Advent calendar fillers for kids
5.11.2025
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
December’s approaching fast and there’s nothing but empty space behind the 24 doors on your children’s Advent calendars? Don’t panic. These 99 Advent calendar filler ideas should have you covered.
Only getting Christmas presents would be too easy, right? To stop myself from becoming complacent in the run-up to Christmas, I started making my own Advent calendars for my kids – just like many other parents, grandparents and godparents. In other words, I have to come up with 48 surprises (two children times 24 days of Advent). If you’re giving presents to even more kids, you’ll have, erm, 72, 96 or more bags to fill. Enough to generate panic, that’s for sure. Especially because, once again, December’s approaching superfast.
The magic’s in the mix
Does your offspring need a new hat, socks or a pencil holder? Then that’s one for the calendar. Multi-packs are also a good way to save money and reduce stress if you’re OK with 24 items that aren’t all unique. Make the most of the Galaxus filter function and display toys only, for example. Or type in a more specific search term such as Lego below 10 francs. Create a watch list called «Advent calendar» to park everything you like the look of. This will give you a nice overview of your gift ideas and costs.
Besides that uneasy feeling of being late again, I’m also pumped about filling the bags. When else do you get a free pass to buy this many presents? I’m sharing my ideas here, so you can enjoy the lead-up, too.
Small storybooks + bookmarks
These sets can go into different bags or distributed between children.
Children's books
CHF10.70
Pixi 8-piece set 295: Popular authors congratulate Pixi (8x1 copy), 8 parts
German, Various, 2024
Desk accessories
Quantity discount
CHF7.10 per piece for 2 units
Paperblanks Bookmarks - Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking - Bookmark -
Assorted Pixi Christmas set of 8 (German)
German, Various, 2024
CHF10.70
Pixi 8-piece set 295: Popular authors congratulate Pixi (8x1 copy), 8 parts
German, Various, 2024
CHF5.90
Maxi Pixi 386: Fröhliche Weihnachten, Pauli.
German, Brigitte Weninger, 2022
Quantity discount
CHF7.10 per piece for 2 units
Paperblanks Bookmarks - Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking - Bookmark -
Quantity discount
CHF6.90
Sombo Jingle Bunch Lesezeichen
CHF18.60
Sombo Magnet bookmark set
Small puzzle games
Classic puzzles, Rubik’s cubes and activity books for focussed moments.
Fun + games
Indoor games are great for the colder months.
Card games
Quantity discount
CHF4.85 per piece for 4 units
Rigi Spiele Jass cards Piquet
French, German, Italian, 3 - 6 Players
CHF6.19
Kuenen Flummi in marble optics
Quantity discount
CHF2.60 per piece for 3 units
Creativ Company Yo-yo
CHF11.70
small foot Spinning tops
Quantity discount
CHF6.70
Sombo Marbles
Quantity discount
CHF11.90
small foot French skipping elastic
200 cm
CHF10.70
Mattel Games Uno Junior
English, French, German, Italian, 2 - 4 Players
CHF4.–
Ravensburger Children Mau-Mau
German, 2 - 4 Players
Quantity discount
CHF11.50 per piece for 4 units
Mattel Games Skip-Bo
Quantity discount
CHF4.85 per piece for 4 units
Rigi Spiele Jass cards Piquet
French, German, Italian, 3 - 6 Players
Cars + finger skateboards
Ta-dah! That’s another three to five doors filled.
Dollhouse accessories
You could hide dollhouse figurines and furniture behind each calendar door to make up a complete set.
Toy shop accessories
Great for budding buyers and sellers.
Schleich animals
This is where the endless range of hand-painted animals really comes in handy.
Toy figures + building blocks
Lego, Duplo, Playmobil, Bruder and Brio are always a hit.
LEGO
Quantity discount
CHF6.70
LEGO Space minifigures series 26 (assorted - 1 piece)
71046, LEGO Minifigures
Toy car accessories
Quantity discount
CHF13.10 per piece for 2 units
Bruder BR Man with black hair Size: 10.7 cm *from Jul
Quantity discount
CHF6.90
LEGO Santa's sleigh ride
Quantity discount
CHF5.90
LEGO F1 racing cars to collect (Assorted)
Quantity discount
CHF6.70
LEGO Space minifigures series 26 (assorted - 1 piece)
71046, LEGO Minifigures
Quantity discount
CHF5.50
LEGO My first duck
30673
CHF5.70
Playmobil 71883 Santa with wishlist
71883
CHF6.50
Playmobil Bicycle trip
70601, Playmobil Special Plus
−26%
CHF2.90 was CHF3.90
Playmobil Figures Girls (Series 28)
71890
Quantity discount
CHF13.10 per piece for 2 units
Bruder BR Man with black hair Size: 10.7 cm *from Jul
Quantity discount
CHF10.70
Brio Bell Carriage
Arts and crafts
Glitter stone, paper, scissors!
Quantity discount
CHF5.50
Pelikan Children's scissors
15 cm
Quantity discount
CHF10.90
Maped Kidicraft
12 cm
CHF5.70
Fiskars Animal scissors for children bee
13 cm
CHF6.–
Pritt Fun Colors
CHF2.20
I Am Creative Washi Tape Christmas Gold
Quantity discount
CHF6.90 per piece for 2 units
Rico Design Washi Tape Hearts
CHF6.50
Glorex Gemstones
Quantity discount
CHF7.40 per piece for 2 units
Grafix Animals stamp set
Christmas stamp set
Decoration for your kid’s bedroom
How about some glow-in-the-dark stones and window stickers?
