Advent Calendar Fillers For Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)

Four ways to find Advent calendar fillers for kids without the stress. We’ve got affordable and even FREE ideas for kids of different ages. Our goal is to keep things simple for you.

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Last year, I put together an Advent calendar for my granddaughter in about half an hour.

Twenty-four mini envelopes, numbered one to twenty-four, with a Christmas sticker in each one.

That was it. It cost around eight dollars and took less time than watching one of her favorite shows.

I bring this up because so many Advent calendar posts make it sound like a huge project.

You scroll and scroll for ideas, and somehow still end up panic-buying everything at the last minute. Sound familiar?

It doesn’t have to work that way.

You don’t need a hundred ideas. You just need one simple system that fits your budget, and the time you actually have this year.

Instead of dumping a giant list on you and leaving you to wade through it, I’ve broken it down into four easy ways to fill your calendar.

Pick what works for you, skip the rest, and get this job done.

Four Ways To Fill An Advent Calendar

You definitely don’t need to use every idea here. Just pick the system that feels right for your family this year, and leave the rest behind.

Which Advent Calendar System Is Right For You?

If you want…

To spend nothing, choose the free Advent Fillers. Check out your options →
Spend a small amount, buy a few things and be done. Check out your options →
A few bigger surprises. Check out our ideas →
Absolutely no planning. Choose the ready-made calendars →

When my kids were young, filling Advent calendars wasn’t a thing. We bought ready-made calendars with a small chocolate treat, since that was the only thing available.

Now I have a granddaughter, so I can join in the fun!!

When I made the calendar for my little, I used a combination of system 1 and 2. We had mini envelopes at home. I bought a pack of Christmas stickers.

It took under 30 minutes and cost me about $8. It was perfect for a toddler. I have enough left over to do the same thing this year. She loves stickers, so it will be a freebie this year!

As she grows, I will change systems and move to the four special gifts.

Free Advent Fillers

Free is always a win, especially when money is tight. Take a peek at the ideas below and mix in as many as you like.

Even just a few free days sprinkled through December can make the whole calendar easier on your wallet and your evenings.

Shop The House First

Before you buy anything, take a look through your drawers and craft boxes. Chances are, you’ve already got a few days’ worth of fillers hiding at home. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Unused stickers
Self-inking stamps that haven’t been used
Beads and beading string (perfect for a quick bracelet-making session)
Unused temporary tattoos
Badges
Unused Hair clips or ribbons
Band-Aids with fun designs

Free Activities

No shopping needed for these—just a little planning ahead.

Try a daily coupon for something small, like staying up ten minutes later, picking what’s for dinner, or skipping a chore.
Or make coupons for easy family activities that don’t take much prep. If you want ideas, I’ve got a whole list in my Simple Christmas Activities post.
Download some free printable coupons for kids. instead of making a book, give a different coupon each day.

In my experience, easy and simple is always better. Choose simple activities that don’t take much prep, and they are more likely to get done.

Want To Make Something Instead?

If you’d rather make your own fillers instead of hunting around the house, I’ve got a whole post of Homemade Advent Calendar Gift Ideas for you.

One Set, Split 24 Ways

Buy one pack and split it up across the whole calendar instead of hunting down twenty-four different things. I’ve listed a bunch of options below, with prices for every budget.

After years of working with this age group, I’ve learned a filler works best when it matches a child’s actual interests.

Use the quick links by age below, or scroll down for ideas sorted by price.

Quick Picks By Age

Just pick one item from each list. If you have more than one child, this is even better—just pick a pack for each kid and share them out.

Preschoolers: Christmas Stickers, Temporary Tattoos, Water Growing Dinosaurs,
School age: Gel Pens, Christmas Stamps, Modeling Clay Kit , Temporary Tattoos, Friendship Bracelet String,
Tweens: Charm Bracelet Kit, Temporary Tattoos, Washi Tape, Modeling Clay Kit , Friendship Bracelet String,

Under $5 per calendar

These three are printables, not physical products, so once you buy one, you can print as many as you need.

No reordering, no running out halfway through December. Just grab a printer and some cardstock.

You can even pair these cards with a little candy or a temporary tattoo to make it extra fun.

Christmas Activity Cards — twenty-four really simple family activities plus eight blank cards for your own ideas, so every day comes with something to actually do together, not just open.

When I say simple activities, I mean things that take no time to prepare, such as reading a bedtime story next to the Christmas tree.

