With just a handful of supplies commonly found around the home during the holiday season and a few spare minutes, it's easy to make a homemade advent calendar guaranteed to delight each and every family member this Christmastime.
Holiday Candy Kiss Advent Calendar
Perfect for the child with a sweet tooth, the Holiday Candy Kiss advent calendar is a tasty way to count down the days until Christmas. Unwrap a Holiday Candy Kiss every day until Christmas. Once all the Candy Kisses have been eaten, kids will know Santa Claus has come!
Supplies needed:
- 24 holiday wrapped Candy Kisses
- 1 gold or silver wrapped Candy Kiss
- Black Marker
Directions:
- With a felt tip marker, number the red and green candy kiss wrappers one through 24. For example: Mark a red Candy Kiss with the number one. Mark a green Candy Kiss with the number two and so on.
- Mark the gold or silver Candy Kiss 25.
- Line the numbered Candy Kisses up on a mantle or other open tabletop in order from one to 25.
- Each day, kids choose the Candy Kiss with the number corresponding to the calendar day, and enjoy the sweet treat.
- Repeat step four every day until December 25.
25 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar
Celebrate each day until Christmas this holiday season by constructing a twenty-five days of Christmas advent calendar. Kids will love counting down to Christmas by opening up a special present each day. Plus, this advent activity helps children visualize just how long until the big guy in the red suit comes!
Supplies needed:
- 25 jewelry-size gift boxes
- 25 small toys/candy (small enough to fit in a jewelry-size box)
- Wrapping paper
- Scissors
- Scotch Tape
- Black magic marker
Directions:
- Put one small trinket in each of the 25 gift boxes.
- Wrap the gift boxes.
- Number each gift box, one through 25
- Line the gift boxes up in order on a windowsill or tabletop where they can remain until Christmas day.
- Have children open one box each day until Christmas. Kids should open the box that corresponds with the day’s date. If desired, substitute a large gift box for box number 25. Fill the gift box with an extra special Christmas gift from mom and dad. Kids will be extra excited anticipating what’s in the big box, which will make counting down to Christmas that much more fun.
Candy Cane Tree Advent Calendar
The entire family will enjoy counting the days until Christmas using a Candy Cane tree advent calendar. Every day until Christmas hang a Candy Cane on the Christmas tree. Not only will the Christmas tree be beautifully decorated by Christmas day, but friends and family can also eat the Candy Cane ornaments for a sweet holiday snack.
Supplied needed:
- 25 large Candy Canes
- Small fresh or artificial Christmas tree
Directions:
- Place a small Christmas tree in a prominent area within the house.
- Put 25 Candy Canes in a basket or other container next to the Christmas tree.
- On December 1, decorate the Christmas tree by hanging one Candy Cane from one of the branches.
- Repeat step three every day until Christmas.
- On Christmas day friends and family can enjoy a sweet holiday treat and eat the candy canes right off the tree.
Mini Stocking Advent Calendar
Counting down to Christmas day is half the fun of the holiday season! Children will delight in celebrating each day until Christmas with a mini stocking advent calendar. Kids will discover a surprise holiday trinket in a mini stocking each day until Santa Claus comes.
Supplies needed:
- 25 mini stockings
- 25 holiday trinkets and/or candy pieces
- Glitter glue pen
- 25 ornament hooks
Directions:
- Number the stockings one through 25 using a glitter pen. Let dry.
- Put one holiday trinket or candy piece in each stocking.
- Hang the stockings in chronological order from garland along a banister or mantel, or other place of your choosing. Hanging the stockings on a small Christmas tree works as well.
- Beginning December 1, kids choose the stocking corresponding to the calendar day and pull out the Christmas surprise inside.
- Repeat step four every day until Christmas.
Making and using an advent calendar is an exciting way for the whole family to savor each and every day of the holiday season and count down the days until Christmas. For even more holiday fun, check out these other articles on seasonal kids activities – How to Create Holiday Traditions for Kids, How to Put on a Kid's Christmas Pageant at Home, and How to Host a Christmas Regifting Party for Kids.
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