48 Advent Calendar Filler Ideas: Small Gifts, Notes and Things to Do

The best Advent calendar fillers fit both the drawers and the person opening them. Mix small treats with handwritten notes and things to do together; you do not need to buy 24 separate presents. Start with the drawer measurements and a total budget, then enjoy planning the little surprises.

Start by measuring the inside of a drawer, choosing a total budget and checking the recipient's age, interests and food preferences. These 48 ideas include options for children, teenagers, partners and friends, plus a complete example countdown you can adapt.

Measure first, shop second

The calendar's overall dimensions do not tell you the usable drawer size. Check the opening and internal width, depth and height. A wrapped item needs more room than the bare object. If the listing does not give internal measurements, ask before buying a batch of fillers.

Our wooden sleigh Advent calendar has 24 empty drawers and an illuminated scene. Its overall size is 45 × 10 × 31 cm; those measurements describe the whole calendar, not the space for each gift. Paper notes are a flexible starting point while you check what fits.

Set a budget for the whole countdown

It is easy for a small daily purchase to become an unexpectedly expensive month. Decide the total before choosing individual items, including any wrappers or materials you need.

For example, a £12 filler budget could cover eight items at £1 each, four at 50p each and £2 for paper or wrapping. Add twelve no-cost notes or activities to make 24 days. This excludes the calendar itself and is an illustrative budget, not a promise about current shop prices. You can also use 24 notes and spend nothing on fillers.

One larger shared experience can replace several small objects. The calendar is a way of revealing the plan; it does not need to contain the entire present.

12 small filler ideas for older children

Choose items suitable for the individual child's age and check the product's age guidance. These are ideas for older children who can safely use them, not a list for toddlers.

1. A small sheet of stickers in a favourite theme.
2. A folded bookmark with their name on it.
3. A short colouring challenge on a paper card.
4. A joke to read aloud at breakfast.
5. A clue leading to a book you already own.
6. A single piece from an age-appropriate construction set, revealed as part of a planned build.
7. A paper badge designed by someone in the family.
8. A small eraser, if age-appropriate and it fits.
9. A temporary tattoo suitable for their age and skin, used according to its instructions.
10. A drawing prompt, such as “design Santa's new sleigh”.
11. A note giving them the choice of bedtime story.
12. A small craft item from an age-appropriate set, with the rest kept for a supervised activity.

For under-threes, use an adult-managed calendar of activities and notes instead of tiny objects. The Child Accident Prevention Trust highlights small parts, accessible button batteries and powerful magnets as hazards. Keep the calendar and unsuitable fillers out of young children's reach.

12 filler ideas for teenagers and adults

Personal details matter more than novelty. Choose something linked to a routine, hobby or shared memory.

13. A favourite wrapped tea bag, with ingredients retained.
14. A coffee sachet in its original packaging.
15. A miniature photograph of a good day together.
16. A handwritten compliment that names something specific.
17. A folded playlist recommendation with three songs and why you chose them.
18. A small bookmark for someone who reads.
19. A packet of seeds for a gardener, if the drawer is large enough.
20. A recipe card for something you will cook together.
21. A clue to a full-sized gift stored elsewhere.
22. A tiny sketch of a shared memory.
23. A note offering to take over one of their regular chores.
24. A written invitation to a walk, café visit or home film night, with a realistic date.

Avoid buying cosmetics, scented products or food simply because they are small. Preferences, sensitivities and ingredients still matter.

12 non-food activities for a family countdown

Keep weekday activities short. Use the longer ideas on days when someone has time to organise them.

25. Choose tonight's story.
26. Look through three family photographs.
27. Make a paper decoration together.
28. Write a thank-you note.
29. Draw a Christmas card for someone you know.
30. Take a short walk to look at local decorations.
31. Choose a board game from the cupboard.
32. Build a blanket reading corner.
33. Make a five-song family playlist.
34. Write a letter to Santa or a December wish list.
35. Set up a simple indoor treasure hunt.
36. Choose one useful item to donate, following the recipient organisation's current guidance.

Our Christmas activities for families guide gives practical ways to organise these without filling every evening.

12 notes that need no extra shopping

37. “My favourite memory with you this year was…”
38. “Today you choose the music while we tidy.”
39. “Tell me one thing you would like us to do next year.”
40. “Here are three things I appreciate about you.”
41. “Find the decoration that has been in our family longest.”
42. “Let's ask someone older about their childhood Christmas.”
43. “Draw what you can see from the window.”
44. “Choose the napkin colour for our Christmas table.”
45. “Let's make a list of the funniest moments from this year.”
46. “Pick a book for us to read together.”
47. “Make up a new name for one of Santa's reindeer.”
48. “Tell someone what you are looking forward to tomorrow.”

Write promises you can keep. A modest activity that happens is better than a grand outing repeatedly postponed.

A balanced 24-day example

This plan alternates small surprises with low-effort activities. Move the days around to suit school, work and family commitments.

Use familiar packaged food only where appropriate, keep ingredient information and consider allergies. Non-food does not automatically mean suitable for every child; age guidance still applies.

Pack it without making December harder

Write all the notes at once, number the backs and keep a master list. Put weather-dependent activities on movable cards. If plans change, swap a note before that day's drawer is opened.

For shared calendars, alternate who chooses the activity or include two messages. Avoid creating a daily competition over who receives the bigger gift.

If you still need a calendar, compare the wooden Advent calendar buying guide and the Advent calendars and indoor accents collection.

Common questions

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

Try activity notes, jokes, photographs, bookmarks, drawing prompts and small age-appropriate hobby items. Personal messages work particularly well in small drawers and keep the budget manageable.

Do I need 24 different gifts?

No. Repeating a favourite activity is fine, and a calendar can contain notes throughout. Variety can come from the message or shared moment rather than a new object every day.

What if a gift does not fit?

Put a clue or collection note in the drawer. Do not force the drawer shut or remove safety and ingredient information to squeeze an item inside.

Source: Child Accident Prevention Trust: toy safety.