Let’s Set the Scene: December 1st
Did your kids wake up on the morning of December 1st excited to start the countdown to Christmas only to be slightly disappointed when they saw the same exact chocolate advent calendar that they get every year? Or maybe you have just decided that maybe you don’t want to give your kids a piece of candy every day of the month. If any of this sounds like your family, consider changing things up with a new advent calendar idea!
Nothing Beats Tradition, BUT…
There’s nothing wrong with tradition–as a matter of fact, I just preached about the importance of tradition in a recent blog post. But there’s a difference in participating in a tradition because it’s fun and everyone enjoys it, and doing it just for the sake of tradition. Kids are human too, (duh) and sometimes repetition can become tiresome. Likewise, older kids may appreciate an engaging activity more than just a piece of candy.
Today’s list of advent activities shares new ideas to engage with your kids while get them excited about Christmas–no candy required! From the DIY mom, to the story telling mom, these 12 Christmas countdown activities are a unique way to share the joy of the season with your kids.
Without further ado, let’s get to the list!
13 Creative Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar Ideas
Christmas Craft Calendar
If you love crafting, a Christmas Craft Calendar can be a festive DIY advent calendar idea to try. Create a single large Christmas craft project that grows over time. Each day, add a new piece from the advent calendar until the masterpiece is completed on Christmas Day. You could create a Christmas village and add a piece to your village every day.
Christmas Countdown Game
For a fun game-style advent calendar idea, try making a Christmas countdown game. to celebrate Christmas. Here’s how:
- Design a Game Board: Create a colorful, Christmas-themed game board. It could be shaped like a snowy path, a journey to a gingerbread house, or an adventure to the North Pole.
- Add Player Pieces: Make or choose small game pieces for each family member.
- Daily Moves: Each day, move your piece closer to the finish line. Make it extra fun by adding challenges, trivia, or surprises along the way.
Storybook Advent Calendar
Here is an advent calendar idea for kids who love to read. Wrap 24/12 Christmas books or stories and read a new one every night before bed. They can look forward to reading a new story every day until Christmas.
Sticker Advent Calendar Idea
If you’re a fan of traditional advent calendars but want to change things up, try putting stickers on the calendar. Allow your child to choose the sticker they put on the calendar each day for a fresh take on this classic idea.
Christmas Advent Puzzle
Turn the fun of puzzle solving into an interactive advent calendar idea. Choose a piece from a Christmas-themed puzzle and help your little one put the pieces together until the picture is complete. Bonus points if you can get a custom picture Christmas puzzle made!
Advent Scavenger Hunt
This advent calendar idea is a winner for kids 5 and older. Create Christmas-themed clues for objects hidden around the house for them to find! Not only will they enjoy figuring it out, but they get a small prize every day, too.
Daily Art Drawing Prompts or Coloring Pages
Try an artistic advent calendar idea by doing daily art drawing prompts or Christmas-themed coloring pages. Hang up their drawings around the home as extra Christmas decorations.
Daily Mini Paper Crafts
For every day of your countdown make a small Christmas-themed craft each day leading up to Christmas. A good example for this would be to make a different paper snowflake or origami animal every day.
Scrapbooking Moments
Doing a Christmas-themed photo challenge is a memorable way to celebrate the holidays if you enjoy scrapbooking. Collect photos every day showing your family in Christmas pjs, watching your favorite holiday movies, and playing outdoors to make a DIY advent calendar full of memories.
Ornament Making and Decorating
Get a pack of clear ornaments or make some cute paper ornaments and decorate one every day for the countdown to Christmas. Keep each set in a case if you’re sentimental like me!
Christmas Scene Picture
Create a Christmas picture out of felt or construction paper and add a piece to it every day until you have a complete masterpiece at the end.
Personalized Story Advent Calendar Idea
Find or make a personalized Christmas story or a multi chapter story and read one page or chapter every night until Christmas!
Christmas Checklist
Turn your holiday prep into an advent calendar idea! Focus on a different part of the holiday celebration every day. A few examples of how you can do this:
- Day 1: Put up Christmas decorations
- Day 2: Write letters to Santa
- Day 3: Set up the Christmas tree, etc.
Advent Calendar Idea Wrap Up!
These were a few ideas that I came up with when thinking of advent calendar ideas that go beyond the normal chocolate calendar. There’s a mix of DIY, craft, and game ideas suitable for a range of kids. I’ll be trying some new ideas with my toddler this year.
Do any of these ideas sound like something your kids would enjoy?
Do you have your own unique advent calendar ideas that your family likes to do? Let us know in the comments!
Until next time.
Check out my other parenting blog posts.
Check out my other posts about toddler activities.
