19 Awesome Christmas Countdown Ideas For Kids Of All Ages
As the holiday season approaches, there’s a special kind of magic in counting down the days to Christmas. Whether you’re looking for creative ways to make this festive journey even more exciting or searching for thoughtful gifts to spread joy to your loved ones, we have you covered with a collection of unique Christmas countdown ideas.
The anticipation, the twinkling lights, the aroma of freshly baked cookies, and the heartwarming music all contribute to the holiday spirit. But what truly makes it special are the traditions and countdown activities that bring families and friends together.
Whether it’s opening a little door on an Advent calendar to reveal a tiny surprise, watching a beloved Christmas movie each night, or taking part in daily acts of kindness to spread goodwill, these Christmas activities for kids amplify the excitement and help us cherish the season.
Christmas is not just about waiting for one day; it’s about celebrating the entire journey, filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. These fun countdown ideas not only add a touch of enchantment but also create lasting memories that make the holiday season truly magical. So, embrace the spirit of Christmas, and let the countdown begin!
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Countdown to Christmas for Kids
These Christmas countdown ideas for kids offer a diverse range of activities and experiences that can transform the holiday season into a time of wonder and joy.
From crafting and coloring to music playlists and storybooks, each idea adds its unique touch to the anticipation of Christmas.
Whether your family enjoys traditional celebrations or prefers modern twists. These ideas provide ample opportunities for bonding, laughter, and creating treasured memories.
Advent Calendar
When I was younger, we would get a Christmas advent calendar that showed a Christmas image underneath each window.
There was no chocolate and certainly no toys in them when I was younger! Thankfully though there are so many amazing advent calendar ideas you can choose from:
- best kid’s advent calendars
- family advent calendars
- advent calendar for teen boys
- advent calendar for teen girls
- free printable advent calendar to color
Primitives by Kathy Vintage Christmas Wood Countdown Box,
Primitives by Kathy Hand Lettered Countdown Block, RedLulu Home Christmas Inflatable Decoration, 8 FT BlowDepartment 56 Flourish Dr. Seuss The Grinch FireplaceCHEFAN Christmas Decorations, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Wall Decor,Snowman Advent Calendar Hanging Days Until Christmas Countdown
Holiday Treasure Hunt
Have a Christmas treasure hunt by hiding clues throughout your home. Each clue leads to the next, with the final clue revealing a hidden Christmas treat or a small gift.
It’s a fun and interactive way to build anticipation and engage the family in a festive adventure as you count down to Christmas.
You can also have fun with the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt too!
A DIY Advent Calendar is a charming and personalized way to countdown to Christmas.
This particular wooden box comes with 24 empty boxes that can be beautifully decorated and filled with small treats or surprises of your choice.
It not only adds a creative touch to your holiday decor but also allows you to customize the countdown experience, making each day leading up to Christmas extra special and memorable.
Players take on the role of Santa’s helpers and complete various challenges and missions to earn presents for Santa’s sleigh.
The game encourages family bonding and holiday cheer, making it a perfect addition to the Christmas countdown tradition and Elf on the Shelf activities.
A Christmas movie marathon is a heartwarming way to count down the days to Christmas.
Set up a cozy viewing area with snacks and themed nights to add excitement.
Encourage family involvement by voting on movie selections, and use the time after each film for discussions and bonding. It’s a delightful tradition that can bring joy and togetherness during the holiday season.
Assign one act to each day leading up to Christmas, making sure to personalize them.
Document your acts of kindness, reflect on them as a group, and consider extending this spirit of giving throughout the year.
This alternative countdown spreads holiday cheer, fosters gratitude, and promotes a sense of community.
Give the children a daily gift of:
- Small bag of candy or chocolate coins
- Christmas ornament for his tree (yes he has his own in his bedroom.)
- Lego Minifigure
- Christmas book
- Mad Libs Christmas book
For even more ideas check out our Christmas stocking stuffers for boys with over 30 gifts all under $20.
We have done this twice when our son was younger. The reason we stopped doing it was that I struggled to find 24 Christmas books we didn't have!
But this I think was one of our favorite activities. We would wrap up 24 Christmas books in Christmas gift wrap and every morning he would unwrap his new book. At bedtime, or whenever we had time we would sit and read the new book together.
You can either buy new books, wrap up ones you have had from the previous Christmas, or pop to the library and borrow them for free.
Plan a different holiday craft or DIY project for each day leading up to Christmas. You can create ornaments, decorations, or even homemade gifts.
The jigsaw advent offers a unique twist on the traditional countdown.
With 24 parts, each revealing a piece of the holiday puzzle, it creates anticipation as you assemble the 1008 pieces leading up to Christmas Day.
This interactive and decorative stocking stuffer is perfect for both adults and kids, making it a delightful addition to your holiday festivities and home decor.
The Christmas Activity Jar offers a delightful way to ensure you don't miss out on any festive traditions throughout December. It contains 20 pre-planned activities, along with 2 customizable tokens to add your own unique family rituals.
Whether you want to let the kids choose activities randomly or plan them out in advance, this jar adds a touch of magic to the holiday season, and its charming glass design with a personalized bamboo lid makes it a wonderful Christmas countdown idea for families looking to create memorable moments together.
Bake a different type of Christmas cookie each day leading up to Christmas. You can even make a variety of shapes and decorations.
The Christmas Music Playlist Advent Calendar is a delightful twist on the traditional countdown.
It includes 24 cards, each featuring a special Spotify code that can be easily scanned using the camera on your phone within the Spotify app, instantly playing a festive song.
As you countdown to Christmas, you'll enjoy a diverse selection of holiday tunes, and each card also provides interesting trivia about the featured song, adding an extra layer of entertainment and knowledge to your daily musical journey. Whether you're giving it as a gift or keeping it for your family, this calendar is perfect for anyone who cherishes the holiday spirit and the joy of Christmas music.
The Clever Fox Gratitude Journal is an excellent Christmas countdown idea as it encourages daily reflection and gratitude, setting a positive tone for the holiday season.
Decorate your Christmas tree gradually, adding a mini decoration every day until Christmas Day
Challenge your family and friends with a daily Christmas trivia question. You can keep score and have a small prize for the winner on Christmas Day.
A charming Christmas countdown book featuring beloved Peanuts characters. This hardcover picture book offers a delightful way to build anticipation for the holiday season.
With a unique story for each day leading up to Christmas, it's a heartwarming addition to the festivities, perfect for children and fans of the Peanuts gang.
Glue Cotton Balls on Santa’s Beard Countdown Calendar is another really cheap and simple Christmas countdown idea. Especially for younger children, but as you need to glue the cotton balls adult supervision will be required.
How Many More Sleeps Until Christmas? is a large coloring poster that serves as an engaging Christmas countdown for kids. This interactive Advent Calendar offers a fun daily activity for children to color in a sleep bubble, helping them visually understand how many days are left until Christmas.
It makes for a delightful and educational gift for families with children, fostering excitement and anticipation for the holiday season.
What Christmas countdown ideas do you have? Let me know in the comments below.
Last Updated on 23 September 2023 by homeschoolof1