I started a new Christmas tradition a few years ago of having an advent calendar every year. My kids love the idea, and we have a great time counting down to the big day. I thought I would give you a few advent calendar ideas that you can use in your house or apartment this holiday season.
You can go with a super simple idea of writing the countdown on a chalkboard. Every day the kids can erase the previous number and update with the number of days left until Christmas. This one is very inexpensive or even free if you have a chalkboard on hand already. Plus, it will take up very little space even in a tiny apartment.
No chalkboard? No problem! Grab an empty frame with glass or plastic that you may even have in your closet. Then just click here to print this free Christmas countdown calendar. Add it to the frame and reassemble. You can then write on the glass with a dry erase marker and mark off the days until Christmas. This is another really inexpensive idea that will be tons of fun for your kids.
Those ideas are both amazing, but I usually give a small treat around our house every day leading up to Christmas. Numbered bags usually do the trick. You can set them on a small table and let the kids have one each night. My crew loves running in after school to see what the number is for the day and just how many days are left until Christmas.
Don’t have any small bags around your home? If you plan ahead of time, toilet paper rolls make great pillow boxes and can hold small toys or treats. Just use decoupage to cover them with themed paper and stick on some printed numbers. These will go in a bucket or other container anywhere in your home.
Can’t think of that many treats or small toys to give? Try activities instead. Just type out various cheap or free holiday activities and print from your computer. A few examples would be:
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Watch a holiday movie
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Read a holiday book
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Ride around and look at lights
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Drink hot chocolate
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Bake cookies
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Assemble gingerbread houses
- And so much more!
Cut those activities into tiny strips and place in envelopes. These activities are treats in themselves, and there is no chocolate involved (except maybe on cookie night!).
The treats or activities of your choice can also be added to a case of mason jars for a cute spin on the traditional advent calendar. A case contains a dozen jars so it is perfect for the 12 days of Christmas. Cover the tops with paper and stick on numbers to start the countdown fun. I also covered the outside of my mason jar case with duct tape for a more festive look.
These simple ideas should jump start you to a new Christmas tradition in your home. Try one of these advent calendar ideas this year and start planning for next! Your kids will love knowing exactly how many days are left until Christmas and you will enjoy not having to tell them every night.