Best Advent Calendar Fillers for Kids
For many parents, finding the perfect advent calendar fillers that go beyond sugary treats and endless trinkets can be a real challenge. You want something that sparks joy, nurtures creativity, and keeps your little ones engaged without adding to the holiday clutter.
At Clever Bugs, we understand that you're looking for meaningful, screen-free activities that support your child's holistic development while keeping the magic of the season alive.
That's why we've curated a list of the best advent calendar fillers that are not only fun but also foster learning and connection—making this festive season truly special for your family.
Clever Bugs Potion Powder spark imaginative play while fostering creativity and emotional regulation. Safe, fun, and activated with just water – perfect for kids!
✔️Magic potions.
✔️Mindful kids activity.
✔️Activated with water only.
🙋♀️ Made by Liz
🍃 Non-toxic
🍭 20 pieces
🍭 Great to add to your playdough or sensory play
🍭 Pairs perfectly with our gingerbread house
🍭 Would make cute counters for numeracy activities
Small parts choking hazard. Parental supervision required. Not suitable for kids under 5 years.
More bang for your buck!
Spread these products across multiple days, so your kids can build on their collection each day! This not only keeps the excitement going but also saves you from buying multiple items. It's a win-win for both you and your little ones!
Perfect for colour mixing and measuring. These plastic droppers are great for building fine motor skills while having fun.
Each droppers holds 5ml of liquid, 4 droppers in the set. Colours randomly selected and may differ from the picture.
Use them for potion making, transferring liquids and more.
Not suitable for under 3 years.
Symbols play an important role in Indigenous culture. They are often used in art, to tell stories and to share knowledge of the land and the beliefs of the Aboriginal people.
These cards have been created by a number of children from all over Australia with an Indigenous background. We would like to acknowledge our young artists and give thanks to them and their families for supporting this project and sharing their culture.
Symbols include:
Digging sticks, kangaroo, emu, spear, waterhole, waterholes & running water, running water, honey ant, forest, boomerang, woman, man, coolamon, snake, star/sun, rainbow, mountains, smoke, campsite, meeting place, people sitting & bush berry.
Recycled Stock Card A6 (Please note due to the recycled nature of the paper, colours may vary from card to card)
These cards were designed by Divine Little Minds.
Cards only.
Turn learning about recycling into hands-on play.
This set of 24 recycling sorting pieces encourages children to identify, sort and categorise everyday items while developing fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities and environmental awareness. Perfect for sensory play, loose parts activities and sustainability-themed learning invitations.
The perfect loose parts for some witchy sensory play.
✔️Extend on your reading experience
✔️Australian made by Little Explorer Eco Toys
✔️ Set includes 10 different construction-themed designs
✔️ Perfect for counting, sorting
✔️ Designed by Liz and made in Australia.
Not all alphabet magnets are created equal. Curious Columbus foam magnets are made from the thickest, chunkiest and most compact foam available - helping your child enjoy a more tactile learning experience.
Every set comes with bumper set of 104 custom designed letters, plus 11 numbers for even more fun learning opportunities. Curious Columbus foam magnets are also made bigger with over 80% of our letters are sized 1.8” tall, and the rest 1.6” tall.
Items they will play with over and over:
Encourage nature connection, creativity and sensory exploration through play.
Why kids love it:
Open-ended sensory play
Nature-inspired exploration
Perfect for loose parts, fizz & sensory bases
Encourages fine motor development
Cockatoos are highly intelligent birds known for their curiosity, problem-solving and strong family bonds.
A magical addition to potion play and sensory activities! Fill the present with fizz and water and watch the potion bubble and erupt through the bow for extra excitement.
✔️ Perfect for potion play and sensory fun
✔️ Reusable for year-after-year play
✔️ Designed for messy, hands-on learning
✔️ Designed by Liz and made in Australia
Ideal for home play, classrooms and early learning settings.
Create a Christmas tradition your family will look forward to every year. Build, decorate and play with a reusable gingerbread house that encourages creativity, fine motor skills and magical holiday memories—without the mess of baking.
Why families love it
🎄 A Christmas activity you'll use year after year.
🍬 Decorate and rebuild again and again.
❤️ Creates meaningful family traditions and festive memories.
I hope these ideas inspire you to make this Advent season truly magical for your little ones. Remember, it’s not just about the gifts—it’s about creating memories, sparking imagination, and sharing moments of joy. Thank you for letting Clever Bugs be a part of your family's holiday traditions. Wishing you and your loved ones a season filled with wonder and happiness!
Warmly,
Liz
