Holiday Candy Kiss Advent Activity

Countdown to the holidays with your little ones using an interactive advent calendar featuring everyone's favorite treat—Hershey's Kisses! This hands-on activity combines the magic of anticipation with simple crafting, making each December day feel special and celebratory.

What You'll Need

• One box of Hershey's Kisses (or similar wrapped candies)
• Cardboard box, shoebox, or paper bag
• Construction paper or wrapping paper
• Markers, crayons, or stickers
• Tape or glue
• Optional: small treats like stickers or temporary tattoos to mix in

How to Do It

1. Prepare your container. Choose a box or bag that will hold 24 to 25 candies. Let your child decorate the outside with markers, stickers, or cut-paper designs. This is their masterpiece, so encourage creative expression!

2. Number the compartments. If using a box with sections, number each spot from 1 to 24 (or 25 for Christmas Day). If using a paper bag, simply number small sections you've drawn or tape numbered cards on the outside.

3. Fill each space. Place one candy Kiss in each numbered spot. For a twist, tuck a small surprise—a holiday sticker, joke, or finger puppet—alongside some candies.

4. Create a counting game. Starting December 1st, let your child find and open the corresponding numbered treat each morning. Make it fun by hiding the advent container somewhere new each day.

5. Build anticipation together. As you count down, ask what day comes next or how many days are left until the big holiday. This reinforces number recognition and time concepts.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

Number Recognition — Your child practices identifying and sequencing numbers while building familiarity with the calendar.

Fine Motor Skills — Opening small wrapped candies and decorating the container strengthens hand control and dexterity.

Delayed Gratification — Waiting for each day's treat helps children practice patience and understanding that special moments unfold over time.

Creative Expression — Decorating the advent holder allows your child to make choices and showcase their artistic personality.

Counting and Time Awareness — Daily counting activities help children grasp the passage of time and understand how days build toward an event.

Tips & Variations

• For younger toddlers: Use larger treats or toys instead of Kisses, and simplify decorating to sticker placement only.
• Go savory: Fill the calendar with crackers, dried fruit, or pretzels if your family prefers alternatives to candy.
• Make it interactive: Let your child help fill and decorate the advent container together on a cozy afternoon—the preparation is just as fun as the countdown!

My Two Cents

There's something magical about watching a preschooler's eyes light up during a daily countdown ritual. This activity transforms the holiday season into bite-sized moments of joy, and honestly, the memories of decorating together often outshine the candies themselves. Simple, meaningful, and delicious—what more could you ask for?

Questions to Ask Your Child

Use these open-ended prompts to extend the learning during or after the activity:

• "What was the hardest part? What made it tricky?"
• "What would happen if we made the rules a little different?"
• "Can you teach me how to do your favorite part?"
• "What would you add to make this even more fun?"
• "What did you notice while we were doing this?"
• "How would this be different if we played it outside?"

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, model curious thinking, and give your child practice putting their experience into words.

Making It a Learning Moment

The best activities for preschoolers look like play but work like school. As children run, build, sort, and create, their brains are mapping space, practicing sequencing, building vocabulary, and learning to regulate emotion — all at the same time. Your role during the activity matters enormously: children whose caregivers narrate, question, and celebrate alongside them develop language skills 6–8 months ahead of those who play alone. You don't need to teach directly — just being present, curious, and enthusiastic is enough.

Adapting for Different Ages

Ages 2–3: Simplify the rules significantly — focus on one or two steps maximum. Short attention spans mean the activity should be flexible and forgiving. Follow the child's lead rather than directing the play.

Ages 4–5: Add challenge and structure. Introduce counting, sequencing ("first... then... finally"), or light competition (racing against a timer rather than against each other). Ask them to explain the rules to a younger sibling.

Mixed ages: Let older children be the "helpers" or "teachers." Explaining something to someone else is one of the most powerful ways to solidify a child's own understanding.

Your Turn

Every child brings something different to this activity — a wild color choice, an unexpected question, a method you'd never have thought of. That's the best part. If you try this with your preschooler and something surprising happens, I'd love to hear about it. PreschoolRocks.com exists because parents keep sharing what works in their homes, and every tip and idea helps another family down the road. Drop a note in the comments or share on social media with #PreschoolRocks.