You’d think it would be easy to fill up advent calendars with gifts.
Well, it is!
With these Christmas calendar filler ideas for kids, you’ll have yours filled in no time.
NOTE: If you are here for the advent calendar fillers for teenagers, they have moved to their very own post. Of course, some of the ideas in this article work for teens too.
Are you still looking for the perfect advent calendar? You’ll love these Christmas calendar ideas.
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1. Toys and Games
All the kids like toys and games!
So, this one is always a safe category to choose from.
You’ll find all kinds of inexpensive, fun things to put in the advent calendar at dollar stores and stores that sell party supplies.
Though dollar store toys can have a reputation of not lasting long, sometimes you hit the jackpot.
When my oldest daughter was one, I got her a cute snowman from the dollar store. When you pushed the tummy, you’d hear a Christmas tune.
I was sure that it would not last long.
Was I wrong! Several years later, that snowman still happily caroled.
- bouncy balls like these awesome Light-Up Spiky Balls!
- LEGO pieces to a kit (give a few pieces each day)
- DUPLO blocks for toddlers
- puzzle pieces (give a few pieces each day)
- balloons (uninflated)
- mini beach balls (uninflated)
- bullets for nerf guns
- Barbie accessories
- doll clothes
- jump rope
- mini flashlight
- pretend food
- matchbox cars
- travel game sets
- play dough
- game cards (suggestions after this list)
- Yo-Yos
- finger puppets
- slime
- dollhouse furniture
- a treasure map or clues for finding a hidden gift
- glow sticks
- bubbles
- whistle
- water growing toys
- glitter putty
- paddle ball
- scrabble pieces (put one for each day, pick letters that spell a fun message or perhaps a clue for finding a hidden treasure)
Here are some specific ideas in this toys and games category for you to look at.
Game Cards
Put some games in the advent calendars and get ready to make fun memories.
Fun game cards for kids:
Toy Sets
Toys sets with multiple parts work well for advent calendars.
Split a toy set and give a piece or few each day.
Here are some fun ideas:
- wild animals
- farm set with animals, vehicles, and a barn
- mini transforming robot cars
- country house and a stable
- super hero mini action figures, set of 26
- miniature fairies
Building Blocks
Building blocks are fantastic. A simple collection of blocks can entertain the kids for years.
Take a look at these awesome building blocks collections:
- coffee house and a swimming pool set, unique and fun, check out the latest price for this combo
- Santa’s Christmas gingerbread house, perfect for the holiday season
- Christmas train
Puzzles
Yay! This is another gift idea you can split over a couple of days.
Fabulous puzzles:
- Christmas tree-shaped puzzle, ages 4-8
- princess and unicorns, ages 4-8
- avengers, ages 4-8
- Christmas snowmen, ages 8-10
- cats at the beach, 300 pieces
2. Stuff for Creating
Let’s continue looking at other fun advent calendar gift ideas.
If your kids love to make crafts and you find having glitter and paper pieces all over the place charming, then this is your category!
- watercolors
- crayons
- erasers
- paintbrushes
- acrylic paint
- wood cut outs to paint (They come in various Christmas shapes and are inexpensive. Buy a few and let the decorating begin! You could also glue a ribbon loop in the back and use them as Christmas ornaments.)
- yarn
- ribbon
- stickers
- charms (inexpensive sets)
- gel pens
- beads
- ink pens
- stamper
- finger paint
- holiday pencils
- rock painting kit
- journal
- pom poms
- color scratch paper
- sidewalk chalk
- craft kit
- stencils
- feathers
- scissors
- chenille stems
- popsicle sticks
- glitter glue
3. Something to Wear
I don’t know who would not love to find fun holiday socks in the advent calendar.
Put in the Christmas calendar fun things from bracelets to ties.
- socks (holiday, fuzzy… any kind of socks)
- gloves
- belt
- scarf
- cap
- shoelaces like these fun no-tie curly laces
- necklace (cute ideas below)
- bike gloves
- bracelet (adorable ideas below)
- ballet shoes
- bandana
- leg warmers
- tie
- scrunchies (cool collections)
- hair bands and clips
Jewelry Ideas
Jewelry for sparkling, magical moments:
- personalized bracelet set, the set has 3 adorable bracelets and they come in various sizes to ensure a great fit
- daisy bracelet with your child’s name is the cutest one ever
- sparkly unicorn necklace with a “you are magical” charm
- ballerina necklace for the little dancer in your life
Speaking of ballerinas, check out these cute gold ballet shoes!
4. Baking Fun
An easy and practical advent calendar gift for girls and boys!
