Looking for some ways to celebrate Advent as a family or make some cool crafts? Check out these Advent calendar ideas for the whole family.
When is Advent?
Advent 2021 begins on Sunday, November 28, and ends on Friday, December 24.
What is an Advent Calendar?
An Advent calendar
Many take the form of a large rectangular card with “windows” of which there are usually 24: one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Eve. The doors are opened starting with the first one. Consecutive doors are opened every day leading up to Christmas. The calendar windows open to reveal an image, poem, a portion of a story (such as the story of the Nativity of Jesus
Easy Advent Calendar Ideas
1. Lego Advent Calendar
- Includes 7 with assorted accessories: a boy, woman, girl, crook, 2 policemen and Santa
- Features a mailbox, frog, snowman, cake stand, 2 cups, a pie, food stand, fruit, vegetables, window with decorations, wagon with a baguette
- Also features a catapult with 3 snowballs, duck, dog with bone, police scooter with sled, dinner table with roast turkey, 2 Christmas gifts, tricycle
- Accessories include a letter, croissant, ice skates, plate of banknotes, megaphone, bag, Christmas decorations, cup, handcuffs, Santa’s sack, a cookie
- Post a letter to Santa! Build a duck from LEGO bricks! Organize a Christmas feast! Exchange gifts around the Christmas tree!
2. Starbucks Advent Calendar (affiliate link) available at Amazon.com
The perfect way to count down to Christmas, this chalkboard and tin advent calendar returns for a second year with a new look and just as many delightful surprises.
You’ll find a chocolate-covered graham in every merry tin, a limited-edition $5 Mini Starbucks Card, and a magnetic chalkboard you can hang up for the holidays. It makes a great gift for others or for your own family to share, and when the 25 days of merry-making are over, the beautiful tins and chalkboard will continue to bring good cheer.
3. Free Advent Calendar Printable by My Joy Filled Life
One of our family’s traditions during the Christmas season is counting down the days until Christ’s birthday.
We usually have several different Advent calendars
going each year and last year I made one that focuses on spending time together as a family. I modified the Advent calendar a little bit for this year, making it fairly quick and simple to make, so that I could share it with my fellow, busy, homeschooling moms.
4. DIY Simple Advent Calendar with Holiday Activities by Creative With Kids
My goal this year is to Keep Christmas Cozy. I love the holidays and want to make memories with my family without getting wrapped up in the stress of making everything perfect, so this year I’ve created an advent calendar
filled with simple, doable holiday activities. I used the activities I printed from the Keeping Christmas Cozy Packet. I’m looking forward to having this countdown for the kids that will encourage us to connect and slow down.
5. 24 Clutter-Free Advent Calendar Gift Ideas by The Minimalist Mom
I’ll use a lot of notes about events or special activities, rather than gifts, to make it activity focused. My goals are to:
- Make the ordinary special.
- Celebrate traditions and create new ones.
- Not spend on things we haven’t already planned for.
6. Make an Easy Christmas Advent Calendar by Be a Fun Mom
I’ve designed this Advent Calendar to follow the Christmas story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus
. Each day there is a reading and a quick, easy activity to do which I hope will spark fun family time.
I long for good old-fashioned family time where the little things make a big difference. An antic here, a laugh there; sharing and discussion a plenty. To achieve this, I’ve designed my Advent Calendar with simplicity…
7. Christmas Book Advent by The How To Mom
This year, I gathered up all our Christmas books
, wrapped them and numbered them 1-24, one for each night until Christmas. We don’t buy 24 new Christmas books every year, we just use the same ones over again, “upgrading” the cheesy/cheap ones to more quality/hardcover books one by one as we go. I gathered up 24 books last year too, but this year I actually got them wrapped! Its all part of my plan to enjoy the holidays more this year.
In addition to Advent Calendar Ideas, here are more Christmas ideas:
- How to Encourage Your Children to Be Thankful
- What Homeless Shelters Really Need This Time of Year
- 25 Christmas Gifts That Won’t Cost You a Dime
- How To Get What You Really Want For Christmas
- 50 Christmas Movies on Netflix
- 4 Rewarding Ways to Spread Holiday Cheer
- How to Keep the Magic in Christmas
How will you use these Advent calendar ideas with your family to make Advent meaningful?
I’d love to hear your ideas!
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