Filling Multiple Advent Calendars Without Stress

Filling advent calendars for multiple children can be a source of stress. A more manageable approach is to fill them daily throughout the advent period.

The Daily Filling Method

This method eliminates the pressure of having all packages prepared in advance. Instead of assembling all 72 surprises for three children by November 30th, this strategy involves preparing one surprise each day.

Steps for Daily Filling:

1. Prepare Containers: Provide each child with a container, such as a decorated box or chest. Applying a piece of chalkboard film to the container allows for easy marking of the date.
2. Daily Preparation: The evening before, fill each child’s container with the surprise for the upcoming day. Write the corresponding date on the chalkboard film with chalk or a white colored pencil.
3. Storage and Distribution: Store the filled containers in a visible location, like a hallway dresser, often enhanced with seasonal decorations.

Advantages of Daily Filling

• Reduced Stress: Frees from the obligation to have all surprises ready at once, allowing for purchases and ideas to emerge throughout the advent season.
• Flexibility: Enables purchasing items as inspiration strikes, even after the advent period has begun.
• Fairness: To ensure fairness and equal distribution of surprises, use separate, labeled bags to store items as they are acquired. Distribute the contents of these bags equally or with equivalent value into each child’s calendar container each evening.
• Preventing Spoilers: The daily reveal method helps maintain the element of surprise and discourages children from peeking or taking items from siblings’ calendars, especially with a limited number of items to track at any given time.