DIY Advent Calendar for Kids: 50+ Ideas
Are you looking to fill a DIY Advent calendar for kids? Discover over 50 creative and affordable ideas that children will love!
Do you want to fill a DIY Advent calendar for kids? Then you should keep reading! The Advent calendar is simply one of the most beautiful moments for children during the pre-Christmas season. My daughter can hardly wait to open the first door. And because store-bought fillings are often expensive or consist only of sweets, I love, like many parents, to fill the Advent calendar myself. You can customize the contents and perfectly tailor them to your child.
In this post, you will find over 50 ideas for small, affordable, and practical Advent calendar gifts that children will actually use and love. If you prefer to buy a ready-made Advent calendar without sweets for kids, you can find a list of great Advent calendars for children on my blog.
At a Glance: What You Will Find in This Post
- Over 50 creative, affordable, and practical ideas for filling an Advent calendar for kids.
- Categories sorted by interests: Crafting, Playing, Learning, Sweets & Experience Gifts.
- Money-saving tips on how to create a calendar for under €10 – without cheap stuff.
- FAQ section that answers all important questions about filling.
Filling a DIY Advent Calendar for Kids: 50 Ideas Sorted by Categories
Creative & Craft Ideas
- Colored pencils / Glitter pens
- Mini stamps
- Sticker sets
- Washi tape
- Coloring pages (folded)
- Small craft kits
- Window color
- Rubber bands for loom bracelets
Toys & Small Items
- Mini puzzles
- Surprise egg figures
- Marbles
- Jumping toys
- Yo-yos
- Mini cars
- Small ball or bouncy ball
- Finger puppets
- Small Lego bags
Puzzles & Learning Fun
- Mini learning sheets
- Puzzle books
- Memory cards (2 per day)
- Letter stickers
- Mini cards with jokes or fun facts
Book & Audiobook Ideas
- A book in 24 "chapters" (split yourself / copy pages)
- Mini Pixi books
- QR code to an audiobook episode
- Reading voucher
Practical & Useful Items
- Christmas-themed socks
- Hair clips / hair ties
- Themed toothbrush
- Hand warmers
- Bath additives for kids
- Lip care for children
- Keychains
- LED blinking light for school bags
- Erasable pens (e.g., from Legami)
Snacks & Sweets
- Mandarins
- Kids tea bags
- Small cookies
- Nuts (depending on age)
- Chocolate bars
- Christmas lollipops
Personal & Experience Gifts
- "Today we bake cookies" voucher
- "Stay up a little longer"
- "Mom/Dad-Kid date"
- Small task card (e.g., "Find a gift under the tree")
Extra: 24 Ideas for an Affordable Advent Calendar Under €10
Filling 24 doors can quickly add up. However, a DIY Advent calendar doesn't have to be expensive to bring immense joy to children. You just need to get a little creative. I once managed to put together a complete one for under €10. And it can be done without junk, instead with many meaningful and cute little items or by dividing a larger set.
Many items come in multipacks that you can then distribute over the 24 days. You might even have some at home already. Puzzles or LEGO or Playmobil sets can be easily divided among the various Advent calendar doors. Such sets can be purchased in advance months before when they are on sale. You can complement the missing days with activity vouchers or something sweet. Perfect for those who want to fill affordably, sustainably, and still lovingly.
Here are 24 affordable ideas that you can wonderfully combine:
- Stickers (divide sticker sheets)
- Mini coloring pages
- Small puzzle sheets
- Kids tea bags
- Mini play dough containers (distribute from a larger set)
- Colored pencils individually or in a 4-pack
- Gummy bear bags
- Mandarins
- Nuts or trail mix (depending on age)
- Pixi book (often available for €0.99)
- Hair clips / hair ties
- Mini bubble solution
- Bouncy ball
- Marbles
- Small collectible figures (flea market!)
- Craft materials (wiggle eyes, pipe cleaners, stickers)
- Washi tape (1 roll)
- Pencils / erasers
- Mini Lego bags (often available cheaply)
- Divide larger LEGO or Playmobil sets among doors
- Voucher for a shared activity
- Chocolate bar or mini Santa
- Handwritten joke or fact of the day
- Mini game instructions (e.g., paper airplane folding instructions)
With such little things, you can create a loving Advent calendar without much effort that is affordable, personal, and completely stress-free.
Which Advent Calendars Are Suitable for DIY Filling?
If you want to fill the Advent calendar yourself every year, it’s worth investing in a reusable version. We have had our Advent calendar with small fabric bags for many years and use it repeatedly. This is not only more sustainable but also cheaper in the long run. Because you only buy the calendar once and can use it every year.
I particularly find fabric calendars with 24 bags, wooden calendars with small drawers, or hanging Advent calendars that you can fill flexibly very practical. For us, the Advent calendar is also part of the Christmas decoration. Depending on where it will hang, you should ensure that you like it too. If it’s going to hang in the kids' room, you can, of course, primarily orient yourself to your child's taste.
Below you will find some beautiful models that are ideal for filling:
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[amazon box="B0FR59H1LH"]
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Filling Advent Calendars
How much does a DIY Advent calendar cost?
It depends on the fillings, but many parents stay between €10 and €25. With craft materials or vouchers, it can be cheaper.
How do I fill fairly for siblings?
Pay attention to equal categories, not necessarily the same products. So once something creative, something to play with, something sweet.
What is not suitable?
Small parts for children under 3 years, too expensive gifts, or things that break quickly.
How do I make the calendar sustainable?
Reusable bags, second-hand small items, craft materials from scraps, vouchers for shared time.
How do I keep costs low?
Divide packs (sticker sheets, craft sets, Lego bags), buy in advance and take advantage of offers, flea market mini toys, things you already have at home.
Filling an Advent calendar for kids: Over 50 ideas and tips
Do you have any more ideas for beautiful Advent calendar contents? Do you fill the Advent calendar for your children yourself, or do you prefer to buy a ready-made one? Or do you have a classic chocolate Advent calendar?
