What to put in Advent calendar?

**pita1213** · 11-08-2005, 05:16 PM

i am crocheting little pouches to hang on the tree to use for our advent calender. other than candy, does anyone have any suggestions for what i could put in them? they are roughly 2 inches x 3inches. they would have to hold 2 items in them since i have 2dks and not enough time to make a set for dd and a set for ds.

i will put candy in some, but i didn't want all 24 to be filled with just candy.

**forestdale** · 11-08-2005, 05:23 PM

Crayons, marbles, bracelet, a rolled up treasure map showing the location of some of their christmas presents, little cars and dolls, tiny felt hearts with their names stitched on, lego.

I'll keep thinking.

**seatosea** · 11-08-2005, 07:49 PM

What a great idea! How about mini ornaments for the tree, cereal bars, ribbon candy?

**forestdale** · 11-08-2005, 07:51 PM

If they are really young, a tiny rolled up letter from Santa telling them that he's noticed how good they've been this year. If they're older, a letter from mum and dad telling them how much you love them.

I'll keep thinking.

**Michele Annette** · 11-09-2005, 11:54 AM

*Quarters, nickles, dimes,pennys for their banks or $1 dollar bills.
*Stickers
*Mini animals you can make out of pom poms.
* mini craft kits you can put together yourself. Make up mini kits from all the supplies, place in t a little baggie with instructions.

Rudolph Popsicle Stick Ornament:

http://www.fiskars.com/GB/School/Teacher's+Lounge/Lesson+Plans/Lesson+Plan+Detail?contentId=89469

**pkellyc** · 11-09-2005, 12:29 PM

How about the dollar store. They have assorted party favors in a package. I just saw these there, they include yo yo's and whistles that type of thing. You could also check out the quarter machines for treasures.

**pita1213** · 11-09-2005, 09:09 PM

thanks, i'll keep an eye out at the quater machines, hadn't thought of looking at those. i'll try to bigger dollar store too.
dd would love a new bracelet. i'll have to see what i can find.

ds is 10 and dd is 7
my mom got them both advent calenders from lego, but i still wanted to do something from me and dh.

i'm going to go the the christian book store to see what little things they might have and some bigger things for their stockings.
thanks for the ideas.
i'd love to hear any others if you think of any.

**imagine** · 11-18-2008, 03:32 PM

What can I put in the advent calendar?

The spaces fit about two bubble gums, or two starbursts, two Hershey kisses are a tight squeeze.

In the past when the kids were younger I put candy in each door. Now that they are older I want to put other things besides candy in the doors.

Any ideas?

**Lady_V** · 11-18-2008, 03:38 PM

If you have girls, a bracelet or necklace for each of them to make...

Day 1 - the gimp that will hold the bracelet/necklace
The rest of the days, beads to add to the bracelet

If you have boys or 1 of each, then anything that comes in pieces... the small lego kits usually have around 24 pieces

May not be exciting that day, but when the calendar is empty, they will have something to put together...

Lego kits

**imagine** · 11-18-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Lady_V

If you have girls, a bracelet or necklace for each of them to make...

Day 1 - the gimp that will hold the bracelet/necklace
The rest of the days, beads to add to the bracelet

If you have boys or 1 of each, then anything that comes in pieces... the small lego kits usually have around 24 pieces

May not be exciting that day, but when the calendar is empty, they will have something to put together...

Lego kits

My oldest asked to yesterday if we could get the lego advent calender so it would be fun hard to do with two of different genders and one advent calender

I have a girl and a boy ages almost 8 and almost 12

I'm thinking I might do a coupon thing for some of the doors --Like this good for a playing the game of your choice

A today we will bake cookies note

A coupon for Christmas movie night ( each child gets to pick one)

I'll have to think so more

Hoping for some more ideas

**imagine** · 12-08-2008, 11:26 AM

Okay here is what we ended up doing for the advent calendar box.

We did put in some candy days, some fun little "toy" treats like the little dogs from the gum ball machines and Christmas erasers.

We also put in Fun activity things. Like buy presents for your angel tree child today, make presents for your teachers today, Movie night mom's choice.

Today I tried a new recipe of cookie for a cookie exchange party so I slipped out the candy for the day and tucked in a note for Christmas surprise cookies for dessert.

One day ( so far) I forgot to fill the day box up with something. The kids were disappointed. Quick recovery, I said with excitement that means it is a candy cane day and passed out a candy cane.

This year the advent calendar is so fun. (The children are also doing the advent booklets and calendars they received at church so that adds to the fun too)

**UUMomof3** · 12-08-2008, 01:55 PM

I like the idea of doing a bead, charm, etc. for each day to create a necklace.

If they are big into trading cards, mixing trading cards in might work.

When I was in school the countdown to vacation calendar had a fortune for each child. We all drew our dates, and when your turn came you got to take a fortune.

**LastDragonfly** · 12-08-2008, 02:48 PM

Good ideas everyone! When my kids were little I would put pennies and little candies. As they got older I did little costume jewlry. This year I put little chap sticks and coupons for 30 minutes of tv time; 1 hour of computer time, and stuff like that.

**perSue** · 10-04-2009, 10:10 PM

I've made several advent calendars over the years... but i get stumped of what all to put in them each year.
i've got tons of ideas of types of calendars (be it flat sheet w/pockets, a stuffed xmas tree w/pockets, a string of baggies, or whatever)

but other than candies for kids & adults alike... what do you put in yours if you make/use these?

QM · 10-04-2009, 10:23 PM

I fill my daughters' advent calanders with candy. I think last year it was jelly beans. It's always fun seeing the excitment on their faces as they find their candies in the pocket.

We had to start to fill our own advent calanders because the paper ones with chocolate in the stores all say "may contain traces of peanuts" and DD1 has a severe peanut allergy.