Advent Activities

Here are some of my favorite Christmas countdown activity ideas that I've found on Pinterest thus far. My goal is to make my schedule and get all the supplies while it is still November, so that December can actually be fun.

This wreath can hold Christmas cards, or you could use 25 clothespins and use it to hold your countdown numbers and ideas. We might do this for a family activity and then keep it or give as a gift.

Source: gwennypenny.com via Laura on Pinterest

These cute reindeer cups could be made and then filled with popcorn for a ride on the "Minivan Express" - looking at Christmas lights.

Source: confessionsofahomeschooler.com via Laura on Pinterest

Love this artwork. I'm going to use the art we make this month to fill the existing picture frames on our walls (making sure paper is the right size and orientation before we start). Then I can pull it out each year and make my walls festive!

Source: ucreatewithkids.com via Laura on Pinterest

So Cute!

Source: creativeholidaygiftideas.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: mydeliciousambiguity.com via Laura on Pinterest

Preschool Letter Matching Activity

Source: 1plus1plus1equals1.com via Laura on Pinterest

Patterning Activity with a "J is for Jesus"

Source: 1plus1plus1equals1.com via Laura on Pinterest

Edible Christmas Tree

Source: squidoo.com via Laura on Pinterest

Santa Hand Ornament - there are other links on Pinterest for a salt dough to be used with this

Source: clayfulimpressions.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Printable Nativity Scene - another link on Pinterest talks about making this magnetic for use on a cookie sheet or a fridge

Source: makingfriends.com via Laura on Pinterest

Coloring Activity

Source: catholicicing.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: happyhomefairy.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: fullofgreatideas.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: marcheseclowns.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

And here is a list of general activities that I compiled a few years ago.

1. Play a game together as a family, the winner gets to put the angel/star on the Christmas tree
2. Decorate the Christmas tree together
3. Each person gets to write a wish list of Christmas presents they would like to receive
4. Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows while listening to Christmas music
5. Make Cut-out Christmas Cookies
6. Decorate Cookies from yesterday
7. Take a plateful of the cookies to someone in your church or neighborhood
8. Read the Christmas story from Luke
9. Read Mary's Song of Praise in Luke 1 - the Magnificat
10. Learn the words to a Christmas carol
11. Call a grandparent and sing a Christmas carol
12. Read a Christmas story by the Christmas tree
13. Camp out under the Christmas tree
14. String some popcorn or other homemade garland
15. Make homemade wrapping paper
16. Address the Christmas cards together - the kids can write notes to stick in or color pictures
17. Go see a Christmas concert or play
18. Make a homemade Christmas card for the grandparents
19. Buy a Christmas gift for a less fortunate child
20. Go to the dollar store and buy something for your sibling
21. Cut out snowflakes
22. Make an ornament - make sure and date it!
23. Make a gingerbread house out of graham crackers (and a milk carton)
24. Take goofy pictures by the Christmas tree
25. Act out the Christmas story
26. Make red and green pancakes for breakfast
27. Watch a Christmas movie together as a family - don't forget popcorn!
28. Wrap Christmas presents
29. Record a video clip of everyone in your family singing a Christmas song
30. Play Christmas pictionary
31. Make a Christmas craft
32. Make some kind of munchie snack that the kids can help with - puppy chow, peanut butter balls, no bake cookies, etc.
33. Come up with a list of Christmas things for every letter in the alphabet
34. Go drive and look at lights
35. Have a contest to see who can find the most snowmen (or other Christmas item) throughout the day

Now to pick the 25 for this year....