You probably bake with your kids during the Holiday season.
Why not put in the calendar some cute things for your next baking time.
Practical and fun! Can’t beat that.
- cupcake liners, kids will love these!
- cookie cutters
- mini spatula, makes baking extra fun
- cake decorating tips
- sprinkles
- piping bags
5. Something to Eat or Drink
We all got to eat something… and why not some fun, easy treats.
- hot chocolate packets
- single serve hot chocolate mix in salt shaker
- juice box
- drink mix
- chips
- pop corn
- pretzels
- trail mix
- candy cane seeds (free printable bag topper and gift tag)
- fruit snacks
- snack mix
- fruit bars (my family loves these)
- Grinch pills (green Tic Tac, Sixlets, m&ms)
- chocolate
- old fashioned candy
Single Serve Hot Chocolate Mix In Salt Shaker
- 2-3 tsp of cocoa
- 1-2 TBS of sugar (white or brown)
- mini marshmallows
- salt shaker with a handle (they are quite adorable), buy in bulk and save on salt shakers
- tiny candy cane (optional)
- twine and decorations (optional)
(When ready to use, heat 1 cup of milk and stir in the hot chocolate mix.)
Before continuing to explore the advent calendar fillers, grab these free Christmas printables:
- Christmas lights scavenger hunt printable
- Christmas lights scavenger hunt printable with pictures
- Candy cane seeds bag toppers
- Gingerbread coloring pages
- Santa’s helper scavenger hunt
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Play, laugh, and make memories!
32 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues
and a planner for creating different scavenger hunts with the clues.
Take a look at the Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues at our store, ShopRelaxedHostess.com
pdf file, 30-day money back guarantee, available to customers in the USA
6. Money, Money, Money
The older the kid, the more they’ll appreciate finding money in their advent calendar.
- rolled up dollar bills (tie with a ribbon or a paper clip)
- $1 coins
- $2 bills
- gift cards
7. For Home
This is a perfect time to get something cute for your kids room.
I think that even tweens and teens would love cool dresser drawer knobs or fun hooks for the wall.
- Christmas ornaments
- LED tea light candle
- tiny real or fake plant
- picture frame
- mini snow globe
- coaster (silicone animal shapes and many more)
- fun hook for the wall
- cool dresser knobs (So many options to choose from!)
- wall decal
- waterproof stickers for cups or water bottles
- night light (ideas below)
- curtain holder (tiebacks of all kinds for everyone: unicorn, monkey, soccer ball, etc.)
Night Lights
Sometimes you just need a little night light.
- cute color-changing plug-in night light illuminates the room based on your chosen settings
- winter-themed night lights look awesome and are just perfect for this time of year, the set has a snowflake, snowman, and a star.
8. Notes for Activities
One of the fabulous choices is the activities.
These are all easy and won’t break the bank.
December is such a busy time for many of us, so pick simple and doable activities. Something that won’t stress you out.
- make paper snowflakes
- create or sign Christmas cards
- bake cookies
- make a Holiday puzzle
- sing Christmas songs
- create a Christmas snack mix
- go to see Christmas lights
- turn a plain shirt into a Christmas shirt
- make a no-sew fleece scarf
- visit Santa
- play Christmas themed games
- read a Christmas book
- go for a walk and drink warm cocoa
- watch a Christmas movie
- decorate your room for Christmas
- attend Christmas parade
- play minute-to-win-it games
Some of these cool things to do with kids at home would also be perfect activities to include in the advent calendar.
9. Books
And something to read!
- Tuttle Twins and the Golden Rule
- First Little Readers (25 fun-size books)
- Christmas Stories for 8-12 (short stories)
- The Grumpy Reindeer
- The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids
- Junie B. Jones Series
- Unicorn Academy
Ideas for Teenagers!
Since writing this post I thought that teens need their own list so I put together 99 advent calendar filler ideas for teenage girls and boys! Want to see them?
Small Christmas budget?
Though these are inexpensive ideas, it all adds up, and advent calendar gifts can end up costing a lot. What’s the solution…
Candy!
Candy is an inexpensive way (and loved by kids) to fill up a few bags, drawers, or whatever you use as the advent calendar.
If you have trouble choosing what to put in the Christmas calendar, start by picking a couple of things from each advent calendar gift category.
Free Holiday Printables!
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Play, laugh, and make memories!
32 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues
and a planner for creating different scavenger hunts with the clues.
Take a look at the Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues at our store, ShopRelaxedHostess.com
pdf file, 30-day money back guarantee, available to customers in the USA
P.S. Save for later! My Tuesday Therapy is here to help you to make Great Memories!
