Non-Toy Advent Calendar Fillers for Ages 6–12: 24 Things to Do Together
Non-toy Advent calendar fillers can be things to do rather than things to buy. For children aged 6–12, a folded activity slip can turn a countdown into a few minutes of drawing, reading, playing or sharing a family story.
We have written 24 activity prompts you can copy onto paper and place in envelopes, a reusable Advent calendar or a jar. They need no new toys or sweets. Most use paper, pencils, books or games already at home. Some need an adult's help, and all can be adapted to your child's interests.
Build the calendar around your actual December
Look at school days, work commitments and family plans before numbering the slips. Put ten-minute activities on busy evenings and longer options on days when an adult is available. The numbers below give you 24 ideas; you can rearrange them instead of tying every activity to a fixed date.
Explain the plan simply: “Each day has an idea for something we can do together. If it does not work that day, we can swap it.” A countdown should not create another daily deadline for your household.
24 non-toy Advent calendar fillers for ages 6–12
Times are planning estimates rather than promises. Reading, writing and craft support will vary by child; an adult can read each slip aloud.
| Day | Activity slip | What to do | Allow | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose your countdown soundtrack | Pick one song each and make a short shared playlist. | 10 min | Indoors |
| 2 | Make paper stars | Fold or cut stars from paper you already have; help younger children with scissors. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 3 | Send a thank-you | Draw or write a note to someone who helped your family this year. | 10 min | Either |
| 4 | Spot five festive colours | Find red, green, gold, white and blue things on a walk or around a room. | 10 min | Either |
| 5 | Invent a family quiz | Each person writes two questions about things your household enjoys. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 6 | Read a chapter together | Choose a library book or a favourite book from home. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 7 | Build a paper village | Draw houses, fold them upright and arrange a tiny street. | 30 min | Indoors |
| 8 | Swap favourite memories | Each person shares one happy moment from the year; drawing counts too. | 10 min | Either |
| 9 | Draw a festive comic | Create a four-panel story with an unexpected winter or summer visitor. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 10 | Make a kindness plan | Choose one practical, welcome way to help someone this week. | 10 min | Either |
| 11 | Take a texture walk | Find something smooth, rough, shiny and soft without picking plants. | 15 min | Outdoors or window view |
| 12 | Create a family flag | Design a flag with symbols for the people and interests in your household. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 13 | Host a living-room show | Choose jokes, a dance, a poem or a puppet scene; watching is optional. | 30 min | Indoors |
| 14 | Plan a games afternoon | Let everyone nominate a game you already own or a spoken word game. | 30 min | Indoors |
| 15 | Write a future note | Describe one thing you hope to learn next year and keep the note. | 10 min | Indoors |
| 16 | Draw a summer-and-winter scene | Put two different Christmas settings on opposite halves of one page. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 17 | Ask a family story question | Ask a willing relative about a favourite celebration or childhood game. | 10 min | Either or video call |
| 18 | Make a tiny gallery | Choose three drawings and add handwritten museum-style labels. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 19 | Try a word challenge | Find as many words as you can using letters from CHRISTMAS TREE. | 10 min | Indoors |
| 20 | Take a lights walk | Look at local decorations with an adult, or spot lights from your window. | 30 min | Either |
| 21 | Create a treasure trail | An adult writes four clues leading to a shared note or drawing, not a prize. | 30 min | Indoors |
| 22 | Make a family menu cover | Design a cover for a meal you are already planning. | 15 min | Indoors |
| 23 | Leave a friendly message | Write a card for a friend or relative; let an adult arrange any delivery. | 10 min | Indoors |
| 24 | Choose a quiet Christmas moment | Read, draw or listen to music together and say what you enjoyed. | 10 min | Indoors |
How to make the activity slips
- Copy the activity name and its instruction onto 24 small pieces of paper.
- Check which activities need adult help or materials before placing them in the calendar.
- Number envelopes 1–24, or let children draw an unnumbered slip from a jar.
- Keep two spare “choose a book” or “draw together” slips for unexpectedly busy days.
For a simple card format, write Today we could… at the top, add the instruction in the middle and put Or swap for reading or drawing together at the bottom. You can decorate the envelopes with reused paper rather than buying a new set of containers.
Adjust the ideas for different ages and interests
For children around six to eight
Read the prompt together and offer two concrete choices. For the paper village, draw a house outline first. For a thank-you note, a picture and a dictated sentence are enough. If scissors are needed, provide help suited to your child; tearing paper can be an alternative.
For children around nine to twelve
Let them lead part of the activity, such as writing quiz questions, choosing the gallery labels or planning a treasure trail for adults. Give them the option to work privately and share only what they want. An older child should not automatically become responsible for organising younger siblings.
For siblings with different preferences
Share the theme rather than forcing one identical task. During the comic activity, one child might draw while another tells the story aloud. During a reading activity, someone may prefer to listen. A child who wants a quieter day can choose a familiar book or drawing instead.
Use summer alternatives in Australia
You do not need snow-themed activities for a December countdown. The colour hunt, family flag, menu cover and quiz work in any season. Move an activity to a comfortable outdoor setting when appropriate, or keep it inside. A lights walk can become a window-spotting game if the timing or local conditions do not suit your family.
Keep the calendar manageable and low pressure
Do not make the activity dependent on earning a reward or being photographed. If you choose to save drawings, notes or recordings, ask children and relatives what they are happy to keep or share. You can enjoy the activity without posting it online.
Missed a day? Leave it missed, choose a favourite, or combine two short prompts later. There is no requirement to catch up. The point is a manageable invitation to spend time together.
Non-toy Advent calendar FAQs
What can I put in an Advent calendar instead of toys or chocolate?
Use activity slips, book choices, drawing prompts, shared games or notes inviting a child to help choose a family activity. The table above contains 24 complete prompts.
Do I need to buy something for every activity?
No. Read through the list first and replace anything that needs supplies you do not have. Paper, pencils and existing books can cover many of the ideas.
Can I use fewer than 24 activities?
Yes. A weekend countdown or a final-week calendar is a perfectly workable version. Choose the number of activities your family can comfortably enjoy.
Your next step: choose the first seven slips, fit them around your week and leave room to swap. The rest can follow when you know what your children enjoy.
