If you want to take the focus off possessions and gifts this Christmas and move it back to family time then the activity advent calendar is just what you need. It takes the traditional advent calendar idea, but instead of a gift or treat your advent calendar contains a Christmas activity to do together as a family. It turns the month of December into a Christmas extravaganza!

What to include in your activity advent calendar

Make a list of 24 Christmas related activities you can do as a family- they can be big or they can be as small as reading a Christmas book. I love activities like baking, Christmas lights, Christmas craft, seeing a Christmas show or movie, family movie nights etc. I also include all the Christmas activities my daughter has like kindy or school Christmas party, and Christmas parties we are attending, Ballet Christmas party and so on. This helps fill up the spaces and it means you don’t need a second Christmas activity on busy days.

You may want to use your activity advent calendar to give back. It might include things like, give a gift to a stranger, help someone in need, pay for someone’s groceries. Whatever is important to you.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

How to create your activity advent calendar

So how to present it? There are so many cute ideas. Premade calendar pouches are available from many shops, create your own using felt or envelopes, your imagination can go anywhere! Here are some of our favourite examples…

Visit MamaPapaBubba for steps and printables

Visit Between You and Me for steps

Visit EllaClaireInspired for steps and printables

Visit Hey Look for tips and printables

Visit MakeItMyOwn for tips

The most important thing about your Christmas activity advent calendar is that it’s fun! It’s all about spending time together as a family in the lead up to Christmas and getting into the Christmas spirit.

Do you have any other ideas for what we could include in our activity advent calendar? Tell us below!