I raised three kids and know how crazy December gets. I’m not going to suggest anything that requires loads of preparation.

Christmas Jokes— lunchbox-style Christmas jokes your kids will groan at , with a few blank cards if you want to sneak in your own jokes. There are enough for the whole of Advent.

This is a really good option for kids aged 5-8 who love punny jokes. Older kids may find them lame. You know your kids’ sense of humor best.

Tip: If you go with the jokes, encourage your kids to share them each day with grandparents or other adults in their lives.

Christmas Kindness Cards — a small kindness challenge for each day. An easy way to build a bit of giving into the countdown.

Don’t worry, the ideas are simple and easy to do. They include things like giving someone you love a big hug or seeing how many people you can smile at today.

Under $10 per calendar

Note: I checked the quantities for each of these recommendations so you can see how they can actually work as Advent calendar fillers

If you have a bit more to spend, you can bring in some real favorites—sweets and small craft basics that will last most of December.

Hershey Kisses — good for all ages, an easy, low-effort treat, and one bag fills a whole calendar.
Christmas Stickers — a particularly good choice for preschoolers. A sheet or two goes a long way, and younger kids love stickers.
Washi Tape — best for school-age kids and tweens who enjoy crafts. Washi tapes are great for wrapping, decorating, or crafts; one set has 60 rolls, so you could give 2 a day.
Temporary tattoos — good for all ages, and kids will enjoy wearing them. A quick, mess-free gift that kids always seem to love. Best choice if your child loses interest in things like crafts quickly.
Christmas Stamps — best for kids who enjoy crafts. There are 24 designs, so one stamp a day.

$10–$20 per calendar

At this price point, you have lots more options. I’ve split them into sweet treats and craft supplies, so you can choose what suits your family best.

You can find the full range on our Advent Calendar Shop page.

Sweet Treats

If you want to keep it simple, one bag of the right treat can fill the whole calendar with almost no effort.

The Mini Candy Canes and Gold Coins are great for smaller holders. The Smarties, Variety packs, and hot chocolate packets will need larger holders.

Craft Supplies

If your kids would rather make than munch, one craft kit gives them something fun to do almost every day in December.

These are the easiest options for a parent who doesn’t want candy every day

Modeling Clay Kit — best for school-age kids and tweens who enjoy crafts. Each kit includes 36 colors, so there are plenty to fill the calendar.
Friendship Bracelet String — best for school-age kids and tweens who enjoy crafts. You get 50 in one set, so you can give 2 each day.
Paracord Bracelet Cord — best for outdoorsy school-age kids and tweens. One pack has 24 different colors, so enough for one a day.

Water Growing Dinosaurs —Best for preschoolers. Younger kids love these things. Drop one in water and watch it grow. It never fails to impress. Each pack holds 25.

$20–$30 per calendar

With a little more to spend, you get a lot more for your money—and you’ll may have pieces left over for next year.

Paracord Bracelet Kit— best for outdoorsy school-age kids and tweens who find friendship bracelets too girly. This is one of the best options for families with two children. This set has enough for two kids.
Charm Bracelet Kit—best for outdoorsy school-age kids and tweens who love making bracelets and necklaces. It includes 120 pieces, so there’s plenty to fill your calendar.

A note from someone who’s bought a lot of these over the years: I’ve deliberately picked things that won’t get boring after a couple of days.

I steered clear of things like packs of Christmas erasers or shoe charms. They are cute enough, but not that exciting to get every day.

Four Special Gifts

Instead of hunting for something new every single day, just pick one day each week for a special gift and keep the rest of the week simple.

Which day works best depends on the year; you want a day that falls four times before Christmas.

The other days each week can be something small and inexpensive like my coupons, a joke, a piece of candy, or a little treat like stickers or temporary tattoos.

Quick tip: The day you pick will change every year, so before you plan, check which weekday comes up four times between December 1st and Christmas Day.

In all my years doing this, I’ve found the anticipation does more work than the gift itself. Pay more for the four days, and keep the rest simple and inexpensive.

