How much should I budget per advent calendar filler?

I recommend a budget of $1-4 per item, but you can always make exceptions for special pieces. The key is to mix up the price points to keep it interesting.

Does the advent calendar have to be 25 days?

Not at all! Some parents opt for 12 or even 31 days. Go with what feels right for your family and child's age.

Can I reuse advent calendar fillers year-to-year?

Absolutely! Many of these items, like toys and craft supplies, can be used again. Just be mindful of your child's changing interests and developmental stages.

How do I keep the advent calendar captivating for the whole month?

Variety is the key! Try to mix up the categories - toys, activities, creative projects, etc. - to maintain their excitement.

What if I can't find the exact items on my list?

Don't stress! The beauty of advent calendars is in the surprise. Find similar items that fit your child's interests and stick to your budget.

Advent Calendar Fillers For Kids: 63+ Ideas Beyond Chocolate

Are you looking for no chocolate options when it comes to your child’s advent calendar this year? Here’s a list of 32+ advent calendar fillers for kids for you to check out.

This list works fine for kids from 2 to 3 years old. If you are looking for ideas for smaller kids, check out the advent calendar I did for my 15-month-old son.

In a Hurry? Here are 5 Quick Ideas:

Lego Polybag (Toys): A fun, compact way to introduce new characters.
Mini scavenger hunt clues (Activities): Turn your home into a daily adventure.
Play-doh (Creative): Never fails to entertain with squishy, colorful fun.
Christmas tree ornaments (Other): Create a yearly tradition with special decorations.
Festive socks (Other): Keep toes toasty with holiday cheer.
Printable Advent Calendar (Activities): Get ahead of things with this printable advent calendar.

My Top Tips To Consider When Buying Fillers For An Advent Calendar

Two children in festive pajamas smile and look at Christmas stockings hanging on a garland, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.

Type of calendar (that’ll keep all the fillers) – it’s a good idea to start here because you’ll know what sized items to buy at the store. The last thing you want is to buy things that are too big for your advent calendar. Check this out for some cute DIY advent calendar ideas
Number of days – some parents like to do 25 items and some only 12. Whatever you choose is absolutely fine, but you want to have a rough idea.
Look for sets – sometimes it’s cheaper and you’ll have fillers for multiple days. Just make sure you spread them out throughout the month.
Decide on your budget – I recommend you don’t go overboard with your budget, especially since you’ve got to have 25 different things (it can get expensive), therefore a good budget (in my opinion) is somewhere between £1-3 or $1-4 per item. Of course, it depends on the things you want to include in your advent calendar. It’s OK to have some exceptions.
Mix things up – try to mix the things you include in the advent calendar. Make sure you have something creative, educational, fun and toys.

Do you feel like you don’t have time to put together an advent calendar this year? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Here’s a cute Christmas Printable Advent Calendar I put together for you and your family. The cool thing about this is that you can personalize it too!

Advent Calendar Fillers for Kids

Now, let’s dive into that expanded list of ideas!

Toys & miniatures

Red and white knitted advent calendar bags with numbers 11 to 14 hang on a string, surrounded by festive decorations.

Suction Cup Bath Toys – these little guys stick to the tub and make bath time a splash! Perfect for turning cleanup into playtime.
Wooden spinning tops – a classic toy that never goes out of style. Watch your kiddo’s eyes light up as they master the spin!
Construction vehicles – you can never go wrong with these, especially for boys. This particular set comes with 5 little cars. That’s 5 days sorted already!
Lego Polybag – a fun way of introducing various characters to your little one. It’s a little cheaper than the usual Lego sets, making it perfect for advent calendars.
Squishy Toys or sensory toys – Great for tactile exploration and stress relief. Plus, they’re just plain fun to squish!
Fat Brain Toys Squigz – we have something similar to these and my son loves to play with them. Get a pack of these and spread them out throughout the month. They stick to almost anything!
Wooden Musical instruments – Mini maracas or a harmonica can turn your home into a festive concert hall. Earplugs for parents not included!
Animal figures – from farm animals to wild beasts, these little figures spark imaginative play.
Small dolls or peg dolls – These cute little festive characters are a fantastic advent calendar filler. You can create various scenarios and play opportunities using them.
Infinity puzzle cube – A brain-teasing challenge that’s perfect for developing problem-solving skills.
Matryoshka Dolls Set – These nesting dolls are like a surprise within a surprise. Perfect for the holiday season!

