holiday

 Once all of your circles have been secured in place, go ahead and write out your title, using a pencil to avoid mistakes. You can write something like “Smith Family Advent Calendar” or “25 Days of Awesomeness!” Once your title is drawn exactly how you’d like it, trace over it with your chalkboard markers. If you’re unsure which color marker you’d like to use, test it out on the backside of the foam board to make sure it’s right for you.

Now, this is the fun part (get ready to rub your hands together with excitement)! Come up with some great ideas for the month of December or you can get some inspiration from our list below…

ADVENT CALENDAR ACTIVITY IDEAS:

• Deck the halls! – Spend the day decorating every inch of your home
• Make handwritten cards
• Do a DIY holiday craft
• Explore international holiday traditions – learn how other cultures celebrate the advent season
• Volunteer! – Share your time with a local charity
• Read the 1st Christmas Story
• Make homemade ornaments and eat special holiday treats (like hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies, eggnog, etc.)
• Donate! – Give away old toys or buy new items for charity
• Play reindeer games – Host a game night and invite all your friends
• #Merry Christmas – Tweet, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube about what brings you joy during the holidays
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Candlelight & Carols – eat dinner by candlelight and then sing Christmas carols
• Make a Christmas gift – make something cool and give it to friends, family or coworkers
• Make a video for Christmas day – Record a video full of Christmas cheer and send it loved ones on Christmas day
• Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? – Build a snowman! If there’s no snow, make one out of unconventional materials
• Random acts of kindness – Leave kind notes, pay for a stranger’s Starbucks order, give an unexpected gift, etc.
• See a Christmas show – See a holiday play like A Christmas Carol or check out The Nutcracker at a local theater
• Read Christmas books – The Polar Express, Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, etc.
• See the lights – Drive through a nearby park’s light display or just roam through your neighborhood
• Go ice skating
• Christmas tree slumber party – Lay down pillows and blankets and sleep around the Christmas tree
• Ugly Christmas Sweater Day! – Throw a themed party or just rock your ugliest Christmas sweater for the day
• Play Christmas movie bingo – Host a movie night and be sure to use our Christmas movie bingo free printable
• Throw a Christmas party – Invite all your favorite people and rock around the Christmas tree
• Have a Merry Christmas! 

Finally, use a thin Sharpie to write the number of days leading to Christmas (hint: it’s 25!). So there you have it!  Try this out for yourself and let us know what you think!