I just made a pocket advent calendar for my family to use every December and I can’t wait to begin this tradition. In this post, I’ve brainstormed a number of advent calendar fillers to put in the pockets. In the 24 days leading up to Christmas, children will look forward to discovering what is in each day’s pocket. I’ve included fun activities, yummy treats, and little presents. Many of these advent calendar fillers also make great stocking stuffers!

   

When to Fill the Calendar

I don’t know many kids who would be able to resist sneaking a peek in the pockets if you pre-filled the advent calendar. Instead, I would recommend waiting until the children are asleep each night to put the item(s) in the next day’s pocket.

*Please Note: I do NOT do Elf on the Shelf. I think this pocket advent calendar is more fun but if you want to do both you could move your Elf and fill the pocket at the same time each night as a helpful reminder.

A bonus of this strategy is that you can be more flexible with the fillers. If you have no snow, putting coal in a pocket to represent building a snowman would be a huge letdown. By selecting the next day’s advent filler the night before, you are in control of your holiday schedule and not the calendar!

   

What to Fill the Calendar With

You can fill the advent calendar with items, slips of paper with activities written or drawn on them (clues), or both!

As you’ll see below, I plan on using a combination of small items for the kids to play with or treats to eat as well as fillers that represent a winter family activity. For the activities, I might include a slip of paper to explain what the item symbolizes.

For example, the mittens will symbolize sledding. Inside the pocket, I will have the two pairs of mittens (one for each kid) and a slip of paper with a picture of children sledding (my girls can’t read yet).

I hope these ideas help you fill your family’s advent calendar or stockings.

   

Advent Calendar/Stocking Stuffer Ideas

• Letter Writing Materials (envelopes and stamps for writing letters to Santa – probably a good idea for Dec. 1st)

• Hand/Toe Warmers (for going on a sleigh ride, watching a parade, etc)

• Cookie Cutter/Ingredient for Cookies (for a cookie baking day)

• Holiday Magnet

• CD of Holiday Music

• Cinnamon Sticks (to put in hot apple cider)

• Hot Chocolate Packets

• Ornament (maybe a pickle – Christmas Pickle Tradition)

• Supplies for a Christmas Craft (make ornaments, snow globes, paper snowflakes, etc)

• Postage Stamps (for mailing Christmas cards)

• Little Person Figurines or Small Lego Set

• Holiday Stickers

• Charcoal (for making a snowman)

• Card Game

• Temporary Christmas Tattoos

• Candy Canes

• Mittens (for cutting down a Christmas tree)

• Wool Socks (for going sledding)

• Holiday Bookmark (for reading Christmas books)

• Carrots (for going to see live reindeer)

• Movie Tickets

• Fake Snowballs (for an indoor snowball fight)

• Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

• Hair Accessories/Bow Tie/Fun Socks (for pictures with Santa)

• Mini Snowglobe

• Tiny Nutcracker (if going to see the ballet)

• Candy (for making gingerbread houses)

• Popcorn Packet (for watching a Christmas movie at home)

• Small Puzzle

• Crayons/Markers (to go with Christmas coloring books or printed off sheets)

• Fancy Key (On Dec. 24th our advent calendar pocket will have a key in it. We don’t have a chimney so Santa has a special key to let himself in that we’ll put under the outdoor welcome mat. Santa then leaves the key on the cookie plate for us to put out again the next year.)

   

If you have other filler recommendations please let me know in the comment section below!