My mother-in-law made these advent calendars for our children a few years ago. Every year it’s slightly daunting to find 72 things to fit into the little pockets. Looking for ideas for advent calendar fillers or stocking stuffers? Here are a few:

• Wind-up toys
• Small animals – stuffed, plastic, wooden, etc.
• Finger puppets
• Bendy figures
• Parachute figures
• Clay
• Small Games – cards, knitting doll, peg game, etc.
• $$$
• Buttons/Pins
• Googly eyes
• Select-A-Smile fake gag teeth
• Paper balloons
• iTunes or other gift cards
• Paper gliders
• Rubber stamps – one year I had personalized rubber stamps made with each of the kids’ names
• Jaw Harp
• Small Christmas crackers
• Nail polish
• Hair accessories
• Ornaments to decorate – we found ours at Paper Source
• “Book buddies” sticky notes
• Santa’s coal bubble gum
• Other little candies – Lindt truffles, little chocolate Santas, Pez, gum, or TicTacs
• Matchbox car
• Chapstick or lip balm
• Tissue packets
• Comb
• Cap rocket
• Toothbrush
• Pens, pencils
• Erasers
• Temporary Tattoos
• Seashells
• Flash drive (even better in fun shapes and sizes)
• Blank books
• Flip books
• Handwritten notes – “Let’s get our Christmas tree,” “Holiday lights drive tonight,” “Cocoa and Christmas stories by the fire,” “Movie night,” “Cookie baking,” “Christmas carol sing,” “I love you, because…”
• Sometimes I make the kids do a little work too: “Do a kind deed today challenge,” “Write a card to your brother/sister”