24 Advent Calendar Ideas for Families (Free Printable Activity Cards)

An activity advent calendar swaps the daily chocolate for a daily memory: a small, simple thing to do together every day until Christmas. It’s cheaper than a toy calendar, it works for any age, and it’s the kind of tradition kids remember. Below are 24 advent calendar ideas (one for every day of December), ways to make your own calendar, and free printable advent activity cards.

When does advent start?

Most advent calendars run from December 1 to December 24. The church season of Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is November 29 in 2026. Either works. Pick the one that suits your family.

24 advent calendar activity ideas

1. Write letters to Santa. Use our free letter to Santa to make it official.
2. Make paper snowflakes. Tape them to the windows for instant decorations.
3. Bake Christmas cookies. Sugar cookies with sprinkles are the easiest for little hands.
4. Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn. Let the kids pick, and make it a pajama movie night.
5. Make a pinecone bird feeder. Spread with nut-free seed butter and roll in birdseed.
6. Go see the Christmas lights. Bring hot cocoa in travel mugs and rate the best house.
7. Read a Christmas story by flashlight. Turn off the lights and read under a blanket.
8. Have a hot cocoa party. Set out marshmallows, sprinkles and candy canes.
9. Make homemade gift tags. Stamp, draw or color plain tags for this year’s presents.
10. Donate a toy or a book. Let the kids choose one to give to a toy drive.
11. Build a blanket fort. Read, play cards or have snacks inside.
12. Have a pajama day. No plans, no rushing, just cozy.
13. Decorate a gingerbread house. A kit is fine. The fun is in the candy decorating.
14. Sing carols together. At home, with neighbors, or in the car.
15. Make a card for a neighbor. Drop it in their mailbox as a surprise.
16. Do a Christmas puzzle. Leave it on the table all day so everyone adds a few pieces.
17. Make salt dough ornaments. Flour, salt and water, baked and painted.
18. Play a family board game. Winner picks tomorrow’s dessert.
19. Write what you’re thankful for. Each person writes three things and reads them at dinner.
20. Have a picnic dinner by the tree. Lay a blanket on the floor and eat by the lights.
21. Build a snowman. No snow? Make one from paper plates or cotton balls.
22. Video call a grandparent. Show them the tree and your favorite decoration.
23. Thank the mail carrier. Leave a note and a treat by the mailbox.
24. Put out cookies and milk for Santa. And a carrot for the reindeer.

DIY advent calendar ideas

• Envelopes on a string: number 24 envelopes, clip them to twine with mini clothespins, and tuck an activity card in each.
• Paper bags: fold the tops of 24 small paper bags, number them and line them up on a shelf.
• Matchbox drawers: glue small boxes into a grid and wrap each one in printable paper.
• A jar of cards: the simplest of all. Fold the cards, put them in a jar and pull one each morning.
• A felt pocket calendar: if you sew, felt pockets make a calendar you can reuse every year.

Non-candy advent calendar fillers

• Stickers, temporary tattoos or mini erasers
• Hair clips, bouncy balls or small puzzles
• Crayons, a new marker or a small notebook
• Coupons: “pick dinner,” “stay up 15 minutes late,” “skip one chore”
• A Christmas joke or riddle for each day

Tips to make it work

• Plan around your calendar. Put the bigger activities on weekends and quick ones on school nights.
• Keep a few swap cards. If it rains on light-viewing day, trade it for movie night.
• Take a photo each day. At the end you’ll have a little December photo book.

Need more to keep kids busy? The Christmas Kids Activity & Game Pack has 52 pages of picture bingo, mazes, word searches and coloring for ages 4 to 10. For grown-up crafting, see the Christmas Craft Bundle.

FAQ

What do you put in an activity advent calendar?

One small activity card per day: baking, crafts, movie nights, kindness tasks and outings. Add a small treat if you like.

Can I start an advent calendar late?

Yes. Start whenever you’re ready and double up on a few quick days, or just count down from the day you start.

Is an activity advent calendar good for toddlers?

Yes. Pick the simplest activities (snowflakes, cocoa, a story) and keep each one short.