Non-chocolate advent calendar stuffers

[LuckyFlash]

I’ve just bought a wooden advent calendar with drawers to paint for my 3yo. The drawers range in size. There are 2 big ones that can just about fit a small hot wheels car in. Some are long and thin (4cmx2cmx2cm) and some are tiny any would only fit a celebration choc or small choc coin. I thought this would be cute but struggling to think what to fill it with! I’m happy for weekends to have a little chocolate but not everyday (my friends think I’m a total Scrooge for this but I never had chocolate growing up and only had the calendars with Christmassy pictures in and still loved it so I think it’s ok)

any ideas?

That's quite difficult, as many small items could easily be a choking risk.

How about:

Stickers
Temporary tattoos
Bubbles
lip balm

Or perhaps a note with an activity idea?

Go to Claire's accessories and get christmassy hairclips and maybe a little bracelet or necklace. I mix it up - sometimes it's a chocolate (I try and have this coincide with a weekend), sometimes it's something like hair stuff, mini playdoh (the drawers on mine might be bigger), stickers or a little box of raisins. I did duplo when my daughter was 1 as she didn't really get it but I think a 3 year old would be a bit disappointed by a single block of duplo. Also, a flying tiger finger puppet set covered 5 days.

You loved the christmassy pictures so why not do something along these lines?
Your kid doesn't need a gift or treat every day. Some drawers could contain a picture for them to colour in - loads online to print out. A Christmas bell to tie onto the tree. A tiny Robin decoration, onto tree. A single page Christmas story that you write yourself. A paper snowflake to unfold (then show them how to make them). A gold or silver colouring pencil to "write" cards to Granny and Granddad with. Sparkly hair clip. A small plastic polar bear to be put on the Christmas cake. Bits of nature - a pinecone, a Holly leaf, a feather. There's loads of directions you can go in, depending on your kids age, likes and temperament.

Honestly? I think painting a wooden advent calendar for your DC to use year after year is a lovely idea but take this one back and buy one with larger drawers. I speak from experience… You will be thanking me for my advice every Christmas for years to come 😂

We put clues in ours.

So one year the clues led to a surprise each day - saves worrying about the thing fitting in the boxes. We did things like Christmas book, Christmas top/jumper, a toy car, small train, or a chocolate bar or sweet. Cheap things that are easily stocked up on, or bought in charity shops etc (and likely things they'd get over the festive season anyway..)

Last year we did a book advent calendar.. Wrapped 24 Christmas themed books that we had in the house anyway and drew a picture on each. Put clues to the pictures in the painted advent calendar. So, for example, "what does Santa wear on his head" clue would lead to them excitedly looking for the HAT drawing, opening it and getting that book for reading (and occasionally there would a sweet treat or extra wrapped in there too, or a ticket to a event like meeting santa)

We have a felt one with pockets that fit a chocolate coin or similar but this year I'm putting a Christmas joke in each one.

Stickers and temporary tattoos were my first thoughts.

We do an activity advent calendar, along with a little chocolate. So I write out a different activity for each day and pop it in the little drawers of our advent calendar. Anything from decorating the house to watching a Christmas film or making hot chocolate. DC say it's one of their favourite things about Christmas!

Same as @OnNaturesCourse use the small drawers to put in a where am I ? Clue rhyme.

Genius

@CocoapuffPuff honestly so proud of myself for thinking up the Christmas crap I do 😂😂

Great thing is kids are young enough that I can reuse most of the stuff I hide or wrap too - win, win. Only thing is the damn Elf on the Shelf gets the credit!

I'm making my 3 year old a Disney advent calendar this year with little Disney figurines in it. They are all secondhand from car boots and charity shops but I've really lucked out on old McDonald's toys etc. The smallest things I've found is characters from the Busy Books range of you've seen/heard of those? The charity shops near me seem to sell bundles/bags of them without the book for a couple of quid so if she has any favourite characters you could look out for something like that 😊

How about writing a silly festive joke each day, then every few days include "phone Granny/Grandad (or whoever is important to them but distant) - to tell them your favourite joke".

A Lego person