Advent Calendar Ideas: DIY, Fillers and Activities

An advent calendar turns the wait for Christmas into a daily moment of fun, and it doesn't have to mean twenty-four chocolates. I'm a big fan of mixing treats with things to do, because that's what the kids talk about afterwards. You can make your own, fill a reusable calendar with small treats, swap things for activities, or turn it into a kindness project. Below are advent calendar ideas for kids, teens, couples and the whole family, plus filler ideas, DIY versions you can make in an evening and tips to keep it manageable through a busy December.

Types of advent calendar

Type	How it works	Best for
Classic chocolate	A window a day with a small chocolate	Simple, traditional and quick
Reusable fill-your-own	Wooden house, drawers, pockets or a hanging fabric calendar you fill each year	Families who want to choose the contents
Activity calendar	Each day reveals something to do together	Making memories rather than collecting things
Book advent	A wrapped book to open each night or on set days	Bedtime stories and readers of all ages
Kindness or reverse advent	A good deed a day, or an item a day for a food bank	Teaching children about giving
Grown-up themed	Beauty, tea, coffee, gin, cheese, socks or puzzles	Partners, friends and treating yourself

Easy DIY advent calendar ideas

Making your own advent calendar is a lovely job to do with the kids in late November. These versions take an evening or less.

1. Envelope calendar. Number 24 envelopes, peg them along a string or ribbon and put a note, sticker or small treat inside each one.
2. Paper bag calendar. Fold small paper bags, number them with stamps or stickers and hang them on a branch or a coat rack.
3. Matchbox drawers. Glue matchboxes together into a block, decorate the fronts and hide tiny treats inside.
4. Toilet roll tubes. Fold in the ends, decorate and stack them in a pyramid or a box.
5. Jar of activities. Write an activity on 24 folded slips and pull one out each morning.
6. Christmas tree calendar. Hang numbered mini bags or tags directly on the tree, so the countdown is part of the decorations.
7. Book wrap. Wrap books you already own, and number them. Children love unwrapping old favourites as much as new ones.

Advent calendar filler ideas for kids

• Stickers, temporary tattoos and mini colouring books
• Small toy animals, building brick characters or collectible cards
• Hair clips and bobbles
• Bath crayons and bath bombs
• Mini puzzles and brain teasers
• Christmas decorations they can hang on the tree
• Craft bits: pom-poms, pipe cleaners and glitter glue
• Seeds to plant in spring
• Notes with jokes or riddles
• A small chocolate or sweet on some days, not every day

Activity advent calendar ideas

An activity calendar is the one many parents end up loving most, because it builds the season around time together. Mix big and tiny activities, and check your diary first so a busy day gets a quick one.

• Decorate the tree
• Make paper snowflakes
• Watch a Christmas film with popcorn
• Bake and decorate biscuits
• Write a letter to Santa
• Go and see the Christmas lights
• Make a card for a neighbour
• Have a hot chocolate picnic under a blanket
• Read a Christmas story by torchlight
• Make reindeer food
• Have a family games night
• Do a Christmas jigsaw together
• Have breakfast for dinner
• Phone a grandparent and sing them a carol

For more ideas when the kids need entertaining, my ChatGPT prompts for parents to keep kids busy can generate activity lists, quizzes and scavenger hunts in seconds.

Reverse advent and kindness calendars

A reverse advent calendar flips the idea: instead of taking something out each day, you put something in. Add a tin, a toiletry or a warm item to a box each day, then take it to a local food bank or collection point before Christmas. A kindness calendar does the same with actions: hold a door, make a card, help with chores, donate a toy, call someone who lives alone. Both are lovely ways for children to see that Christmas is about giving too.

Advent calendar ideas for teens

• Skincare minis, lip balms and face masks
• Fun socks
• Their favourite snacks
• Phone accessories like grips or charging cables
• Small vouchers for apps, music or games
• A book or a puzzle book
• Notes that grant small privileges, like choosing dinner or a later bedtime on a weekend

Advent calendar ideas for partners and adults

• Teas, coffees or hot chocolates to try
• Mini toiletries or beauty samples
• A note a day with a memory or a reason you love them
• Date night tokens: a film, a walk, breakfast in bed
• Mini bottles or tasting samples, for adults only
• Small puzzles, crosswords or a pack of cards
• Candles, bath salts and treats for a cosy night in

Keeping it manageable

The biggest risk with a homemade advent calendar is that it becomes a daily chore. Fill the whole thing before 1 December, so you're not doing it the night before each day. Mix small and big days, and let some days simply be a note or a joke. If you're doing one for each child, keep them similar so nobody compares. And if a day goes wrong, don't worry, nobody remembers. What they remember is the fun of opening something every morning.

Make it part of your Christmas rhythm

An advent calendar works well alongside other family traditions. Some families save a few of the best things for the last days, so the excitement builds towards Christmas Eve. If you're planning that night too, my Christmas Eve box ideas pick up where the calendar ends, and my guide to family Christmas traditions has more ideas for the whole season.

Where to put your advent calendar

Where it hangs matters more than you'd think. Somewhere the whole family passes every morning, like the kitchen or the bottom of the stairs, means it doesn't get forgotten on a hectic school day. If you've got a busy toddler or a curious dog, hang fabric pockets or paper bags high enough that the treats don't vanish overnight. A calendar that's part of the decorations, like numbered tags on the tree or a garland across the mantelpiece, does double duty and saves space.

Advent calendars for pets

Pet advent calendars are a fun extra if you've got a dog or cat who's part of every family moment. Choose treats made for animals, check the ingredients, and keep the calendar well out of reach, because a determined dog won't wait for the right day. Remember that chocolate and many festive foods aren't safe for pets, so they shouldn't share the children's calendar.

Advent calendar tips for younger children

• Use pictures alongside numbers so pre-readers can find the right day.
• Keep small parts out of calendars for under threes.
• Hang it where they can see it but not raid it.
• Make the opening part of a routine, like after breakfast.
• Explain that some days are activities, so they aren't disappointed by a note instead of a toy.

If you make crafts with your kids or write about family life, see how to write a parenting guest article and share your ideas with other mums and dads.

Make advent calendars or gifts? See how to get your brand featured in this guide.

Frequently asked questions

What can I put in an advent calendar instead of chocolate?

Stickers, small toys, bath crayons, hair accessories, notes with jokes, seeds, decorations, and activities like baking or a film night.

How do you make a DIY advent calendar?

Number 24 envelopes, paper bags, boxes or tags, fill each with a small treat or activity, and hang them on string, a branch or the tree.

What is a reverse advent calendar?

You add an item to a box every day in December, then donate it to a food bank or charity before Christmas.

What are good advent calendar activities?

Decorating the tree, baking, watching a Christmas film, seeing the lights, making cards and family games nights are popular choices.

When should you fill an advent calendar?

Fill it completely before 1 December, so it doesn't become a daily job in a busy month.