Advent Calendar Activities for Kids: 24 Ideas & How to Set It Up
24 advent calendar activities for kids, from crafts and puzzles to kindness missions, plus how to set up an activity advent calendar at home or in class.
Chocolate advent calendars are over in a few seconds. An activity advent calendar lasts longer: every day from December 1 to 24, kids open a card and find something to do together. This guide covers advent calendar activities for kids that actually fit into busy December days, plus a simple way to set one up at home or in class.
Why choose an activity advent calendar?
- It’s about time, not stuff. Kids remember the snowman you built together longer than the candy.
- It’s cheap. Most activities need paper, crayons, scissors and glue.
- It builds a routine. Opening a card at breakfast or after school gives every day a small highlight.
- It works for any age. Pick easier activities for preschoolers and harder puzzles for older kids.
How to set up an activity advent calendar
- Choose 24 activities. Mix quick ones for school days with longer ones for weekends.
- Write or print a card for each day. Add the day number, a short title and one or two lines of instructions.
- Hide or display the cards. Put them in numbered envelopes, small boxes, socks on a string, or simply a jar.
- Add a countdown chart. A chart with 24 boxes lets kids mark each finished day with a sticker or a star.
- Prepare supplies once. Keep a box with crayons, scissors, glue, tape and paper so nothing slows you down on a busy evening.
24 advent calendar activities for kids
Here is a mix of crafts, puzzles, games and family moments. Use them in this order or shuffle them to fit your calendar.
Crafts and creative days
- Decorate a Christmas tree drawing with ornaments, lights and a star on top.
- Build a paper snowman: color, cut out and glue the pieces together.
- Make a Christmas card for a grandparent, teacher or neighbor.
- Design your own ornament on paper, then hang it on the tree.
- Make a paper chain to decorate a doorway.
- Draw a reindeer step by step, one shape at a time.
Puzzles and brain games
- Christmas word search with holiday words like Santa, star and gift.
- Christmas maze: help Santa find the path to his gift sack.
- Counting fun: count ornaments, presents or snowflakes.
- Pattern puzzle: figure out what comes next in a row of Christmas pictures.
- Spot the difference between two snowy pictures.
- Picture code puzzle: use a picture key to crack secret Christmas words.
Games and active days
- Christmas dance party: play your favorite holiday songs and dance.
- Memory game with Christmas picture cards.
- Mini bingo with the whole family.
- Christmas scavenger hunt around the house: find a candle, a stocking, something red. Our Christmas scavenger hunt guide has clue ideas by age.
Kindness and family moments
- Write a letter to Santa.
- Kindness mission: help with a chore, share a toy or make someone smile.
- Gratitude activity: name or draw three things you’re thankful for.
- Family story time with a Christmas book and hot chocolate.
- Share a family memory from a past Christmas, or look at old photos.
- Design Santa’s workshop on paper: what would the elves build?
- Christmas coloring challenge while listening to carols.
- Christmas Eve celebration: pajamas, cookies for Santa and a last look at the sky before bed.
Tips for a stress-free December
- Check the calendar first. Put quick activities on days with school concerts, sports or late work, and save crafts for weekends.
- Keep a few backup cards. A dance party or story time works on any day, even when you’re tired.
- Let kids help pick. Older kids can choose between two cards, which makes them feel in charge.
- Prep the night before. Print the day’s page and set out supplies so the activity starts right away.
- Celebrate the finish line. A certificate or a small treat on Christmas Eve gives the whole countdown a happy ending.
Using an advent calendar in the classroom
An activity advent calendar is a nice way to keep December calm and fun at school. Open the card at morning meeting, do the activity as a class or keep it for early finishers. Puzzles like word searches, mazes and spot the difference work well for a whole group. Since most schools close before December 24, you can move the last cards to the final school days or send them home as a winter break pack.
A ready-to-print advent calendar
If you’d rather not make 24 cards yourself, our Christmas Advent Calendar Printable has every activity in this list ready to print, for ages 4–8:
- A Countdown to Christmas chart in full color and an ink-friendly version
- 24 daily activity cards with dashed cutting lines and optional card backs
- A 30-page activity book with one worksheet, game or craft for each day
- A bonus pack with reward stars, a checklist, a certificate, a letter to Santa, a wish list, a kindness tracker, a coloring page and gift tags
- An 11-page parent guide with materials, timing, safety tips and answer keys
- US Letter and A4 versions, 66 pages in each size
More Christmas fun
Need extra activities for Christmas break? Our guide to Christmas activity pages for kids has more coloring, maze and puzzle ideas by age, and the Christmas Activity Book for Kids adds 50 more printable pages. For a party or a big family gathering, see how to play Christmas bingo with kids. Printing tips are in our guide on how to print digital downloads.
Happy counting down!
Frequently asked questions
What can I put in an advent calendar instead of candy or toys?
Put one activity in each day instead: a craft, a puzzle, a family game, a kindness mission or a special moment like reading a Christmas story together. Write each activity on a card or use printable activity cards, and keep a small reward like a sticker or star for marking the day.
When should an advent calendar start?
Most advent calendars run from December 1 to December 24, so the last activity lands on Christmas Eve. Set it up in late November so the first card is ready on the morning of December 1.
How long should each advent activity take?
Short is better on busy weekdays. Aim for activities of about 10 to 20 minutes on school days and save bigger crafts or outings for weekends.
What if we miss a day?
Just do two cards the next day, or swap in a quick activity. An advent calendar should feel fun, not like homework, so it's fine to skip or move a day.
Can I use an activity advent calendar in the classroom?
Yes. Open one card at morning meeting and do the activity together, or leave it as an early-finisher task. Pick activities that work in a group, and move anything messy or seasonal to the days that fit your schedule.