Cookie cutters
Me want cookie!
Small treats
Save some money by hiding a snack behind the odd door.
Desk supplies
If you’re a (school) kid, you can never have enough pencils, rubbers or stickers, right?
CHF3.50
Legami Dino
Green, 1 x
CHF14.95
STABILO Trio DECO Metallic Felt Tip Pen
8 x
Clairefontaine Christmas fantasy
Assorted, 1 x
Quantity discount
CHF10.30 per piece for 2 units
EberhardFaber Tattoo Marker
CHF8.50
Legami Scented eraser mit Duft, jelly friends dino
CHF8.50
Legami Panda
CHF4.90
Trendhaus Eraser XXL For Good Vibes SCHOOL
−27%
only 12 of 12 remaining on sale
CHF1.60 was CHF2.20
HERMA Sticker Weihnachten
Quantity discount
CHF3.90 per piece for 3 units
Z-Design Children's stickers
Accessories + jewellery
Hair accessories, glow-in-the-dark tattoos and fluffy keychains are always a hit.
Party decorations
CHF3.80
Magni 9902324 - Glow bracelet, 20 cm, plastic, glow bracelet, glow stick
1 pcs.
CHF13.95
Snazzy Santa Rudolph and Christmas tree
2 pcs.
−9%
only 3 of 4 remaining on sale
CHF7.– was CHF7.70
Souza Paris Blossom
Hair tie
CHF3.60
Souza Ear stickers pink, 5x6
−16%
CHF8.70 was CHF10.30
Souza Ear clips Corina pink-purple-orange
CHF3.80
Magni 9902324 - Glow bracelet, 20 cm, plastic, glow bracelet, glow stick
1 pcs.
small foot Holzperlenarmband
6.50 cm, Wood
Nibib Glow in the Dark Tattoos Meerestiere
Zuru Fuggler
−9%
only 1 piece on sale
CHF5.30 was CHF5.80
NICI Volker key fob
Bath-time fun
Great fun for your water baby.
Bath salts + Bubble baths
Quantity discount
CHF3.15 per piece for 4 units CHF78.75/1l
Kneipp Sparkling mane bubble bath
Bubble bath, 40 ml
Socks + doll socks
Not even children can resist brightly patterned socks.
Socks
Sock Snob 8er Pack Kinder Weihnachtssocken | Atmungsaktiv Warm Flauschige Socken Plüsch
pack of 8, 22 - 24
Doll accessories
Quantity discount
CHF10.80 per piece for 2 units
Zapf Creation BABY born? Socks 2-pack 43cm (assorted item)
−11%
CHF7.– was CHF7.90
Many Mornings X-Mas Tree
Happy Socks Jumbo Snowman
Single pack, 36 - 40
Happy Socks Santa On The Way
Single pack, 36 - 40
Quantity discount
CHF8.20 per piece for 2 units
Sterntaler Dino
Sock Snob 8er Pack Kinder Weihnachtssocken | Atmungsaktiv Warm Flauschige Socken Plüsch
pack of 8, 22 - 24
Quantity discount
CHF10.80 per piece for 2 units
Zapf Creation BABY born? Socks 2-pack 43cm (assorted item)
Christmas tree ornaments
Horses, dogs, helicopters... The range of Christmas tree baubles leaves nothing to be desired.
Christmas tree decorations
Quantity discount
CHF14.10 per piece for 3 units
Ornamente Glass ornament cow with CH cross
1 x
Quantity discount
CHF14.10 per piece for 3 units
Ornamente Glass ornament cow with CH cross
1 x
CHF11.–
G. Wurm Rocking horse
9 x
Chic Antique Vintage Schlitten, Messing
1 x
−16%
CHF11.40 was CHF13.50
Ornamente Glas Ornament Helikopter
1 x
−11%
CHF9.50 was CHF10.70
LEGO Various Christmas tree decorations
40744
Inge’s Glas Christmas Decor INGES CHRISTMAS DECOR Hänger Hund, Braun
1 x
Nativity scene figurines
Keep in mind that these are expensive. However, if you wanted to buy some anyway, you might as well hide them behind an Advent calendar door.
Advanced categorising
To keep track of everything, I spread out all of my calendar fillers on the floor in front of me as soon as I have them all and count them. Any rainy day in November is suitable for this, but do it before 30 November. I organise the items in a way that creates a colourful, varied mix.
If you’re giving the calendars to siblings, you’ll know which child is getting what on each day. This will help you prevent small injustices. After all, it would be a bit unfair if one of them gets the big Lego surprise and the other one just a small chocolate coin. Oh, and try not to give the best stuff right at the start. This will only raise expectations and maybe even lead to disappointment if the other doors are «only» hiding smaller suprises like bath salts.
Still thinking about which shape your Advent calendar should be? Here’s some inspiration:
Overwhelmed by the whole idea or 1 December’s only a day away? Don’t worry. I’m sure your kid will be more than happy with a shop-bought calendar:
What are you putting in your kids’ Advent calendars? Let the Community know in the comments!
Header image: Ann-Kathrin Schäfer
Ann-Kathrin Schäfer
Editor freelance
simon.balissat@digitecgalaxus.chI'm really a journalist, but in recent years I've also been working more and more as a pound cake baker, family dog trainer and expert on diggers. My heart melts when I see my children laugh with tears of joy as they fall asleep blissfully next to each other in the evening. They give me inspiration to write every day - they've also shown me the difference between a wheel loader, an asphalt paver and a bulldozer.
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