One thing I love about my children is they have no concept of time yet. My 3 year old struggles with the concept of more than one day in the past or the future. My 5 year old has a better understanding, thanks to monthly calendars which we have around the house. My children are really excited about Christmas, and keep asking how many sleeps, so I thought it was about time we made our own Christmas Countdown. Visual is perfect for their age so we made a simple and colourful countdown.
Supplies to make a Homemade Christmas Countdown for kids:
Christmas paper to make our own envelopes
Numbered pegs
Sticky tape
24 activities, one for each envelope
Wire notice board
How to make a Homemade Christmas Countdown for kids
We had a look through our craft supplies to find lots of types of Christmassy papers. We designed a small envelope, just large enough to hold a slip of paper. I made a template from cardboard which my 5 year old used to draw around on the different papers.
I helped him cut out 24 little envelopes which we folded over, holding in place with sticky tape.
We talked about the different activities we like to do in the run up to Christmas and I printed them out, cutting out each one and placing it in an envelope.
Then we took a wire noticeboard and hung each envelope with a cute numbered wooden peg. You could also use a peg board or hang from some Bakers twine.
From the 1st December the children are going to take it in turns to take down that days envelope and look at the activity. Hopefully this will give us a fun activity to do together, from baking gingerbread cookies to going out to see the Christmas lights. Our Christmas Countdown will also serve as a visual reminder of the day and help mark each day leading up to Christmas Day.
What do you think? I love the mix of papers and it makes a great homemade decoration. It should also help my 3 year old learn her numbers and be great for both their motor skills with the little pegs!
Here are some of my favourite kid-friendly Countdown Calendars:
DIY Snowmen Advent Calendar from Rainy Day Mum
Countdown to Christmas with Number & Math from 3 Dinosaurs
DIY Christmas Tree Advent Calendar from Crafty Kids at Home
Christ Centered Advent for Preschoolers from Tales of Beauty for Ashes
Free Printable Advent Calendar from The Creative Pair
Winter Snowflakes Advent Calendar from My Bright Firefly
Advent Acts of Kindness Free Printables from Mum in the Madhouse
Printable Family Activities Advent Calender from creative family fun
Christmas Countdown Card from Peakle Pie
Advent Elf Houses from Sun Hats & Welly Boots
Christmas Cookie Advent Calendar from Kitchen Counter Chronicles
Christmas Carol Advent Calendar printable from Mama Smiles
How to organise an easy and fun Advent Calendar from books and giggles
Printable Advent Calendar for Preschoolers from fun-a-day
Christmas jokes kids love from little bins for little hands
A very merry Occupational Therapy Christmas from Sugar Aunts
Farmhouse style Advent Calendar and card holder from teach me mommy
what a fab and quick and easy idea!
I love the vintage look and the peg board idea – the little hearts are so sweet as well.
Those envelopes are very cute! I have not seen those before! I think I might have to try making some!
Those envelopes are very cute! I have not seen those before! I think I might have to try making some! I also like the board you have them on.
I love how you can really make this calendar your own with whatever Christmas papers you have to hand in your craft supplies. It looks really effective as well.
Gorgeous way to use what you have and make it special to you! That’s a very creative way to keep it organized too.
Such a sweet idea! I love the homemade envelopes!
Great ideas!
This is a lovely idea. I just clicked on the link for the Story Book Advent Calendar and it said that the page wasn’t found – thought you would like to know 🙂
Thanks for letting me know, have removed it for now 🙂
Oh I adore those little pegs and the wire rack. I NEED them in my life!
Love the vintage feel!
This is beautiful! I love all those gorgeous papers too. I’m sure your little ones will be super excited to open these ♥
Are you taking any orders because I certainly want one haha! I love that it is vintage inspired and it so cute too.
I love the look of this with the wires! Very fun design that can be used year after year.
I love those little envelopes. How simple are those!?!
This is so cute!
Love the little hearts on the pins! And the envelopes are so cheerful and neat! Such a wonderful set up for the countdown to Christmas!
These advent calendar envelopes turned out so beautifully! I adore all your lovely paper.
This is a wonderful idea, and I love how pretty/vintage it looks!
We think this is a great idea – love the peg idea!