It is December 1st and your child is already at the door. Tiny hands, big hopes. You open the cardboard box and see the same thing as last year. A flimsy tray of chocolate that is gone by 8 a.m.
Maybe you want something better. Not more stuff. Just more meaning.
A DIY advent calendar is a handmade countdown to Christmas with 24 or 25 pockets, boxes or envelopes. Each one holds a small filler, such as a note, an activity or a simple gift. The best fillers are cheap and quick. They also help your child look forward to something other than sugar.
Why skip the junk?
The American Heart Association says kids aged 2 to 18 should have less than 6 teaspoons (about 25 grams) of added sugar a day. Children under 2 should have none. Yet KFF Health News reports that the average American child eats about 19 teaspoons.
"The vast majority of children and teens should have less than six teaspoons of added sugar in their diet each day." (American Heart Association, as reported by Reuters)
A chocolate calendar adds a little every morning for 24 days. That is not a disaster. It is just easy to swap for something better.
Experiences help too. Van Boven and Gilovich (2003) found that spending on experiences tends to bring more lasting happiness than spending on things. Family rituals matter as well. A review by Fiese and colleagues (2002) linked regular family routines and rituals to stronger bonds and better outcomes for children.
Store-bought vs DIY: how they compare
Store-bought chocolate | DIY with small gifts | DIY with activities | |
|---|---|---|---|
Added sugar | High | Low | None |
Cost | Low to medium | Medium | Very low |
Prep time | None | 1 to 2 hours | 30 to 60 minutes |
Memory value | Low | Medium | High |
Clutter | None | Some | None |
Most families do best with a mix. Aim for about 12 activities, 8 small treats and 4 kind acts. Then adjust for your child's age.
60 advent calendar fillers for kids
Cozy family fun
- Hot cocoa with a marshmallow bar
- Pajama movie night
- Build a blanket fort
- Bake cookies together
- Read a holiday book by the tree
- Make paper snowflakes
- Play a family board game
- String a popcorn garland
- Decorate gingerbread
- Write a letter to Santa
- Have a living room picnic
- Make a family holiday playlist
Outdoor and active
- Drive to see Christmas lights
- Go sledding or ice skating
- Build a snowman
- Take a stargazing walk
- Feed the birds
- Visit a Christmas tree lot
- Hunt for the best pinecone
- Walk to the library
- Have a snowball fight
- Visit a local holiday market
- Play at the park in winter gear
- Take a family photo outside
Small treats (no candy)
- A clementine
- A cookie cutter
- Fun socks
- A sticker sheet
- A mini notebook
- A hair clip or bracelet
- A bath bomb
- A mini puzzle
- Modeling clay
- A fancy pencil
- A tea or cocoa packet
- A dried fruit pouch
Kindness and giving
- Donate a toy
- Write a thank-you card for a teacher
- Bake for a neighbor
- Collect supplies for a pet shelter
- Draw a card for a grandparent
- Say one kind thing to each family member
- Leave a treat for the mail carrier
- Pick a gift for a toy drive
- Call a faraway relative
- Pack items for a food drive
- Name three things you are thankful for
- Donate books you have outgrown
Silly and screen-free
- Wear pajamas inside out
- Tell a joke at dinner
- Draw a family portrait
- Make reindeer pancakes
- Silly hat day
- Play charades
- Make up a holiday song
- Eat dessert first
- Have a dance party
- Make a snow globe in a jar
- Play hide-and-seek
- Try a LEGO building challenge
Which type of filler works best?
Filler type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
Activities | All ages, especially 4 to 10 | Busy days, so plan easy ones for weeknights |
Small gifts | Toddlers and preschoolers | Clutter and cost |
Kindness acts | Ages 6 and up | Needs a parent to set it up |
Silly challenges | Any age | Can get loud |
Not sure where to start? Put the bigger activities on weekends. Keep weekdays for tiny treats or notes.
Tips to make it work
- Count 24 slots first, then fill the weekends
- Write a short note with each item
- Let your child pick two or three ideas
- Keep a backup filler for sick days
- Reuse your pockets next year
Want more seasonal ideas? Try our fall bucket list to warm up your family traditions. Our boo basket ideas work the same way, with small surprises and no big spending. And for a gratitude boost, see things to be thankful for and our Thanksgiving activities for kids.
For a deeper look at calmer family life, Kim John Payne's book Simplicity Parenting is a good place to start.
Key takeaways
- A DIY advent calendar holds 24 or 25 small fillers, not just candy
- The AHA advises under 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day for kids aged 2 to 18
- Activities and kind acts often mean more than small gifts
- A mix of types works best for most families
- Plan easy fillers for busy weeknights
Sources
- Vos, M. B. et al. (2017). Added sugars and cardiovascular disease risk in children. Circulation, 135(19). American Heart Association scientific statement. ahajournals.org
- KFF Health News. Limit children's sugar intake to six teaspoons a day, American Heart Association advises. kffhealthnews.org
- Van Boven, L. & Gilovich, T. (2003). To do or to have? That is the question. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(6).
- Fiese, B. H. et al. (2002). A review of 50 years of research on naturally occurring family routines and rituals. Journal of Family Psychology, 16(4).
- Payne, K. J. & Ross, L. M. (2009). Simplicity Parenting. Ballantine Books.
