Advent has always felt like a breath of fresh air to me. It’s a season of waiting, wonder, and drawing our kids close as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming. Often, kids’ Advent calendars can help us with this focus. And, even in the middle of school programs, cookie crumbs, and the general swirl of December, there’s something so grounding about pausing for just a few minutes each day to remember why we celebrate.
Over the years, we’ve used all kinds of kids’ Advent calendars… the sweet, the silly, the faith-filled, the ones that somehow shed glitter everywhere. They’ve all added a little touch of anticipation to our days. But this year, something shifted.
I started off with a “slow December” checklist — just a simple list of the traditions and events that really mattered to us. Once everything was on the calendar, I realized we already had so many small but meaningful moments sprinkled throughout the month. Instead of adding even more activities, I decided to take what we were already planning and turn it into a personalized Advent calendar for our family.
And honestly? It felt like the easiest, most doable Advent we’ve ever prepared for.
In this post you will find the steps I used to plan our personal Advent calendar, and if you’d prefer, you can scroll down and see some options for ready-made Advent calendars that you can order online!
*I use affiliate links to share products with you. If you use the link to make a purchase, the cost of the book doesn’t go up for you. However, I will receive a commission and I do appreciate your support.
Creating a Personalized Advent Calendar for Your Family
If you’ve ever looked at December and thought, I want this to feel special, but I don’t want to run myself into the ground, this kind of Advent calendar is perfect.
The idea is simple:
Gather the traditions, events, books, crafts, and cozy moments your family already loves — then turn them into a daily countdown.
Instead of scrambling to create new experiences, you’re just giving structure (and a little magic) to the ones you already enjoy.
Here are the types of activities I’m weaving into ours this year. Feel free to borrow anything that fits your family:
Cozy At-Home Moments
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A family game night
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Decorating the Christmas tree together
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Reading the nativity story and setting up the nativity
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Building a blanket fort and reading Christmas books
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Breakfast for dinner
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A Christmas movie night (with popcorn, of course)
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Putting together a new holiday puzzle
Simple Baking Days
(I keep these minimal because… well… I know my limits.)
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Baking classic Christmas cookies
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Making gingerbread men
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A candy cane hunt using mini canes hidden around the house
Books & Reading Traditions
This is always one of my favorite parts of December.
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A new Christmas picture book
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Visiting a local author event
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Reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
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Snuggling up for a pajama-and-reading morning
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Pulling out our favorite Christ-centered Christmas stories
Easy Crafts (just one per week!)
I intentionally keep these simple so they feel fun, not stressful.
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Paper snowflakes
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A paper countdown chain
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Painting wooden nutcrackers
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Homemade cards for grandparents and teachers
Community & Seasonal Events
These are the moments already on our calendar — now they double as Advent surprises.
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A tree lighting at our town center
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Ice skating
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A solstice nature walk
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A cousin sleepover
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Local Christmas performances or school plays
- Visiting a bookstore to meet an author!
Acts of Kindness
Advent is such a sweet time to help kids practice thoughtfulness.
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A small act of kindness for a neighbor
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Making a simple treat or card for someone who needs encouragement
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A service-focused activity unique to your family
How I Organized Everything (Keep This Part Simple!)
To decide which activities fell on which days, I just looked at our busy days vs. our slower days and placed the activities where they made the most sense.
Crafts on quieter afternoons. Community events on the weekends. A cozy activity on a full school day.
And truly — it came together so much easier than I expected.
The hardest part was just deciding how to display it. However, once that’s done, you can do the same thing in the coming years!
How We’re Displaying Our Kids’ Advent Calendar
If you want to keep it simple, you can do any of these:
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Number each of the activities, then slip them into a pretty box and draw one each day
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Hang paper tags on a ribbon
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Use envelopes clipped to twine — write down the activities on a piece of paper inside each envelope.
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Fill the pockets of a reusable Advent calendar
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Tie activity cards onto a wall “tree” shaped with Command hooks
I originally planned to do the Command-hook tree… until I stumbled across a darling Santa Advent calendar on major sale and grabbed it. You don’t need anything fancy — just a way to hold your activities so each day feels a little special.
And honestly? The magic isn’t in the display. It’s in the time together.
Why This Works for Busy Moms
The beauty of a personalized Advent calendar is that you’re not adding more to December — you’re simply naming and celebrating the moments you already planned.
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You don’t need to buy 24 new activities.
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You don’t need to craft your way through December.
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You don’t need to prep much of anything.
I used things we already had… plus four little items I grabbed during a quick Target run with my husband before a dinner date.
It feels doable. Meaningful. And something we can continue every year without reinventing the wheel.
