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24 ideas for a DIY beauty advent calendar I would’ve loved as a teenager
by Natalie Hemengül
It’s the same question every year: what do I put in my child’s Advent calendar? If you know the struggle but are determined to avoid premade calendars, here are 24 gifts that each cost under ten francs.
A ready-made Advent calendar is certainly the time-saving option. And yet, I’ve never bought one for my kids. Why not? Because they’re typically so predictable. Or, to put it in the spot-on words of my colleague Natalie, «Prefab advent calendars are a bit like looking into a mirror first thing in the morning. You kinda know what to expect. And yet, every single day, you have that glimpse of hope that your double chin situation might have miraculously sorted itself out overnight.»
Mind you, Natalie was referring to beauty advent calendars specifically. But as a mother of two, I can attest that this holds just as true for children’s Advent calendars. The contents are limited to one type of toy or one brand of chocolate – and usually end up being neither useful nor particularly tasty. They’re often frankly boring and impersonal.
That’s why, year after year, I go for the more challenging and expensive (but also more creative!) option to make the Advent calendar for my two daughters myself. I hang each of the wrapped gifts on a decorative wooden ladder. To minimise the effort, I have my daughters share one calendar and take turns unwrapping the gifts. In addition, I start collecting their presents at the beginning of autumn. Any time a cool little product catches my eye, I grab it.
Below, you’ll find 24 gifts, each under ten francs, that you can use to fill up an Advent calendar for a child aged about three to seven. Sure, preferences vary depending on the child, age and gender. Still, I hope this’ll provide you with some inspiration.
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Got any other tips for creating an Advent calendar? Go ahead and share them with us in the comments below. That way, we can all benefit from a long list of ideas.*
Header image: Katja FischerMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.