A smiling child hands a gift bag to an applauding woman in a decorated room with hanging advent calendar bags in the background.

Wooden character dolls – Eco-friendly and charming, these can become cherished toys that last beyond the holiday season.
Lego characters – Who doesn’t love a new Lego friend? These can join existing sets or start a whole new adventure.
Mini wooden personalized car – Vrooom! These eco-friendly racers are great for impromptu living room Grand Prix. It’s always a plus if it’s personalized.
Foam magnets – Turn your fridge into a canvas with these fun, colorful magnets.
Felted Finger puppets – Encourage storytelling and imaginative play with these tiny performers.
Mini slime pots or playdough – A little messy, a lot of fun! Just keep an eye on your carpets…
Wind-up toys – Watch them go! These never fail to fascinate kids (and adults, let’s be honest).
Bouncy balls – For indoor fun on rainy days or outdoor adventures when the sun shines.
Bubble wands – Because everything is better with bubbles, especially during the holidays!
Plastic dinosaurs – Perfect for your little paleontologist. Who says dinosaurs can’t celebrate Christmas?
Toy cars or trucks – You can never have too many vehicles for imaginative play.

Activities

A person selects a brown paper envelope labeled "14" from a grid of similarly labeled envelopes numbered from 1 to 25.

It’s always a good idea to include activities in your advent calendar which will lead to fun experiences for your family.Mini scavenger hunt clues – Turn your home into an adventure playground with daily clues.

DIY snowflake instructions – Craft a new design each day for a winter wonderland by Christmas.
Hot cocoa date cards – Cozy up with a warm drink and quality time.
Family game night tokens – Cash these in for extra fun family bonding.
Indoor picnic invitation – Spread a blanket and enjoy a meal on the floor – kids love this!
Dance party ticket – Crank up the holiday tunes and boogie down.
“Build a fort” coupon – Blankets, pillows, and imagination required.
Cookie baking day plan – Nothing says holidays like the smell of fresh-baked cookies.
Christmas movie night pass – Snuggle up for a festive film fest.

For even more fun ideas, check out this article where you’ll find 20 Things to Do with your Toddler – it’s a Winter Bucket List I created for my family a couple of years back.

Creative

A hand moves a marker to the 25rd on a red and green advent calendar, next to a nutcracker figure and wrapped presents, with excitement building for the advent calendar fillers for kids.

Craft supplies – There are so many options here. Please make sure you choose age-appropriate supplies.
Play-doh – You can never go wrong with a nice set of play-doh. Squishy, colorful fun for all ages!
Crayons – Perfect for budding artists. Opt for the chunky kind for smaller hands.
Markers – For when your little one is ready to graduate from crayons.
Paint – Get ready for a colorful holiday season! Washable paint is your friend here.
Play-doh Stampers – These are super fun and your child can use them to create festive shapes.
Modelling Foam – A lighter, fluffier alternative to Play-doh that’s just as fun.
Kinetic Sand – You could add kinetic sand in little pots first and then add them to the calendar. It’s mesmerizing for kids and adults alike!
Stickers – From sparkly stars to favorite characters, stickers are always a hit.
Mini coloring books – Pocket-sized fun for restaurants, car rides, or quiet time at home.
Washi tape – Decorative tape that’s perfect for crafts or jazzing up boring objects.
Stamp sets – Create cards, wrapping paper, or just stamp for the fun of it!
Origami paper with instructions – Fold a new creation each day.
Scratch art papers – Reveal colorful designs hidden under a black coating. Magical!
Pom-poms and googly eyes – Add these to anything for instant silly fun.
Glitter glue – For when you’re feeling brave and don’t mind a little sparkle everywhere.
Pipe cleaners – Twist them into animals, jewelry, or abstract art.
Beads for jewelry making – Create wearable art with colorful beads.
Themed coloring pages – Print out holiday-themed pages for festive coloring sessions.
Mini sketchpad – For when inspiration strikes, no matter where you are.

