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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- One screen-free activity per day, December 1 to 24, with an age range, prep time, mess level and supplies for each.
- No candy needed: the treat is the time together, a cozy story night or a lights walk.
- Busy nights get 2-minute activities. Put the bigger ones on weekends.
- Write each activity on a slip of paper and tuck it into an envelope, bag or toilet roll calendar.
In this post32 sections
- How a Christmas Countdown for Kids Works Without Candy
- Week 1: Cozy Christmas Countdown Ideas (December 1 to 7)
- 1. Day 1: Write or draw a letter to Santa
- 2. Day 2: Blanket fort story night
- 3. Day 3: Paper snowflakes for the windows
- 4. Day 4: Christmas lights walk
- 5. Day 5: Cocoa picnic under the tree
- 6. Day 6: Cardboard box sleigh
- 7. Day 7: Christmas freeze dance
- Week 2: Hands-On Activity Advent Calendar Ideas (December 8 to 14)
- 8. Day 8: Christmas sensory bin
- 9. Day 9: Sock snowball fight
- 10. Day 10: Salt dough ornaments
- 11. Day 11: Handprint card for someone far away
- 12. Day 12: Pick toys to donate
- 13. Day 13: Wrapping practice station
- 14. Day 14: Indoor Christmas scavenger hunt
- Week 3: Kindness and Faith Christmas Countdown Ideas (December 15 to 21)
- 15. Day 15: Christmas bingo night
- 16. Day 16: Pinecone bird feeders
- 17. Day 17: Kindness cards for neighbors
- 18. Day 18: Flashlight book night
- 19. Day 19: Cardboard gingerbread house
- 20. Day 20: Ice ornaments outside
- 21. Day 21: Act out the Christmas story
- Week 4: Last Days of the Christmas Countdown (December 22 to 24)
- 22. Day 22: Tape road to the tree
- 23. Day 23: Christmas dinner placemats
- 24. Day 24: Christmas Eve story and star walk
- Make It a 12 Days of Christmas Countdown (or a Faith-Based One)
- More Christmas Activities for Kids
- FAQ
How a Christmas Countdown for Kids Works Without Candy
An activity advent calendar swaps the daily chocolate for a daily thing to do. Kids still get the fun of opening a door or pocket each morning, but what's inside is a slip of paper that says "Blanket fort story night" or "Make a bird feeder."
You can hold the slips in anything. Our step-by-step guide shows 3 easy DIY advent calendars for kids made from paper bags, toilet rolls and a cardboard tree, each in about an hour or less.
Plan the list before December 1. Check your calendar, put the 2-minute ideas on school nights and save salt dough or a box sleigh for weekends.
Swap days freely. The countdown should feel like fun, not homework.
| Day | Activity | Ages | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letter to Santa | 3 to 8 | 2 min |
| 2 | Blanket fort story night | 2 to 8 | 10 min |
| 3 | Paper snowflakes for the windows | 4 to 8 | 2 min |
| 4 | Christmas lights walk | 1 to 8 | 5 min |
| 5 | Cocoa picnic under the tree | 2 to 8 | 10 min |
| 6 | Cardboard box sleigh | 2 to 6 | 10 min |
| 7 | Christmas freeze dance | 1 to 8 | 1 min |
| 8 | Christmas sensory bin | 1 to 4 | 10 min |
| 9 | Sock snowball fight | 2 to 8 | 2 min |
| 10 | Salt dough ornaments | 2 to 8 | 20 min |
| 11 | Handprint card for someone far away | 1 to 8 | 5 min |
| 12 | Pick toys to donate | 3 to 8 | 5 min |
| 13 | Wrapping practice station | 3 to 8 | 5 min |
| 14 | Indoor Christmas scavenger hunt | 3 to 8 | 10 min |
| 15 | Christmas bingo night | 3 to 8 | 5 min |
| 16 | Pinecone bird feeders | 2 to 8 | 10 min |
| 17 | Kindness cards for neighbors | 3 to 8 | 5 min |
| 18 | Flashlight book night | 1 to 8 | 2 min |
| 19 | Cardboard gingerbread house | 3 to 8 | 10 min |
| 20 | Ice ornaments outside | 2 to 8 | 10 min + freezing |
| 21 | Act out the Christmas story | 3 to 8 | 5 min |
| 22 | Tape road to the tree | 1 to 5 | 5 min |
| 23 | Christmas dinner placemats | 2 to 8 | 5 min |
| 24 | Christmas Eve story and star walk | 1 to 8 | 2 min |
Week 1: Cozy Christmas Countdown Ideas (December 1 to 7)
Start gentle. The first week sets the mood with easy, low-prep ideas that work on a school night.
1Day 1: Write or draw a letter to Santa
Kick off the countdown with a wish list. Older kids write, younger ones draw or cut pictures from a toy catalog and glue them on. Seal it in an envelope and mail it or "send" it up the chimney.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper, crayons, envelope, glue stick.
- Safety: child-safety scissors only, with a grown-up at the table for cutting.
2Day 2: Blanket fort story night
Drape a blanket over two chairs, add pillows and a string of battery fairy lights, and read Christmas picture books inside. Kids remember this one for years.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: blankets, chairs, pillows, books, flashlight or battery lights.
- Safety: use battery lights, not plug-in strings, and keep heavy books off the fort roof.
3Day 3: Paper snowflakes for the windows
Fold a square of printer paper into a triangle three times, snip shapes along the edges and unfold. Tape the snowflakes to a window.
Ages: 4 to 8 (younger kids can tear and tape).
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low, paper bits.
Supplies: printer paper, child-safety scissors, tape.
- Safety: thin paper is easier for small hands, and a grown-up stays close during cutting.
4Day 4: Christmas lights walk
Bundle up after dinner and walk the neighborhood looking at lights. Give kids a job: count the inflatable snowmen or spot three different colors.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: warm clothes, a flashlight, a stroller or wagon for little ones.
- Safety: hold hands near driveways and roads, and add a reflective strip or light to coats.
5Day 5: Cocoa picnic under the tree
Spread a blanket by the tree, turn off the big lights and have a snack picnic with cocoa and a story. It feels special and takes almost no work.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: blanket, mugs, cocoa, a simple snack, a book.
- Safety: let cocoa cool to warm, test it on your wrist, and keep mugs away from the tree skirt edge.
6Day 6: Cardboard box sleigh
Save a big delivery box. Kids paint it red, tape on paper snowflakes and tie a rope to the front, then give stuffed animals a ride around the living room.
Ages: 2 to 6.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: large box, washable paint, rope, tape, paper.
- Safety: pull out staples first, and only let kids pull the rope, never wrap it around a neck or wrist.
7Day 7: Christmas freeze dance
Put on Christmas music and dance. When the music stops, everyone freezes like a snowman. It's the best 10-minute energy burner for a cold evening.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 1 minute.
Mess: none.
Supplies: music and a clear patch of floor.
- Safety: push the coffee table aside and play in socks with grip or bare feet.
Week 2: Hands-On Activity Advent Calendar Ideas (December 8 to 14)
Week two gets a little crafty. Most of these are good for a Saturday morning, and two make gifts for family.
8Day 8: Christmas sensory bin
Fill a shallow bin with dry oats or rice, add big cookie cutters, scoops and shatterproof ornaments, and let toddlers pour and dig. Our Christmas sensory bin ideas for toddlers has 21 more fillers.
Ages: 1 to 4.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: bin, oats or rice, scoops, big cutters.
- Choking note: for under 3s, skip small items like jingle bells and ornament caps, and stay at the bin.
9Day 9: Sock snowball fight
Roll clean socks into balls, split into two teams behind couch cushions and have a soft snowball fight indoors. Clean-up is part of the game: who can get the most back in the basket?
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: a basket of rolled socks.
- Safety: set one rule, no throwing at faces, and move breakable ornaments up high first.
10Day 10: Salt dough ornaments
Mix about two parts flour, one part salt and one part water into a stiff dough. Kids roll it, cut shapes and poke a hanging hole with a straw. Bake low until hard, then paint them another day. Our salt dough ornaments guide has the full recipe, drying times and sealing steps.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 20 minutes plus baking.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: flour, salt, water, cookie cutters, straw.
- Safety: salt dough isn't food and can poison dogs, so hang finished ornaments high. A grown-up handles the oven.
11Day 11: Handprint card for someone far away
Paint a palm green and press it upside down on folded cardstock to make a tree. Add fingerprint ornaments, write a note inside and mail it to a grandparent.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: green and red washable paint, cardstock, envelope, stamp.
- Safety: washable paint only, and wipe hands right away so paint stays out of mouths.
12Day 12: Pick toys to donate
Before new toys arrive, kids choose a few gently used ones to give to a local toy drive or shelter. Talk about who might play with them next.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: a box or bag, a wet cloth for wiping toys.
- Tip: call the drop-off spot first, since many only take new or unopened toys.
13Day 13: Wrapping practice station
Set out empty boxes, leftover paper, tape and stickers, and let kids wrap "presents" for each other or their stuffed animals. Lumpy is fine.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: small boxes, paper scraps, tape, child-safety scissors, stickers.
- Safety: a tape dispenser with a sharp edge stays on the grown-up side of the table.
14Day 14: Indoor Christmas scavenger hunt
Hide ten Christmas things around the house (an ornament, a mitten, a candy cane picture, a red sock) and give kids a picture list to find them.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a picture list, a basket to collect finds.
- Safety: hide things at kid height, never on shelves they'd need to climb.
Week 3: Kindness and Faith Christmas Countdown Ideas (December 15 to 21)
The third week turns outward. These ideas give kids a small, kind job, and there's one faith-based day for families who want it.
15Day 15: Christmas bingo night
Play picture bingo as a family, with paper squares as markers. The winner picks the next song or the next book.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: bingo boards (the Christmas Activity Pack has 6), paper squares.
- Choking note: skip dried beans or buttons as markers when a child under 3 is at the table.
16Day 16: Pinecone bird feeders
Spread sunflower seed butter on a pine cone, roll it in birdseed and hang it from a branch you can see from a window. Then watch who visits.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: pine cones, sunflower seed butter, birdseed, twine.
- Safety: sunflower seed butter keeps it nut-free. Wash hands after, and birdseed isn't a snack.
17Day 17: Kindness cards for neighbors
Kids draw a few cards for the mail carrier, a neighbor or a school bus driver, then deliver them together. A drawing of a tree is plenty.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: folded paper, crayons or markers, stickers.
- Safety: a grown-up walks along for deliveries and handles any door knocking.
18Day 18: Flashlight book night
Turn off every light except the tree, hand each child a flashlight and read Christmas books by flashlight. Little ones love being in charge of the light.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: flashlights, a stack of books.
- Safety: check that battery doors are screwed shut before handing a flashlight to a toddler.
For book night and the Christmas Eve star walk.
19Day 19: Cardboard gingerbread house
Build a house from a cereal box, then decorate it with white paint "icing", paper candy shapes and dot stickers. No real candy, no sticky mess.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cereal box, brown paper, white paint, glue stick, stickers.
- Safety: a grown-up cuts doors and windows, and stickers stay away from kids who still mouth things.
20Day 20: Ice ornaments outside
Fill a pie tin with water, drop in cranberries, evergreen sprigs and orange slices, lay a loop of string in the edge and freeze it outside or in the freezer. Hang it from a tree.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes plus overnight freezing.
Mess: low.
Supplies: pie tin, water, string, cranberries, greenery.
- Safety: gloves for handling ice, and cranberries are choking-sized for toddlers, so an adult drops them in.
21Day 21: Act out the Christmas story
Act out the nativity with toys, dress-up clothes or a nativity set, or act out a favorite Christmas book if that fits your family better. Kids pick the parts.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: dress-up clothes, toys or figures, a book.
- Safety: keep costume cords and ties short, and no belts or scarves around necks during play.
Week 4: Last Days of the Christmas Countdown (December 22 to 24)
The last three days are busy, so these are short. Each one fits around cooking, wrapping and travel.
22Day 22: Tape road to the tree
Lay a road of painter's tape across the floor that ends at the Christmas tree, and let toddlers drive toy cars "home for Christmas." It buys you 20 minutes to wrap.
Ages: 1 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: painter's tape, toy cars.
- Safety: keep glass ornaments off the bottom branches when cars are driving right up to the tree.
23Day 23: Christmas dinner placemats
Kids draw a picture for every person coming to Christmas dinner, then you cover each one in clear contact paper so it wipes clean.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper, crayons, clear contact paper, scissors for the grown-up.
- Tip: write each guest's name on the back, so the placemats double as place cards.
24Day 24: Christmas Eve story and star walk
Read one last Christmas story, then step outside in pajamas and coats to look for the brightest star. It's a calm end to a busy day.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a book, coats, a flashlight.
- Safety: stay on the porch or driveway, and watch for ice on the steps.
Make It a 12 Days of Christmas Countdown (or a Faith-Based One)
Short on time? Pick 12 favorites and start on December 13. Keep the lights walk, the fort, salt dough, the bird feeders and the Christmas Eve story, and drop the rest.
For a Christian countdown, swap in a few faith-based days: read part of the nativity story from a children's Bible, make a craft stick star like the one in our preschool Christmas crafts, or set up the nativity scene one piece at a time.
Set up your countdown before December 1
Countdown supplies
-
Kraft paper envelopes
About $6 to $12
Hold one activity slip each, and they look sweet on twine.
Check price on Amazon for Kraft paper envelopes -
Mini wooden clothespins and jute twine
About $6 to $10
The easiest way to hang 24 envelopes or bags.
Check price on Amazon for Mini wooden clothespins and jute twine -
Number stickers 1 to 24
About $5 to $9
Number the pockets fast, no neat handwriting needed.
Check price on Amazon for Number stickers 1 to 24 -
Washable kids paint
About $10 to $20
Covers the handprint card, the box sleigh and salt dough ornaments.
Check price on Amazon for Washable kids paint -
Kids flashlights
About $8 to $15
For book night and the Christmas Eve star walk.
Check price on Amazon for Kids flashlights
More Christmas Activities for Kids
Want more crafts for the weekend days? Our kids Christmas crafts by age are sorted from toddler to age 8. If an elf visits your house too, the easy elf on the shelf ideas pair well with a countdown.
Shopping for little ones? See toddler Christmas gifts that encourage play.
Frequently asked questions
What can I put in a Christmas countdown for kids instead of candy?
Put a slip of paper with one activity for that day: a blanket fort story night, a lights walk, salt dough ornaments or a kindness card. Kids still get to open something each morning.
When should a Christmas countdown start?
Most advent calendars run December 1 to 24. A 12 days of Christmas version starting December 13 works well for busy families.
What is an activity advent calendar?
It's an advent calendar where each day holds an activity instead of a treat or toy. You can use envelopes, paper bags, toilet rolls or a cardboard tree as the holder.
How do I do an advent calendar with toddlers?
Keep activities short and simple, like freeze dance, a tape road or a lights walk. Skip small parts for under 3s and hang the calendar where toddlers can see it but can't pull it down.
How do I keep an activity countdown from getting stressful?
Put 2-minute activities on busy nights, save bigger ones for weekends, and swap days whenever you need to. Kids remember the time together more than the order.
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