I am always super gung-ho about doing an activity Advent… before December actually starts.
By December 5th, I am regretting all of the super involved crafts I had planned, like building a gingerbread house from scratch, and wishing for a simple activity like singing Christmas carols instead. Then I feel like a failure because I can’t do everything I had planned.
December just gets too busy too fast. Advent activities are supposed to be fun, not stressful. They should help you connect with your kids, spend quality time as a family, and build lasting memories.
If you are running around like crazy trying to gather supplies for yet another day of baking or another craft, you likely aren’t spending quality time together.
So we have come up with a list of 24 super low-prep Advent activities. Everything on this list is easy to do, and takes almost no prep time.
Perfect for the busiest of parents.
Many of the activities are even things you are going to do anyway (like decorate the Christmas tree) but by adding them to an Advent calendar, the kids think they are doing something super fun. Win!
You can print out special Advent activity cards, or keep it nice and simple and write each activity on a small piece of paper and tuck it inside a mason jar.
(Want to know my secret? I usually don’t write the activity until the night before, so I can choose an activity that works with our schedule for the day.)
24 Super Low-Prep Advent Activities
- Decorate the Christmas tree
- Set up the nativity scene (if you have one)
- Read a classic Christmas book together
- Make paper snowflakes
- Write a letter to Santa and put it in the mail
- Drink hot apple cider or hot cocoa
- Wear something red or green
- Sing Christmas carols
- Eat breakfast for dinner
- Make a Christmas card for a teacher or friend
- Eat a candy cane
- Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas (or another Christmas movie)
- Wrap presents together
- Take cookies (or a candy cane) to the neighbors
- Look at photos from last Christmas
- Have a cozy PJ’s day
- Make snow angels (or leaf angels if there is no snow)
- Call a family member or friend who lives far away
- Color Christmas pictures for Santa or the elf
- Do a random act of kindness for someone
- Have a simple picnic next to the Christmas tree
- Take a walk (or drive) to look at Christmas lights
- Have a dance party to Christmas music
- Set out cookies and milk for Santa
Have fun with this and don’t stress!
Event the lowest prep activities may be too much sometimes. If you get super busy, it is totally ok to skip a day or two, or to have “Eat a candy cane” as your activity multiple times!
Two More Easy Advent Ideas from MPMK
How to Make a “Sibling Appreciation” Advent Calendar
Free Printable: Kid Joke Advent Calendar
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