Small advent calendar toys - any ideas?

[LapsedTwentysomething]

We have some beautiful handmade advent calendars bane of my life filling them up though and I'm looking for ideas for little bits and pieces, not too disposable, for filling them up. DS not so difficult - I've ordered some Bigjigs pirate skittles and Hot Wheels that he can have one at a time. The rest will be bits if chocolate and lollies.

DD is trickier. Last year I split the GLTC wooden nativity scene between them. She's had counting beads and stampers before now. It's difficult to think of something different and not completely useless every year.

Any ideas please?

I would have a look in somewhere like Claire's accessories.
Mini nail varnish
Slides
Bracelet
Hair bands
Lip balm
Key ring

How old is she?

How old?
We have done/doing
Lego people
Little lego tree on day we are going to pick our tree
Squinkies
Shopkins
Rings
Little ocotnauts sea creatures
Barbie shoes and handbags
Rubbers/pencil sharpeners
Stickers

pieces of a little lego model that build into something (kind of DIY version of their calendars?)
stickers
rubber, pencil sharpener
packet of seeds to plant

or piece of paper with a promisory note to do something Christmassy - paint pinecones/post cards/watch DVD

She is 4. I don't mind the odd bit of nail polish or whatever, but I do want to avoid making it too girly.

Last year finger puppets were great, too.

I like the notes idea. Maybe pop them in tiny envelopes.

I've done lego for the last couple of years. I buy the 'seasonal' bag set (usually about £6-7) and then photocopy the build instructions and split the set up into 1/2 instructions per day. That usually works for the whole of advent, and is much cheaper than a lego advent calendar . I add the odd choc or other treat as a bonus on random days.

That's our whole advent calendar, we label 25 envelopes and decorate them, display them somehow and I put little notes with stuff to do - get tree, make marzipan, go to St Lucia, school nativity - stuff we'd do anyway, just makes and occasion of it.

Don't like giving them presents in the run up although sometimes we put something small in on the 6th as a nod to our German and Dutch mates.

poncetastic advent