Toddler Advent Calendar Ideas: DIY & Ready-Made Picks
Toddlers don’t need much to make December feel magical—often, the simplest surprises get the biggest reaction. A sticker, a tiny toy car, a new crayon in a fun color: at this age, the opening is the whole event, not what’s inside.
That’s exactly why a homemade advent calendar often works better than a store-bought one for toddlers. You control what goes in, keep everything safely sized for little hands and mouths, and fill it for a fraction of the cost of a prefilled version.
We’ll walk through easy DIY advent calendar ideas for toddlers, simple filler suggestions that won’t break the budget or the choking-hazard rules, and a few ready-made picks for anyone who wants a shortcut this year.
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DIY & Homemade Toddler Advent Calendars
Handmade Keepsakes That Become Part of Their Childhood
Whether you whip up a simple paper-bag calendar they can happily rip open for a one-year wonder, or invest a little more time in a crafted keepsake that comes out of the box every December, a homemade advent makes those early toddler Christmases feel truly special.
Stocking Garland
Tree Advent
Mod Podge boxes
Our full homemade advent calendar ideas roundup has plenty more ideas. Some projects suit older kids learning to craft, but there are also cherished keepsake project ideas for anyone who’s feeling crafty.
Another place to find refillable keepsake Advents is Etsy. These Etsy Advent Calendar ideas are made with small hands in mind. Look for big fabric pockets and easy-open compartments toddlers can reach into on their own, made from sturdy felt, wood, or cloth that won’t snap or shatter.
FABRIC POCKETS
PATCHWORK
Wooden House
Pop over here to check out a larger selection of eco-friendly & reusable keepsake calendars that will last through their childhoods.
Small Surprise Filler Ideas
Tiny, toddler-safe fillers that don’t need to be all toys: stickers, bath crayons, mini books, small figures, and other daily surprises sized right for little hands.
activity tokens
finger puppets
sensory fidgets
board books
bath crayons
bath toys
Activity Ideas For Toddler Advents
Pair these small gifts with a daily activity for a complete daily surprise they will cherish (even if they’re too young to remember it, you will!). Some fun festive activity ideas that toddlers can get involved with include:
- Making paper snowflakes
- Reading a Christmas bedtime story
- Decorating simple paper ornaments
- Singing Christmas songs together
- Drawing a picture for Santa
- Decorating gingerbread men or cookies
- Playing with holiday-themed sensory bins (rice, fake snow)
- Going on a “treasure hunt” for small wrapped treats around the house
- Making reindeer food for the garden
- Watching a toddler-friendly Christmas movie
- Building a snowman if there’s snow, or a cotton-ball version indoors
- Wrapping a small toy or treat for a friend or sibling
- Making handprint or footprint holiday crafts
- Going on a holiday lights walk
- Decorating the tree as a family
Find the complete collection of Advent Calendar activity ideas for all ages here.
A Few Ready-Made Advent Calendars For Toddlers
Not every December has time for DIY, and that’s completely fine. Ready-made toddler calendars do the hard work for you, with chunky, age-appropriate surprises already tucked behind the doors.
Look for soft toys, board books, and simple sensory finds rather than tiny trinkets. They suit parents juggling a lot, grandparents who want an easy gift, and anyone who’d rather spend the evening on the sofa than at the craft table – we’re not judging!
Magnetic wooden train
Wooden alphabet letters
Rubber ducks
Play-Doh (3+)
Bluey
Mini bluey books
Nativity and Easy Countdowns For Little Kids
Toddlers love repetition and routine, so a gentle daily ritual is a perfect fit. Chunky wooden or felt nativity sets let little hands add a new figure each day, while simple one-door-a-day countdowns keep things calm and low-key.
These work well for families who want a story-led, sentimental way to count down, and for anyone who’d rather build a quiet tradition than fill a calendar with stuff.
plush nativity
countdown tree
Advent Farmyard
Small Surprises, Big Excitement
At toddler age, the magic is in the daily ritual, not the price tag. Fill it yourself, keep it simple, and let the anticipation do the rest. For more filler inspiration, check out our list of 175+ advent calendar fillers for all the family, or browse our kids’ advent calendar roundup for 2026 as they get a little older.
Will this be your tot’s first Christmas? Also check out our guide to baby’s first Advent for more ideas on keepsakes and cute items for those early years.
© Little Party Pixie 2026
