mother was scurrying about looking in every store to find Groovy Girls for her daughter.  Apparently all her girlfriends had every single one.  That's why our tester was so thrilled when we gave her Groovy Girl Vanessa from the USA.  Vanessa is decked out in a patriotic outfit including a flag top.  Just like her friends, Vanessa's clothes can be changed.  Needless to say, our 5 1/2-year-old tester thought Vanessa was just great. The mother of our tester has reported that her 5 1/2-year-old has asked Santa for Victoria and Verity for Christmas.

 Disney Wild Racer 2-Pack (by Hasbro, $7.99)  These cool little cars are great for Disney fans and toy car fans alike.  The two pictured here are designed like the genie from Aladin and a Cobra.  They compe with 2-sided vanity plate bio cards. Other models include Lightyear Warpster & Galax7y Aggressor, Black Heart GT & Rippin' Reptile, check out all the Disney Wild Racers right here!

HitClips by Tiger ($8.99 to $10.99 )
These music players are the hottest gadget during recess. Our
8-year-old tester said that not only do all her friends have them, they've
also all asked for more add-ons on their stocking-stuffer lists. We tested
the "Micro Boombox," the "HitClips Pen," the "Micro Personal Player," and the "Carabiner." The sound is surprisingly good for their tiny size. This is a small gift packed with power! Additional music cartridges sell for about $11 for a three-pack.

Crest Spinbrush for Kids, Walkie Talkie - by Crest  ($5.99)
These funky toothbrushes come in cool styles. In addition to the walkie-talkie shown here, there's a mermaid, racecar, and cellphone. A kid who picks up a SpinBrush won't want to stop brushing. This will come in handy after all those sugary holiday goodies! 

Maggie Raggies Angel - by Zapf Creation ( $9.99 )
These 9-inch dolls come in silver or gold and a range of skin and hair colors. Your "little angel" can play with them or hang them from a Christmas tree. Click here for a retailer near you. Click here for a retailer near you.

Thomas & Friends Thomas the Tank Engine - by Learning Curve ($9.99)
If your grandchild is a train buff, you'll know what type of smile Thomas and his friends can bring. This is a great add-on if your grandchild already has a train set. Other designs retail for up to $12 or $13. This train is wooden and 2 inches high with black plastic wheels.  It has magnetic bumpers at the ends so each vehicle can linkup and is designed for the click-clack track.

Faber-Castell 12 Watercolor Pencils  ($5.95)
These 12 watercolor pencils come in a tube with a brush. The bottom end cap is designed to hold water. You can color with the pencils, and then moisten the brush and blend some of the colors. Other good choices from Faber-Castell include crayons and clip-together markers.

Lip Balm: These are small, inexpensive, and great for warding off winter chapped lips! For girls, try Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in a variety of flavors. For boys, opt for lip balm.

Draw Thumb Animals - by Klutz  ($6.95)
This tiny little book turns a child's thumbprints into pictures of
all kinds of animals. This little kit includes a thumb-sized inkpad,
mini-pen and 44 pages of instructions. Also available are Draw Thumb People and Draw Thumb Things. Visit our Book Reviews, to find more  good books that are perfect for stocking stuffers. 

Color-a-Cookie - by coloracookie.com ($4.99 )
Our testers had a blast with this edible mini-project. Each kit
includes one cookie and two coloring pens. The cookies are available with Christmas and Chanukah images as well as familiar characters. Call 1-800-237-8443 for a retailer near you, or you can order online at http://www.coloracookie.com.

Advent Calendars and Chanukah Calendars - Most Advent calendars are under $10. Here's a link to hundreds.  There are also calendars that count down the eight nights of Chanukah. We found a great "Chanukah Countdown" calendar by WJ Fantasy for $12.95; you can purchase it by clicking here.