Family Advent calendars are a fun way to count down to Christmas without buying a separate calendar for everyone.
We’ve tried several different styles over the years, from escape-room puzzles and games to movie nights and reusable activity calendars. I especially like the ones that give us something to do together rather than simply another piece of chocolate each morning.
Below are my favorite family Advent calendars for different ages, interests, and budgets.
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Advent Calendars for the Whole Family
There are plenty of options that work for more than just younger kids. I’ve included personalized calendars you can reuse every year, games and puzzles for older kids and teens, and simple activities the whole family can enjoy.
Personalized Family Advent Calendars
If you want something you can bring out every Christmas, a personalized Advent calendar is a lovely option. Fill these reusable wooden calendars with your own treats, notes, or activities each year.
Wooden Christmas Advent House
This personalized wooden Advent calendar has 24 small drawers that you can fill with candy, notes, clues, or tiny gifts. Add your family name to the front and reuse it every December. A lovely choice if you want a family Advent calendar that becomes part of your Christmas decorations year after year.
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Wooden Christmas House
A larger wooden Advent house with 24 numbered compartments for treats, small toys, or activity notes. Its simple wooden design makes it feel more like Christmas decor than a traditional kids' calendar, and because you fill it yourself, you can change the surprises as your kids get older.
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Game and Puzzle Advent Calendars
These family Advent calendars turn the countdown into something you can actually do together. There are quick games, mysteries, escape-room challenges, puzzles, and activities for different ages.
The Magic of Christmas
This EXIT Advent calendar turns the Christmas countdown into one long puzzle adventure. Open a new section each day, solve the challenge, and gradually work your way through the story. A good choice for families with older kids and teens who enjoy escape rooms, riddles, and logic puzzles.
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Clue Advent Calendar
A 24-day Christmas mystery based on the classic Clue game. Each day reveals another part of the case as you work out what happened at a snowed-in ski resort. Designed for ages 10+, it works especially well for families who enjoy mysteries and deduction games.
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Family Games Advent Calendar
Instead of candy or small gifts, this calendar gives you a different mini game each day. The games are quick, screen-free, and designed to be played together, making this a fun option for families who love game nights but don't necessarily have time for a full board game every evening.
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The Intergalactic Race | Holiday Escape Room
This EXIT Advent calendar combines daily riddles with an ongoing space-themed story. Each puzzle moves you a little closer to completing the mission, so there's a reason to come back the following day. Best suited to older kids, teens, and adults who enjoy a challenge.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Magic Advent Calendar
Each day introduces a new magic trick or science-based activity, giving kids something to actually do rather than simply open. It's particularly good for curious kids who enjoy experiments, performing tricks, and figuring out how things work.
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Monopoly Token Advent Calendar
A fun alternative for Monopoly fans, with a different collectible token revealed each day. There are 24 tokens in total, including several exclusive designs. This is less of a family activity than the puzzle calendars above, but a good choice if Monopoly regularly makes it onto your family game table.
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25 Family Challenges Advent Calendar
This one is all about doing something together each day. Behind the doors are simple family challenges and Christmas activities rather than toys or candy. It's an easy way to add a little more family time to December without planning 25 activities yourself.
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Family Games Advent Calendar Book
This book contains 24 family games and challenges, with everything from cooperative activities to head-to-head competitions. Instructions are designed to be read aloud and there's even a family scoreboard that runs throughout December. A particularly good option if several generations will be joining in.
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Submarine Escape
Part Advent calendar, part escape room, this Ravensburger puzzle follows an underwater adventure across December. Each day’s challenge moves the story forward, making it much more immersive than a standard puzzle calendar. Best for older kids and families who enjoy solving things together.
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Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle Advent
Complete one section of a Christmas jigsaw each day and watch the full festive picture gradually come together. It's a quieter alternative to games and activity challenges, and a good choice for families who like having something screen-free to work on together in the evening.
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Family Activity Advent Calendars
For a more flexible countdown, these calendars focus on simple things to do together throughout December, from Christmas movie nights and kindness challenges to crafts and other festive activities.
Christmas Movie Advent Calendar Printable
Turn December into a Christmas movie countdown with our printable Advent calendar. Choose the movies you want to watch, add them to the calendar, and reveal one each day. Because you create the lineup yourself, it's easy to mix family favorites with a few Christmas movies you haven't seen before.
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Christmas Advent Activity Tokens
Fill your Advent countdown with activities rather than gifts using these reusable wooden tokens. The set includes Christmas activities that you can choose from throughout December, giving you more flexibility than a calendar with a fixed activity behind each door.
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Christmas Family Movie Tokens
These wooden movie tokens offer a reusable way to plan Christmas movie nights. Pick a token each evening to choose what you'll watch, or use them to create your December movie schedule in advance. They're especially useful if Christmas movies are already a big part of your family's December traditions.
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The Advent Calendar of Kindness
Rather than focusing on what you'll receive each day, this calendar suggests small acts of kindness to complete throughout December. The activities are simple enough to fit into everyday life and can be a nice way to bring gratitude and giving into your family's Christmas countdown.
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An Advent Book: Crafts, Games, Recipes, Stories, and More!
This Advent book gives you a mixture of Christmas activities rather than asking you to do the same thing every day. There are crafts, recipes, games, and stories to choose from throughout December, so you can pick what works with your schedule rather than trying to complete everything.
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More Advent Ideas to Explore
If you’re looking for something more tailored, here are a few other guides to help you find the right fit:
Last Updated on 17 September 2026 by Clare Brown
