Puzzles & Construction Toys For the Little Builder

For the kids who’d rather build something than unwrap it, a construction-style advent calendar is basically a countdown with a payoff. Each day brings a new piece, and by December 24th they’ve built an entire scene (or at least a very enthusiastic pile of bricks). Bonus: it buys you twenty-four days of quiet, focused play.

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Brain Teasers & Puzzles For Curious Minds and Busy Hands

Magic tricks, metal brainteasers, and little games and activities from around the world make these calendars ideal for kids who love a challenge. Each day brings something to figure out, perform, or show off to the family at dinner. They’re a great fit for the puzzle-lover, the aspiring magician, and the fidgety kid who thinks best with something in their hands.

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Hands-On & STEM Advent Calendars For Curious Kids

Curious kids always want to know how things work, and these calendars let them find out one experiment at a time. STEM sets, slime, and fidgets are all hot picks for 2026, turning each morning into a mini lab session or a very satisfying squish. They suit the question-asking explorer, the sensory-seeking kid who loves something to squeeze, and anyone who’d happily trade a chocolate for a good experiment.

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Craft & Activity Advent Calendars

From diamond painting kits to jewelry making, these calendars turn December into a month of mini projects. Each day brings a little something to create, wear, or display, so you end up with a collection of finished makes by Christmas. They’re perfect for creative kids who are never happier than when they’re gluing, beading, or sticking, and handy for parents who want a few screen-free minutes each afternoon.

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Beauty & Accessories for Girls Who Love a Little Sparkle

Bath bombs, hair accessories, jewelry, and sweet little beauty treats make this a daily dose of pampering for girls who love to dress up and glam up. A new surprise each morning feels like a mini spa day in the making. It’s a lovely pick for the sparkle-obsessed, the jewelry collector, and the girl who’s just starting to love a little self-care.

Older girls might prefer to look into our Tween & Teen girl advent suggestions with more beauty and self-care suggestions

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Books & Story Advents for Bedtime Stories

A new story each day is a gentle way to count down to Christmas, and it slots neatly into a bedtime routine. Classic Disney collections, Sesame Street, and Minecraft are among the 2026 favorites, so there’s a character for nearly every young reader. These suit the kid who’ll happily be read to, the growing reader keen to flick through pages on their own, and families who want a cozy countdown ritual.

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Small Surprises & Toy Variety Advent Calendars

Squishies, mini ponies, toy cars and trucks, gaming characters, and unicorns: these grab-bag calendars follow whatever your child is into right now. The mix of little toys means no two mornings are alike, which makes them ideal for kids who love variety over a single theme, and for anyone whose current obsession changes by the week.

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Collectible Figurines

Mini Funko-style figures, Pokémon, Marvel heroes, and more turn each morning into a daily unboxing for kids who love to collect and display. Each day adds another piece to the shelf, so the display keeps growing long after December. They’re perfect for the fandom-obsessed, the kid who lines up every figure in order, and anyone chasing the rare one.

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Candy & Treat Advent Calendars

Sometimes the classic format is classic for a reason. A chocolate or gummy advent calendar is the lowest-effort, highest-guaranteed-smile option on this list — no assembly, no theme to match, just a small sweet treat waiting behind each door.

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Let the Countdown Begin

No matter how you fill the days until Christmas, the best advent calendar is the one you open every morning without fail. Pair it with our DIY advent calendar fillers guide for backup ideas, or check out our girls and boys stocking stuffer ideas while you’re already in gift-mode.

More Advent Calendars for all the Family

• Best Women’s Advent Calendars
• Best Men’s Advent Calendars
• Teen Boy Advent Fillers & Stocking Stuffers
• Teen Girl Advent Fillers & Stocking Stuffers
• Advent Calendars & Fillers for Toddlers
• Advents for Baby’s First Christmas

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.

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.

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.

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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!