Step-by-Step Guide
It’s great to decide to have an Advent calendar and to start counting down the days until the expected date of Christmas. Still, there are indeed days when our imagination runs out and we are overwhelmed at the last minute without knowing what to put for the next day.
As in almost everything, planning is the key, and leaving aside procrastination (is a great word). But how do we achieve this?
After Steps 1 and 2… Let’s Get to the Fun Part!
Now comes the best part: filling the advent calendar! The key is to plan ahead and decide what you’ll include in each little house or box—this way, you stay in control and avoid last-minute stress or surprises.
Last year, I went through the whole experience myself—and I’ll admit, some days it was tough to come up with something on the fly. So this time, I thought I’d share a few simple and fun ideas to help you fill your advent calendar with love, creativity, and ease.
Easy & Creative Ideas for Filling Your Advent Calendar
In our case, we had a go-to solution that saved us more than once: chocolate. Not the healthiest option, I know—but hey, it could be worse! A small square of chocolate was sometimes all it took to keep the magic alive, especially on those days we were short on time (or just forgot!). It was simple, sweet, and always a hit—it didn’t last long, that’s for sure.
Another great ally? Sticky notes. Since our little one couldn’t read yet, drawings became our way of communicating. A few doodles on a post-it were enough to plan fun activities or give playful clues for the day.
- afternoons in the park,
- cinema session,
- craft afternoons,
- cool walks in the woods,
- meeting up with friends,
- having their favorite meal for dinner…
Make the Ordinary Feel Special
You might be thinking, “But we already do that kind of thing all the time, don’t we?” Maybe so—but it all depends on the magic you wrap it in.
For example, what if you discover a new park you’ve never visited before, or return to one your child loves but haven’t been to in a while? Or plan a visit to a kid-friendly exhibition? Or even spend an afternoon making Christmas decorations together and turning the house into a festive wonderland?
The secret is to stretch your imagination a little and step outside your usual routine—just enough to make each day feel special.
Of course, not everything has to be an “experience” or something intangible. We also included a few small material gifts. Since I’m obsessed with stationery (and we love arts and crafts at home), a little assortment of erasers, pencil sharpeners, or mini paint sets worked wonderfully too.
And yes, a few of those little toy figures under 1€ also made their way into the calendar. Naturally, they fit perfectly inside the little houses and were always a hit! However, we tried not to let them become the main event each day—otherwise, scaling back later would be tough. After all, Christmas is just around the corner, and it already tends to come loaded with gifts.
That said, you don’t need to spend a lot to make the advent calendar special. In fact, you could easily fill it without spending a single euro—but even so, with just 5€, you can get super creative and come up with plenty of fun surprises.
I think I’ve covered just about everything—but of course, there are as many ideas as there are people! So tell me… what would you put inside the little houses? I’d love to hear your ideas.
P.S. If you’re thinking of getting your own Advent calendar, don’t wait too long! I’ll be closing orders on November 14 to make sure it arrives at your home in time to start the countdown.