Looking for a fun way to kick off the countdown to Christmas? Try a kid-friendly DIY advent calendar filled with surprises. After all, nothing quite sparks the anticipation for Christmas like an advent calendar.
For mums looking to make the Christmas countdown extra special, a DIY advent calendar is the perfect project to enjoy with kids. Whether it’s a simple calendar or a more elaborate creation with 24 drawers, these DIY advent calendar ideas are all about fun, creativity and a little bit of magic.
Why make a DIY advent calendar?
Every holiday season, children wake up with excitement for the big day, eagerly counting down the days until Christmas. While traditional chocolate advent calendars are always a hit, a reusable advent calendar filled with tiny surprises and activities can make the festive season more memorable and extra special because you’ve made it together. Not only that, but you get to choose what to put inside them, which can make it even more fun.
A DIY advent calendar can be as simple or elaborate as you like and filler ideas are endless. You can fill smaller boxes with sweet treats, tiny gifts, notes, jokes, a challenge or fun Christmas stories.
How to make a DIY advent calendar with kids
Creating a DIY advent calendar is almost as fun as opening one. Here’s how to make it simple and enjoyable:
- Gather supplies: You’ll need boxes, envelopes, small bags, a glue stick, scissors, cardboard rolls and decorating materials. Don’t forget the numbers 1–24, so you might want stickers or pens!
- Choose a theme: Decide whether your advent calendar will be all about sweet treats, tiny gifts, family activities or a mix.
- Fill the calendar: Add surprises like chocolates, toys, stickers or little notes. You can even include special items for family members, like a “movie night ticket” or a “Christmas baking day”.
- Decorate: Let the kids go wild with stickers, glitter and Christmas cards to personalise each box or pocket.
- Display: Hang your DIY advent calendar on a wall, on the Christmas tree or place it on a table. Make sure each day is easily reachable for the kids to open on their own.
Creative DIY advent calendar themes
Here are some fun DIY advent calendar ideas to get your creativity flowing:
- Lolly countdown: Fill each day with sweet treats, from chocolates to mini lollies.
- Story countdown: Share a new Christmas story or book excerpt each day.
- Craft calendar: Include tiny crafts like ornament-making or Christmas cards to create with kids.
- Activity calendar: Plan family activities, like movie nights or baking days.
- Tiny gift calendar: Fill smaller boxes with tiny toys, stationery or festive trinkets.
Mixing themes is also a fun idea—maybe half the days are sweet treats and the other half are family activities. Your kids will love the variety, and it keeps the Christmas countdown exciting.
5 fun DIY advent calendar ideas
Let’s dive into some fun advent calendar ideas that you can create with your children this Christmas holiday.
1. Classic chocolate calendar
Nothing beats a traditional chocolate advent calendar. You can make your own using small boxes or envelopes. Number each day from 1 to 24, then hide a piece of chocolate behind each day. For a personalised touch, let kids decorate the boxes with Christmas cards, stickers or glitter. Each morning, they get a sweet treat and a countdown to the big day. To encourage the Christmas spirit, get each child to choose what gifts or treats they will get for their sibling, to help it be an experience of giving, not just receiving.
2. Mini gift advent calendar
A simple advent calendar doesn’t have to be just about lollies. Tiny gifts like erasers, keychains or small toys make every morning exciting. Use smaller boxes or pouches hung on a Christmas tree or a string along the wall. Each box is a mini surprise, perfect for building anticipation for Christmas morning.
3. Activity advent calendar
Not all surprises have to be objects. Fill your DIY advent calendar with fun Christmas activities instead. Include things like baking cookies, making Christmas cards, watching a favourite Christmas story or going for a walk to see the Christmas lights. This type of calendar encourages quality family time and creates lasting memories.
4. Lucky dip box
Get the arts and crafts out for this one to make it extra fun. Taking a large cardboard box, cut a peek-through opening in the front and line it with clear plastic. Then paint the outside of the box in the theme you’re going for—the brighter the better. Wrap up the little gifts and put them in the box, labelling it with the corresponding day number on the outside. Each day, the kids can take turns to pick out a mystery lucky dip gift.
5. Cardboard roll Christmas tree advent calendar
Turn leftover cardboard rolls into a festive Christmas tree advent calendar! Cut the rolls in half and glue them together in a tree shape. Cover the front and sides with Christmas wrapping paper to make it bright and cheerful. Place small gifts or treats inside each roll, then seal the back with more wrapping paper. Number the fronts and each day, the kids can cut or poke open a new roll to reveal their surprise!
Reusable advent calendars
If you want a calendar that lasts beyond this Christmas season and becomes a family heirloom of sorts, consider creating a reusable Advent calendar. Wooden boxes, fabric pockets or a little house with drawers can be filled with different surprises each year. This eco-friendly option not only reduces waste from disposable advent calendars, but also becomes a bit of a family treasure.
A reusable advent calendar can be customised to match your family’s favourite Christmas stories, chocolate advent calendars or other daily surprises. Over time, it becomes a part of your holiday season décor and a reminder of joyful family moments.
Making it special for Christmas morning
The ultimate goal of any advent calendar is to build excitement for the big day: Christmas morning. Kids love the anticipation of opening a new day’s surprise and counting down the days until they wake up to see the Christmas tree surrounded by gifts.
Incorporate favourite advent calendars from previous years with new DIY advent calendar ideas to keep things fresh. You might even include a note with a clue about one of the tiny gifts or a fun activity to enjoy together.
Tips for a successful DIY advent calendar
- Plan ahead: Decide on the contents early, so you have time to gather everything.
- Keep it age-appropriate: Make sure the kids can enjoy the small gifts safely.
- Mix treats and activities: Balance sweet treats with interactive surprises to engage children of all ages.
- Personalise for your family: Include surprises for each family member to make it feel special.
- Make it fun: The process of creating the calendar is part of the magic. Use a glue stick, stickers and colourful boxes to make each day exciting.
Happy Christmas and happy crafting!
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