DIY advent calendars for toddlers
Twelve advent calendar ideas under $40, organized by build time. Activity-based options that actually survive 24 days with a toddler.
Activities · Seasonal
TL;DR
The best toddler advent calendar is activity-based — each day has a small thing to do, not a piece of candy or a tiny toy. Top picks: 24 wrapped books, 24 activity cards, a felt countdown tree with characters, or 24 paper bags with mini surprises. Total cost: $20-40 if you DIY. Skip chocolate-only advents for under-3s — too much sugar, too quickly.
Looking for a way to track all the December moments? Use our milestone tracker to capture them.
Why activity-based beats candy-based
Candy-based advents send 24 days of sugar to a toddler who can't moderate. The novelty wears off by day 5. Toddlers eat one chocolate, ask for two, melt down when told no.
Activity-based advents change the dynamic. Each day has a tiny experience — a holiday-themed activity, a small craft, a book to read. The kid wakes up excited to do the thing, not to eat the thing.
Memory-wise, activity advents win too. Five years from now, "remember when we used to do the advent activity?" lands harder than "remember when you had a chocolate every morning?"
Builds under 30 minutes
1. 24 paper bags with a number on each
Buy a pack of 24 small kraft paper bags ($5 at the dollar store). Number each with a sharpie. Fill each with a small surprise — a single sticker, a small treat, a "today we will..." activity note. Hang on a string of twine across a wall with mini clothespins.
Time: 20 minutes plus shopping for the fillers.
2. Wrapped book pile
24 Christmas-themed books wrapped in newspaper or kraft paper. Stack under or next to the tree. Each day toddler picks one, unwraps it, you read it before bed. Books are reusable across years. Library used books are 50-cent each.
Time: 30 minutes to wrap. Books are the cost (~$10-20 if you reuse what you have plus a few thrift store finds).
3. Tape envelopes on a poster board
Get a poster board, draw a Christmas-y shape on it (tree, sleigh, wreath). Tape 24 small envelopes around it. Number them. Fill each with an activity card or sticker. Toddler opens one each day.
Time: 25 minutes.
Builds 30 minutes to 1 hour
4. Mini toy collection in a printed-paper countdown
Buy a 24-pack of mini surprise toys (try Amazon's "calm down kit" packs or dollar store toys). Tape each one inside a numbered envelope on a poster board. Toddler opens one daily.
The mini-toy approach works well when fillers are aligned to themes — small dinosaurs one day, mini puzzle the next.
5. Christmas Eve box building over 24 days
Reverse advent: each day, toddler adds a small item to a "Christmas Eve box" that gets opened on the 24th. Items can be ornaments they make, drawings, photos. Builds anticipation and gives them ownership of the box.
6. Felt countdown tree with daily characters
Buy a printed felt advent calendar from Etsy ($25-40) or sew one yourself if you have the skill. Each day toddler hangs a numbered felt ornament. By the 24th, the tree is full. Reusable for years.
7. 24 mini envelopes around a string of lights
String of fairy lights on a wall. 24 mini envelopes clipped to the string with mini clothespins. Each envelope has the day's activity card.
Builds 1+ hour (worth it for long-term reuse)
8. Wooden cubby box with drawers
Buy an unfinished wooden 24-drawer box from a craft store ($25-40). Paint and label drawers. Use yearly, fill differently each year. Pinterest has 100+ tutorials.
Time: 1.5 hours to paint and dry. Reusable forever.
9. Sewn pocket calendar
If you sew: a fabric pocket calendar with 24 numbered pockets to slip cards into. Heirloom-quality, lasts decades. Etsy has them pre-made if you don't sew.
10. Painted glass jar collection
24 small glass jars (mason jar style) painted with numbers. Arrange on a tray or shelf. Each contains a folded activity card or small toy.
11. Hanging stocking calendar
24 mini stockings on a wire frame or string. Sewn or store-bought. Each contains an activity or small treat. Looks beautiful displayed on the mantel.
12. Wooden Christmas tree with hooks for ornaments
Standalone wooden advent tree (~$40 from Etsy or Amazon). Each day, toddler hangs a numbered ornament. By the 24th, decorated tree.
What to put inside
The best advent calendars have a mix. 70% activities, 20% small surprises, 10% treats. Some ideas for fillers:
Activities (the bulk)
- "Today we will bake cookies."
- "Today we will go look at Christmas lights."
- "Today we will write a card to Grandma."
- "Today we will read a Christmas book together."
- "Today we will make a snowflake from paper."
- "Today we will donate a toy to charity."
- "Today we will dance to a Christmas song."
- "Today we will hide an elf or stuffed animal somewhere new."
- "Today we will help wrap a present."
- "Today we will sing 3 Christmas carols."
- "Today we will draw a Christmas picture for Dad's office."
- "Today we will have hot cocoa together."
Small surprises (rotate these)
- A sticker sheet.
- A small ornament to hang on the tree.
- A jingle bell.
- A small holiday-themed eraser.
- A mini puzzle (4-6 piece).
- Glitter wand or sensory bottle.
- A small wrapped book.
- A new washi tape roll.
Treats (sparingly)
- 1-2 chocolate coins (for days when you can't think of an activity).
- A wrapped candy cane on a special day.
- A holiday-themed cookie cutter (works as toy and dough cutter).
Track December moments alongside the advent
Use our milestone tracker to capture the firsts — first time decorating the tree, first time wrapping a gift.
Open the trackerSkipping the perfectionism
You will forget some days. The activity for December 14 will not happen because the kid had a bad nap or you had a rough day. That is fine. Skip it. Double up tomorrow. Move on.
The point is not to deliver 24 perfect activities. The point is to make the daily ritual of opening the next box feel special. Even a half-completed advent is better than no advent.
For families with multiple kids
If you have two toddlers, one advent calendar = fighting. Solutions:
- One calendar with two pockets per day (one for each kid).
- Two separate small calendars side by side.
- One calendar where kids alternate days for who "opens."
- Two separate stockings on the mantel, each with 24 sub-stockings.
The "one kid opens daily" approach often works best if there are 2+ kids and only one wants the advent.
Storage for reuse
If you build a reusable calendar (wooden tree, drawer box, sewn pocket calendar), store it after Christmas in a labeled bin in the basement or attic. Pull out December 1 next year. The kids notice "the same calendar!" and love it more for the consistency.
The fillers (activity cards, mini ornaments) can be reused for 2-3 years if stored carefully. Replace the boring ones annually.
The chocolate advent question
Pre-made chocolate advents are popular for a reason. They're easy. If you genuinely don't have the bandwidth for DIY, buy a Trader Joe's or Lindt advent. They're fine. The kid will still get the daily ritual.
Just maybe pair it with a separate "one activity a day" calendar so the daily moment is more than candy.