Fun Christmas Advent Calendar Ideas

It's nearly that time of year again when we begin the countdown to Christmas.

Here are some of our fun Christmas advent calendar ideas to do with the kids! 

Make your own. If you don't have a calendar that you reuse every year, it's easy to make one with paper or cloth bags hanging on ribbon or bundled in a basket. Or use mini boxes or even toilet paper rolls. Let your imagination go wild!

Make a book advent calendar. Wrap a book, decorate and number it. You can use new or thrifted or books you already own. Read the book after you unwrap it!

Nature Inspired. Make a simple, minimalist nature calendar with numbered leaves hanging on twine. Take one down every day until Christmas. 

Small Gifts. For small advent calendar gifts, you could use things like water marbles, fancy hair clips and jewellery, small cars, play makeup, small fidget toys, coins, crystals, wrapped lollies and stationery. 

Themed. You could do a themed calendar with one piece of something each day like a puzzle piece or lego. Maybe you could do an ornament every day that gets put on the tree? 

Silly Jokes. Christmas jokes are also fun to put in the calendars. (What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? Tinselitis!)

Craft and Cooking. Making something is a fun idea that keeps the kids occupied in the holidays. You might write down things like colouring in, baking, make Christmas cards, decorate wrapping paper, crafts and making playdough. A craft activity kit can also be fun.

Activities. Doing an activity is another option to put into the advent calendars that gets the whole family involved. Some ideas might be decorating the tree, seeing the Christmas lights, going to a community Christmas event, getting Santa photos, watching a Christmas movie or dancing to Christmas carols. 

Good deeds. These are a really lovely gesture for the calendars. You might clean out the toy box and donate to charity, collect some pantry items for Christmas hampers, buy some pet food and take it to an animal shelter or do some Christmas baking for neighbours. 

We would love to hear your ideas. What does your family do for the advent countdown?

Started your Christmas shopping? Here is some inspiration:

Gift Guide for Babies
Gift Guide for Toddlers
Gift Guide for Kids
Gift Guide for Teens