If You Want a Ready-Made Advent Calendar Instead…
Your personalized version might be all you need. But if you love the idea of something beautiful, hands-on, or faith-based, I’ve rounded up some wonderful Advent calendars for kids below — from keepsake wooden calendars to books, crafts, kindness activities, and more.
Wooden Keepsake Advent Calendar
If you love the idea of an Advent calendar you can pull out year after year, this one is such a sweet option. It’s sturdy, beautifully made, and has little hooks so you can tie on your own treats, activities, or tiny treasures. It also makes December mornings feel a little more magical without adding more clutter — which is always a win.
LEGO Advent Calendar
If you’ve got a builder in your house, these are always a hit. Each little door reveals a mini-figure or tiny build that all come together for one festive scene. Kids love checking for their surprise each morning, and I love that it keeps their hands busy while I make breakfast. Plus, there are so many different options to choose from!
Heirloom Art Co.’s Wooden Advent Calendar
I have been closely following Heirloom Art Co. as they share beautiful and calming pieces of art for your home. They recently added a collection of traditions, which would be exciting to implement each year with your children. I especially love their Wooden Advent Calendar.
Jesus Storybook Bible
If you are familiar with Sally-Lloyd Jones’ Jesus Storybook Bible, then you will want to check out her free Advent guide! The guide walks you through the stories of the Bible beginning with creation to Christ’s birth. It would pair perfectly with these felt Jesse Tree Ornaments from BabyWhatKnots’ Etsy shop. This is one of my favorite Advent calendars for kids.
The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
This is the Advent calendar that my family personally uses. It was gifted to us by my parents, and I love how this book opens up into a giant pop-up Christmas tree. Each day, you open a little box that contains an ornament tracing the story of God’s love for us from the time the world began until Jesus dies on the cross.
I also love these felt Jesse Tree ornaments that coordinate with the book. They would make a great upgrade to the paper ones that are used in The Wonder of the Greatest Gift book.
Nutcracker Theater Christmas Advent Calendar
The Nutcracker is one of my favorite stories to enjoy during the Christmas season. I have seen the ballet multiple times and frequently listen to the music (even when it’s not Christmas). This beautiful Advent calendar is made up of a box that opens up into a theater, and it also includes an orchestra pit!
Each day, your child opens a numbered envelop where they will find different characters and props to perform the play. On the final day, they receive a bracelet with little charms.
A great addition to this calendar would be reading the story to help them image the scenes! The Nutcracker Sound Book provides a great introduction to young, imaginative readers. It is recommended for ages 3 and up, but my 18 month old son loves it!
The Crazy Scientist Advent Calendar
If your child lights up at the idea of experiments and gadgets, this one is so fun. Each day includes a tiny STEM challenge or project that encourages curiosity. It feels educational (in a good way!) and keeps those little hands and minds busy. It has 24 different experiments that are great for young kids to adults! You will follow along with a step-by-step manual to complete the experiments (What’s that? Practicing reading and following directions? Yes, please!).
Buildable Train Advent Calendar
I couldn’t get over this adorable train Advent calendar. Each day, you open up a new piece to add to the train. This will make an exciting toy to spend some time with throughout the holiday season.
Book Folding Advent Calendar
Book folding patterns are always a fun, interactive challenge. Just taking the time to create this with older kids would add to the enjoyment of the overall experience.
For this particular calendar, you get to choose what goes inside the boxes. You could fill each day with slips of paper for activities to share the joy of the Christmas season with others. Add little candies or a favorite book quote to share each day. The creative possibilities are endless!
Family Advent Activity Cards
I really like the simplicity of these Family Advent Activity Cards from WhimsicalsPaperie‘s Etsy shop. It is unlike other Advent calendars that are set on display. Instead, you’ll be joining together as a family to intentionally bring joy to others or to be present with one another. It is just what this season needs. Each day you complete a very simple activity that requires little prep.
Advent Calendar Library
For my fellow book lovers, this Library Advent Calendar is just what you need! Plus it’s the perfect addition to our kids’ Advent calendars list. Each day, you lift a small flap to reveal an image from a famous book. Use the image as a clue to guess which book it might be! This would be a great activity for adults and older children who are familiar with lots of books.
Kindness Advent Calendar
If you are looking to add beauty to your home, as well as your heart, this would be the perfect Advent calendar for your family. Each day there is a thoughtful activity planned for your family to complete together, spreading a little more kindness in our world. You will also find a reusable sticker under each flap that used to create a cheerful scene in the middle of the calendar.
Looking for other gift ideas besides Kids’ Advent calendars?
Maybe you already have the perfect kids’ Advent calendars. If so, check out our gift guide lists from last year, and create a time and space for your family to gather and to find comfort in one another. These gift guides will help you find items to make a cozy reading area for your kids. Each guide also includes a selection of age appropriate books:
