When I was a kid I was given fruit, nuts and candy as "stocking stuffers".  Since I celebrated both holidays Christmas and Chanukah I was also given a small gift on the first night of Chanukah.  That gift was usually a calendar or book.  These days there are a lot of ways that you can be creative and cool for not a lot of money.  We've found the best gifts under $10.00 so you can shop for all your grandchildren and not break the bank!

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

Age 8 and up

Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (by Cap Candy, $3.99)  With Harry Potter's second movie out, who can resists this delightfully disgusting candy as a holiday treat.  With jellybean flavors like sardine, vomit, horseradish, mustard, and booger your grandchild will be delighted.  We can't attest to tasting some of the more unusual flavors - no one agreed to be the guinea pig - let your grandchild decide!

Nibble Notes (by Cap Candy, $1.99)  Did you ever had to swallow a note to prevent your teacher from reading it?  Well now your grandchildren can do it and enjoy it at the same time.  Yes, these are EDIBLE notes with EDIBLE ink!  The notes come on a little clipboard so they can write, pass, read, chew and swallow! Talk about destroying the evidence!  What a great concept - cool, fun and delicious.  

 Kodak Max 35mm Single Use Camera w/ Flash by Kodak ($8.99)
 Let your grandchild take pictures during their holiday and share them with you later! These cameras are inexpensive and take great pictures. Each can take 27 pictures and has a built-in flash. (Note: The list price is $14.99, but we found them on sale at Amazon.com for $8.99.)

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.

Penny Racers 4-Pack: Street Racers - by Funrise  ($7.99)
These little cars are packed with fun. Our 10-year-old tester said they're "cool -- you can do turns, wheelies, jump, and more! You just stick a penny in and watch them fly!"

Goooze: by Jakks Pacific ($4.99-$9.99)
Goooze is a unique compound that can be stretched, bounced, squeezed, and more. Our testers enjoyed the color change and scented versions. Goooze will stick to things if stepped on, so make sure you keep it away from carpets and other surfaces that might be damaged.

Skweeez: by Jakks Pacific ($4.99-$6.99)
Skweeez, a recent recipient of the Oppenheim Gold Seal Award for Best Toy, is a molding compound that is incredibly soft and lightweight. It's messy, but it provides hours of creative fun.

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.

Crest Spinbrush for Kids, Walkie Talkie - by Crest  
These funky toothbrushes come in cool styles. In addition to the
walkie-talkie shown here, there's a mermaid, racecar, and cellphone. Older kids will like either the plain versions or the neon colors. This will come in handy after all those sugary holiday goodies!

You can get gift certificates in denominations as low as $5 in some places. Try a gift certificate to a movie theater, or to Amazon, Target, Mervyn's, JCPenney, Wal-Mart,Blockbuster, Gap, or another retailer with a variety of low-priced, kid-pleasing options. Your grandchild will have a great time spending it! 

Charm Bracelets - by Zoppini ($7.00 and up)
These add-on charm bracelets are a great way to start a cool gift
tradition. For Chanukah, you could give the bracelet the first night and
one or more charms on later nights. For Christmas, put the bracelet in the
stocking and wrap a few charms for under the tree. Prices start at about
$7 for the plain stainless steel bracelet. Charms range from $15-$35 each.
Call (800) 845-8898 for a retailer near you.

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. 

Carolyn Forsman Jewelry  - Created by Carolyn Forsman this jewelry is truly funky.  Their website will sell to you direct, and the prices range from $5.00 for a kids compass ring, to a crystal American flag for $10.00.  Everything is affordably priced.  Some items come in cute little pouches ready to drop into a stocking, or for a night on Chanukah.  Her items can be bought either through her website or at various museums around the country. Check it out at http://www.carolynforsman.com.

Cosmic Giggles -  Do you want to get your granddaughter something different?  Check out these necklaces, bracelets and stick on nails.  They light up when you move.  Great for evenings out, parties and concerts.  A cute little gift your tween/teen granddaughter will get a kick out of!  (Note: The fingernails are definitely a choking hazard so keep them away from younger grandchildren.)  The retail anywhere from $1.99 to $14.99. Check them out a http://www.cosmicgiggles.com.