75 Advent Calendar Filler Ideas for Kids (Not Just Chocolate)
TL;DR: The best kids' advent calendar fillers are small, flat and cheap: stickers, mini toys, notes for activities and one or two bigger treats on key days. Sort ideas by age, and keep small parts away from children under 3.
Most advent pockets are small, so think tiny, flat and cheap. Mix in a few "experience" notes to keep costs down.
Toddlers (check for choking hazards: no small parts under age 3)
- Board book (on the 1st or 24th)
- Chunky crayons
- Bath toy
- Stickers of animals
- Mini playdough tub (age-appropriate)
- Note: “Dance party in the kitchen”
- Note: “Blanket fort today”
- Finger puppet
Ages 4-7
- Temporary tattoos
- Hair clips or bobbles
- Mini figure
- Bouncy ball
- Colouring page and a new pencil
- Joke on a slip of paper
- Puzzle piece (build the full puzzle on the 24th)
- Glow-in-the-dark stars
- Seed packet for spring
- Note: “Pick tonight's dessert”
- Note: “Bake cookies together”
- Bubble wand
Ages 8-12
- Trading cards
- Gel pens
- Friendship bracelet thread
- Origami paper with instructions
- Mini notebook
- Keyring
- Card trick
- Lip balm
- Small Lego set
- Coupon: “Stay up 30 minutes later”
- Coupon: “Choose the family movie”
- Riddle leading to a hidden treat
Teens
- Phone grip or cable tidy
- Face mask sheet
- Socks
- Gift card in small amounts
- Coffee shop voucher
- Scrunchie
- Hand cream
- Stickers for a laptop
- Coupon: “One chore-free day”
Tips
Plan big days for weekends, keep receipts in one envelope and fill the whole calendar in one evening at the end of November. Filling one for an older child? See our advent calendar ideas for teens. Love bedtime stories? A book advent calendar swaps the small fillers for one wrapped book a night.