A few bigger gift ideas:

Yo-yo for Kids—best for school-age kids and tweens, a classic, inexpensive toy that still holds a kid’s attention for weeks after the wrapping comes off.
Paracord Survival Bracelet—best for outdoorsy school-age kids and tweens, a rugged, adjustable bracelet. This will be a hit with kids who love anything survival-themed. Two are included, so it is a great option for families with two kids.
Santa Lego Set—best for school-age kids; this is a satisfying little build for one of the four weeks.
Christmas Letter Ornaments— Good for all ages: a personalized ornament for the tree, a small keepsake that will last for years.
Scratch Art Rainbow Mini Notes — best for school-age kids who love doodling, bright rainbow colors hide under the matte black coating; scratch the surface with a wooden stylus to reveal them.
Wooden Nativity Set—best for preschoolers and younger kids. You can split it into 4 special gifts. Use Mary and Joseph for the first week and Baby Jesus on the last.

Dinosaur Eggs—best for older preschoolers and younger school-age kids, you get twelve eggs to dig or crack open.

Each egg hides a different dinosaur figure inside. Use one for each of the four weeks.

This is a great choice if you have more than one child. This would be enough for three kids.

For more ideas, check out my shop page.

Advent calendars are a lovely tradition in themselves. Want to add more? Take a look at my simple Christmas traditions post for ideas, or Christmas morning traditions for the big day itself.

Skip It Entirely: Pre-Made Calendars

Some years, putting together twenty-four of anything just isn’t going to happen, and that’s totally okay.

A ready-made, pre-filled calendar takes care of everything with one purchase and they are often cheaper than buying separate items.

Just buy one and call it done. Here are some of our favorites, sorted by age.

Younger Kids

Play-Doh Advent Calendar (Ages 3+)- twenty-four perforated doors, each hiding a Play-Doh can and a fun surprise tool. Great for younger kids who love squishing and building.
PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar (Ages 4+) – includes a full scene built piece by piece, ideal for imaginative play. My kids loved Playmobil. It provided hours of small world play
Hot Wheels Toy Cars Calendar (Ages 4+) — cars and playset pieces revealed a little at a time, this perfect for car-mad kids.
LEGO Friends Advent Calendar (Ages 6+) — mini builds and minifigures each day, a good fit for kids at the older end of this range.

Older Kids & Tweens

National Geographic Science Advent Calendar (Ages 8–12) — a mini science experiment behind each door, great for a curious kid.
National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar (Ages 8+) — a real gem to discover each day, ideal for kids who love rocks and collecting.
Shocking Science Tricks (Ages 8+) — a science-trick-a-day calendar, good for the kid who loves a bit of showmanship.
National Geographic Magic Advent Calendar (Ages 8+) — a new magic trick revealed each day, perfect for a budding magician.

All Ages

Lindt Teddy Chocolate Advent Calendar— a simple, reliable chocolate-a-day calendar that suits any age. Lindt tastes so good.
Sour Patch Kids Advent Calendar — a sweet-and-sour treat each day, fun for candy-loving kids of any age.

The Preparation Timeline

September: Start planning. Pick your system from the options above and decide roughly what you’ll need, so you don’t start from scratch in November.

You may want to start earlier if you plan to make your fillers.

Mid October: Order anything you need. If you live in a rural area or far from a distribution center, this extra time really helps—deliveries can take longer than you think this time of year.

And don’t forget to check the dollar store while you’re out; you can find lots of great, cheap fillers there with no shipping wait.

November: Sit down once and fill the whole calendar in one go. I recommend doing this early in the month, since things get so busy later. Just imagine how good it will feel to have that checked off your list!

December: Nothing left to plan. Just open the door each morning and enjoy it.

Now you have the Advent calendar sorted, are you ready to start Christmas Shopping? We’ve got some great gift suggestions. Each of our gift guides has been carefully researched and put together.

Final Thoughts

Remember, an Advent calendar doesn’t need a hundred ideas, a big budget, or weeks of planning.

My granddaughter’s calendar cost eight dollars and took half an hour, and it was just as special to her as anything from the store.

Pick the system that fits your family and your December, and let the rest go.

If you’d like a head start, my Christmas Activity Cards, Christmas Jokes, or Christmas Kindness Cards are ready to print and use straight away, no planning required.

For more ideas, take a look at my collection of Homemade Advent Calendar Gift Ideas if you fancy making your own fillers, or my Simple Christmas Activities post for more ways to fill your coupons.

I’ve enjoyed doing activities with kids for over forty years. The one thing I’ve learned is simple beats elaborate and stressful.

Your kids won’t remember whether the calendar was Pinterest-worthy. They’ll remember what you did together.

Whatever you decide, here’s to a calmer, happier December.

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