If this is your first time searching for Advent calendar fillers for your kids, get ready for an adventure! And if you do this every year – then you know the dual feelings of joy and overwhelm ahead of you…because it’s not easy to come up with fun ideas every day! But once you’ve completed it, you will have created a magical season for your kids.
As we prepare for Christmas every year, this is the one thing my kids look forward to the most. It’s also become the perfect opportunity to start so many fun traditions for them like matching pajamas, gingerbread house decorating day and matching Christmas sweaters!
I hope these Advent calendar filler ideas for kids help make your job easy so you can focus on the fun! Good luck with your shopping.
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Special Christmas Items for a Magical Season
Every year, amongst the candy and activities, I always include certain Christmas-themed items that I would want to get anyway. It’s a special part of our holiday season and this is the perfect way to surprise them with it! Since most of these won’t fit in the actual calendar, you can instead fold up a little note that prompts your kids to open the present…or really go all out and send them on a little mini treasure hunt!
Matching Christmas Pajamas
Matching Christmas pajamas are an absolute must for kids over the holiday season! This is always one of my first Advent calendar items, so they can be worn throughout the month…and you have endless photoshoot moments!
I almost always opt for these pajama sets because they’re easy to get, fairly inexpensive and have different options. But if you really want something adorable (and personalized), Etsy’s Christmas pajama selection is amazing.
Gingerbread House Kit
A Gingerbread House kit is a perfect Advent calendar filler idea for kids and something that will almost certainly become a favorite family tradition. Just make sure you pick the right day (a Saturday or Sunday is usually my choice).
Christmas Ornament Kits
Christmas ornament kits are another Advent calendar filler that I use every single year! Try to find a kit that will not only be a great craft activity for them, but can also be used as gifts for family, friends or teachers. Use this as one of your first Advent calendar items and you’ll have plenty of days to complete it.
Personalized Christmas Ornaments
Instead of putting a personalized Christmas ornament in their stocking, add it to their Advent calendar! It’s always so nice to have a special ornament for each year and this way you can enjoy it during the season. The best places for personalized ornaments are definitely the Ornament Shop and Etsy. Both places will leave you with amazing keepsakes!
Matching Christmas Sweaters
These matching Christmas sweaters are one of my favorite Advent calendar fillers and I always save them for the last gift on Christmas Eve! Any matching Christmas outfits are a great idea, but this specific set is sold in adult and child sizes and is sooooo comfortable. I’ve gone back year after year and we’ve gone through most of the designs because it’s just so comfortable and cute!
Santa Hat
My kids love wearing Santa hats, so this is always a fun one (and you can rewrap last year’s hats if you hang on to them!).
This is another Advent calendar filler that is great to put on the front end or middle so that you can take advantage of good photo opportunities.
Classic Advent Calendar Filler Ideas for Kids
Now onto the fun stuff – the toys, treats and goodies that make up most of your Advent calendar! Just like with the Christmas-themed items, if you can’t fit these in your actual calendar, then wrap them up and leave a little note! I usually have a little basket that stays by the calendar that has each gift wrapped with a number. The kids love it.
Christmas Books
Christmas books definitely make great Advent calendar fillers for kids and the Golden Books Christmas collection is perfect because all the books are really inexpensive, but cover all of the classic stories! If you think your child will like any of these, definitely add them to your calendar:
Christmas Bath Bombs
I’m always a huge fan of bath bombs because they’re consumable AND make bath time more fun! These Christmas bath bombs are an added bonus because there’s a little Christmas figurine in the middle.
Christmas Socks
Christmas-themed socks are always a fun addition and another item with a practical purpose! If you can get ones that match for all your kids, it’s a fun bonus!
Christmas Temporary Tattoos
These Christmas-themed temporary tattoos for kids are great Advent calendar fillers and can be split up to be used on multiple days. If you’re organized enough, you can even save some for future years and make a fun tradition out of it.
Christmas Stickers
Easy, inexpensive, fun and disposable – Christmas stickers are the perfect Advent calendar filler for kids! Split them up to use on multiple days or even save some for next year…stickers always work!
Bagged LEGO Sets
Once a LEGO lover, always a LEGO lover! Small bagged LEGO sets are perfect for kids that enjoy these toys and they make a great little activity for them too. I always put these on a Saturday or Sunday so they can build them in the morning and then play with it throughout the day. Here are some great options:
Bouncy Balls
If there’s one thing that always pleases at every age, it’s a bouncy ball! This is also a great idea if you have kids of multiple ages because they’ll all have fun…and they’re inexpensive.
Christmas Light Necklace
This Christmas lights necklace has shown up almost every single year for us and it’s always so much fun! It’s also something that is a great accessory to wear on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Kid Chapstick
Kid chapsticks are perfect as an Advent calendar filler! I use these special ones for Advent calendars, stocking stuffers and even Easter basket fillers because they’re really cute, they have a lot of designs, and you don’t need to buy 10 at a time. My daughter loves using them as pretend lipstick when she’s playing dress-up!
Candy & Chocolate
Chocolate and candy is a GREAT way to fill up your Advent calendar and something they will always be excited about. After you’ve gotten all of the other items that you want, fill the rest with some of these items:
- Kinder Eggs
- Candy Canes
- Ring Pops
- Hershey Kiss Candy Canes
Free Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids
Some of the best Advent calendar ideas for kids don’t cost a thing! In fact, every single day of your Advent calendar could be something that you do together as a family – special traditions, acts of kindness or holiday adventures. Whether you do an entire Advent calendar of free ideas or scatter them amongst gifts, here are some great ideas to use:
- Decorate the Christmas Tree
- Make Paper Snowflakes to Hang
- Drive or Walk to Enjoy Your Neighborhood’s Christmas Lights
- Visit Santa
- Watch a Christmas Movie Together
- Read a Christmas Book
- Send out Christmas Cards
- Bake Christmas Cookies
- Wrap Presents for Family
- Create Homemade Christmas Ornaments
- Have a Family Photo Shoot
- Visit Grandparents
- Donate Toys
I hope these Advent calendar fillers help make your holiday season magical and memorable! Enjoy as much of it as you possibly can.
You may also be interested in:
- The Best Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids
- The Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Preschool Boys
- LEGO Stocking Stuffer Ideas for LEGO-Obsessed Families
