Ideas for advent calendar gifts for 17-month-old?

skintchick

We have one of those advent calendars made of 24 little drawers into which you are supposed to put things. My DD will be 17 months at Christmas and I'm struggling to think of what to put in that she would be happy to find in there and won;t be able to swallow (things still go in her mouth). I don;t want to put food in, and I just can't think what to put in there!

Any ideas?

sethsgran

Do you want religious or not

Finger puppets, 1 a day
Christmas socks, rolled tightly!
hair bobble, ribbon
Small christmas cookie cutter to bake with you (My grandson would stand on his "mix mix" chair from very young to help
Small felt ornament for the tree that will be her decoration each year
How about a tube of glitter then on that day you can do some snowflake pictures with her

Try think of little craft things she can do with you then put some of the materials in a drawer, like the glitter. Opening her calendar will then be an experience time with you. You can put her art work up to decorate the house. Instead of cookies you could have a star cutter and make salt dough decorations.

She is old enough to do these kind of projects

Have fun

skintchick

Those ideas are lovely! I'm happy for religious ideas as we are practising Christians. Craft ideas are great as she loves doing messy play.

pinkprincess1975

For my son's advent calendar that was a filled one for the first time last year I included:

Christmas stickers
A couple of craft bits like a Christmas tree punch
Little clues to larger presents elsewhere-Look where you lay your head at night, and then left a copy of The First Christmas for him to find
Little clues about activities-today we will visit the bright lights, today we will have Christmas crafts

For a bit of padding I did resort to raisins as reindeer 'poo'(he was 2 last year and very into this!!!) however I didn;t want him to get into thinking that advent calendars were only ever full of chocolate.

Enjoy such a magical time with your daughter!

sethsgran

You can buy finger puppets for the nativity. Would be nice to finish with Mary and Jesus on Christmas eve

MrsTinks

I'm certainly no christian but even I have to say this seemed like a lovely idea - and should be suitable from quite young I'd have thought? You might even be able to make it yourself

http://www.letterbox.co.uk/?PAGEID=20670&STK_PROD_CODE=11326

skintchick

I love that Mrs Tine!

And some fab ideas everyone thank you.

MrsTinks

Thinking back to the advent calendar I had as a kid - if you feel crafty enough - please have a go at making this... I've got my parents searching old christmas pictures trying to find a picture of mine so I can try and make something similar - it had cheap red plastic rings that my presents were tied to but the important thing was that my mum made it... I have no doubt that it was probably quite crude but still in my mind is the overwelming fact that Mum made it... just for me.
Your little one will still love a bought one I am sure, but the Home Made ones just have their own special magic...

skintchick

MrsTine wrote: »

Thinking back to the advent calendar I had as a kid - if you feel crafty enough - please have a go at making this... I've got my parents searching old christmas pictures trying to find a picture of mine so I can try and make something similar - it had cheap red plastic rings that my presents were tied to but the important thing was that my mum made it... I have no doubt that it was probably quite crude but still in my mind is the overwelming fact that Mum made it... just for me.
Your little one will still love a bought one I am sure, but the Home Made ones just have their own special magic...

I don't think I can manage it this year but I definitely will have a go for next year. My Mum still owns a nativity scene I made as a child out of card and spare fabric. I used to love making things.

boredjellybean

oooh I might pinch some ideas from here as we have a fabric advent calender which my 3 children use together & I wrap them a little prezzie each day to open, my youngest will be 23 months at Christmas so I have been trying to find little bits & bobs for him to open

Some things I have bought already are bath toys & I will also buy some chunky crayons (1 pack divided up over several days) I might also get a couple of happy street type toys

other ideas could be a christmas type flannel, pack of christmas stickers, ours will include a little chocolate every few days

hth
Sarah