Other ideas

A close-up of a homemade advent calendar made of small numbered boxes, surrounded by fairy lights, greenery, and decorative snowflakes.

Hair bows or accessories for little girls – Festive clips or bands to dress up holiday outfits.
Christmas Treasure map – This can be your whole advent calendar if you want to, but I think this is more fun for older kids.
Christmas tree ornaments – We have a little tradition where every year we have a new ornament for our tree. This year we DIYed our ornament and I think it’s extra special.
Mini Books – I found this cute little set of mini books that teach manners, but you can always search for mini storybooks.
Homemade Cookies or other healthy snacks – Because who doesn’t love a little treat during the holidays?
Festive socks – Keep those toes toasty with fun, holiday-themed socks.
Small Lego sets – Build a little something new each day.
Character bandages – Make boo-boos better with fun designs.
Temporary tattoos – Play dress-up without the commitment. Glow in the dark tattoos are a wonderful choice all kids will love!
Seed packets – Plan for spring with these little promises of green.
Mini flashlight – Perfect for reading under the covers or nighttime adventures.
Silly putty – Stretch it, bounce it, press it onto comics – the possibilities are endless!
Flavored lip balm – Keep those lips moisturized in fun, fruity flavors.
Fun shoelaces – Jazz up old shoes with colorful or patterned laces.
Mini Rubik’s cube – A palm-sized puzzle for big-time brain power.

FAQs about Advent Calendar Fillers for Kids

Three people in festive clothing look at red and green Christmas stockings hanging above a decorated tree with lights and ornaments.

How much should I budget per advent calendar filler?

I recommend a budget of $1-4 per item, but you can always make exceptions for special pieces. The key is to mix up the price points to keep it interesting.
Does the advent calendar have to be 25 days?

Not at all! Some parents opt for 12 or even 31 days. Go with what feels right for your family and child’s age.
Can I reuse advent calendar fillers year-to-year?

Absolutely! Many of these items, like toys and craft supplies, can be used again. Just be mindful of your child’s changing interests and developmental stages.
How do I keep the advent calendar captivating for the whole month?

Variety is the key! Try to mix up the categories – toys, activities, creative projects, etc. – to maintain their excitement.
What if I can’t find the exact items on my list?

Don’t stress! The beauty of advent calendars is in the surprise. Find similar items that fit your child’s interests and stick to your budget.

Conclusion

Brown paper bags with numbers 7, 9, 15, and 21, decorated with pine leaves and stars, placed among red and green gift boxes, pine cones, and fairy lights.

Wow, that’s quite the list we’ve put together! I don’t know about you, but I’m getting excited just thinking about all these fun little surprises.

Remember, the key is to tailor these ideas to your child’s interests. Maybe your little one is really into space right now, so you could include some glow-in-the-dark stars or a mini planet guide. If they are passionate about animals, how about some adorable animal erasers or temporary tattoos?

And here’s a little personal tip: I like to include a mix of fun items and practical things. Like, maybe one day they get a cool toy car, and the next day it’s a new toothbrush with their favorite character on it. It keeps things balanced and teaches them that even everyday items can be exciting!

So, what do you think? Are you feeling inspired to create an amazing advent calendar? I’d love to hear which ideas you’re most excited about or if you have any unique additions of your own. After all, sharing ideas is half the fun of parenting, right?

Happy advent calendar planning, everyone! May your December be filled with little moments of joy and big smiles from your kiddos. And remember, it’s not about having the fanciest calendar – it’s about creating those special moments of anticipation and surprise each day.

You’ve got this! 🎄🎁

xx Kinga