Advent Calendar Activities

Updated on June 4, 2024

Last year I purchased an advent calendar at Dollar Tree (one of my favorite stores). I basically just put a little mint in each day and called it done.

This year is going to be different. Advent calendar ideas are all over blogland. I may someday make a much cuter version, but for now, my cheap Santa calendar will have to do.

My darling son (he’s 5), has a bad case of the “I want it’s!” So to help him realize Christmas and the holidays are about being together as a family and helping others, I wanted show him how we can make those ideas part of our daily lives throughout December. The advent calendar was a perfect place to put this into practice. Now we can focus on what is really important and hopefully I can go through one morning without him asking me for some new toy!

Our list of activities include (in no particular order):

1. Go to a Christmas party
2. Get a Christmas tree
3. Decorate Christmas tree
4. Take family Christmas photos
5. Bake cookies and decorate
6. Make paper snowflakes
7. Visit the gingerbread village
8. Decorate a paper Christmas tree with beads and sequins
9. Read your favorite Christmas book with Mommy and Daddy
10. Visit the Valley of Lights in our jammies
11. Color holiday pictures
12. Eat dinner on the floor by the Christmas tree
13. Watch ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and have special snacks
14. Watch ‘Elf on a Shelf: An Elf’s Story’
15. Write a letter to Santa
16. Make hot chocolate with candy cane stir sticks
17. Set out cookies for Santa and reindeer food
18. Visit Santa Claus
19. Shop for a child from the Angel tree
20. Make an ornament for the tree
21. Family game night
22. Go ice skating
23. Have a Christmas music dance party
24. Write a thank you note
25. Donate food to the local shelter
26. String popcorn for the tree
27. Make and decorate a paper chain with things we are thankful for
28. Make homemade cards for grandparents
29. Take homemade treats to our special friends
30. Watch the Christmas tree lighting at the square

You may notice there are more than 24 activities on this list. There are some days that we might double up and it is a possibility that something could fall through. I have most days planned out in advance so I will have whatever supplies we need on hand. If you would like a copy of the printable cards I made email me at laurascraftylife@gmail.com.

Basically all I did was print the activities out on a sheet of card stock. Then, I cut them with my paper trimmer and placed them in the calendar!

Are you doing something similar? I would love for you to share it with me here! Post a link or just tell me what you have planned.

*Update*

I created a printable so you can now get your own activity sheet: Advent Calendar Printable

Linked up here:
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap Up Party
The Girl Creative: Creating Christmas