Countdown to Christmas | Advent Calendar Ideas

Hello Sunshine! A great way to build anticipation and count down the days leading up to Christmas is with an advent calendar! There are so many cute, fun ways to countdown Christmas. We have a wooden house advent calendar that has a door for each day. I fill each day with a small chocolate for each of my children with a sprinkling of fun activities throughout.

Countdown to Christmas

28 Advent Calendar Activity Ideas for Kids

• CHOCOLATES | Give each of your kids a piece of chocolate every day leading up to Christmas. My kids love this!

• READ A HOLIDAY BOOK | Over the years I have collected many cherished Christmas books that we look forward to reading. Don't forget your public library, they have such a great collection of holiday books. Just remember to reserve now as the demand will be high.

• MAIL A LETTER TO SANTA | This is always fun for kids to not only visit but to actually write him a letter. I recently bought a felt envelop from the Target dollar spot to make delivering his letter that much fun.

• WATCH A CHRISTMAS MOVIE | Movie night is such fun times for us. We make a special treats and play games. I think I love it as much as the kids. Here are a list of our favorite Christmas movies.

• ATTEND A HOLIDAY THEMED EVENT | Gift the kids with tickets to an holiday event. It could be to a cookie exchange party, the nutcracker, the latest movie at the theater, anywhere. If you are in Nashville try ICE!, The Grinch Musical, or the Dancing Lights of Christmas.

• MAKE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

• COLOR CHRISTMAS COLORING BOOKS

• PAJAMA PICTURES

• CANDY CANE HIDE AND SEEK | Hide a bunch of candy canes around the house and have the kids try to find them!

• LIVE NATIVITY | Every year we head to a local church that puts on a live nativity scene. It's a big ordeal and people come from all over to experience it. It's like you take a step back in time and you learn so much.

• GIFT EXCHANGE | This is so much fun when done with a group of children, even adults. It can be with their classroom, neighborhood friends, church, or cousins. Set a price limit and pick names.

• HOLIDAY SCAVENGER HUNT

• GO ICE SKATING

• PUT ON PJS + WATCH POLAR EXPRESS

• READ ABOUT THE NATIVITY

• MAKE PEPPERMINT BARK | Try this delicious recipe as one of your treats at your next movie night. It's really easy to make and is perfect to involve the kids. Get the recipe HERE.

• GO TO A CAROL SERVICE

• PICK OUT A CHRISTMAS TREE | For those of you who get a live tree, make a day out of it. Head to your local tree farm or nursery and search for the perfect tree. Don't forget to snap a photo in front of your tree. This could be a perfect Christmas card photo!

• DONATE CANNED FOOD TO A PANTRY

• CHOOSE 3 OF THEIR TOYS TO DONATE | I love to get organized and move old things out to make room for the new.

• DONATE A NEW TOY TO A LOCAL TOY DRIVE

• HANG STOCKINGS

• VISIT SANTA CLAUS

• MAKE HOT COCOA WITH MARSHMALLOWS

• DECORATE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

• PULL OUT SLEEPING BAGS + HAVE A FAMILY SLUMBER PARTY UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

• SERVE A MEAL AT A LOCAL SHELTER | This can be a great service project for your older children.

• DELIVER HOMEMADE TREATS TO NEIGHBORS

What activities do you love to do with your kids during the holiday? What type of advent calendar do you use? See ya soon!