What started off as a simple way to countdown the days to Christmas, making chalk marks on doors in Germany, has turned into a tradition many people, young and old, now take part in in increasingly elaborate ways. You can get pretty much anything hidden behind the cardboard doors or drawers of an advent calendar now, from jewellery to high end cosmetics. The 2024 advent calendar line up even includes a 5ft Lindt offering, featuring 24 full size products for a mere £180 when it is reported the contents are worth closer to £90! One way to get exactly what the person would like without the huge mark-up is to make your own advent calendar.
Make Your Own Advent Calendar Ideas For Children And Adults
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| Making your own advent calendars makes them more special |
Book Advent Calendar
What would be better for a book lover than 24 new books as their advent calendar? This works just as well for adults as for children and it doesn't need to be expensive, one great option is 24 pre-loved books! Browse your local charity shops for a selection of books that would appeal to the person you’re making the calendar for, perhaps pick a theme or a favourite author.
You could even add in things like a bookmark and a book light if you don’t want that many books or simply buy one of the advent books with 24 chapters to read daily. For younger readers, The Works ten books for £10 offer has reappeared including a lot of Christmas titles and favourite characters so that’s bedtime sorted for most of December. There’s no need to buy a fancy pre-made calendar either, simply wrap the books and number them or place them in a festive box lucky-dip style and let the person pick their own each day.
Alphabet Advent Calendar
An idea for the more creative gifter, an alphabet advent calendar could be filled with anything starting with each letter of the alphabet each day, of course it will have to end on Boxing Day for all 26, unless you want to avoid the challenge of the letter Z! Kids will have such fun guessing what will be behind each door and it may help younger recipients learn their alphabet too, you could even fill it with something alphabet themed like these letter magnets from Jacques of London.
This is a great option if you don't want to buy anything new, as part of the fun is guessing what will be behind the door it could be filled with items you already have.
Seed Advent Calendar
I love buying all the reduced seeds and bulbs in garden centres in the Autumn and planning for the sunnier days to return. Why not fill an advent calendar like this jute bag one which has garden vibes with 24 types of seeds and bulbs to be planted throughout the next year. Use a gardening calendar like this one to see what you can plant each month for ideas.
Activity Advent Calendar
The lead up to Christmas is full of so many lovely things to do it can sometimes feel overwhelming but break it down to one activity a day and you’ll create a month of memories without bringing more 'stuff' into your house! From low-cost ideas like a Christmas light walk: checking out your neighbours decorations once it’s dark with a flask of hot chocolate, to more extravagant days out like a professional light display. You can also include staying in activities like baking gingerbread or putting up the decorations as well as activities that give to others, such as picking an item for the food bank, to fill the 24 days.
Jigsaw Advent Calendar
Many people like to complete a festive jigsaw in the lead up to Christmas but you could create an advent calendar with it so you spread out the fun throughout the month. The best way to do this is to make the jigsaw yourself (if it doesn’t come pre-made like some do) then break it into 24 sections before breaking each into pieces to go into the calendar. That way the pieces can be put back together as the recipient goes along and there’s no waiting until the end of the calendar to find bits that are missing throughout the whole puzzle.
Tree Decoration Advent Calendar
A fun way to decorate your tree, or your child’s tree if they have one in their room, is to present them with a new decoration in their calendar each day. You could choose a theme of a character or colour they like and they can hang them as each day comes. You could even add in a craft set or the pieces of this Lego set to help them create some of their own. After Christmas the decorations can all be put back in the calendar to be used again next year.
Baking Advent Calendar
Many people enjoy baking in the run up to Christmas, and children especially love to get involved even when they may not be interested during the rest of the year. While 24 bakes may be too many for most, you could fill a calendar with ingredients each day leading up to one recipe a week to do at the weekend. You can even make it really easy by splitting up some baking kits for ease. Some children may enjoy guessing what the recipe will be as the ingredients are revealed while others will love finding all the fun decorations like festive sprinkles or a cookie cutter behind each door. You can even print out and include the recipe in one of the doors.
Baby and Toddler Advent Calendar Ideas
For your youngest family members you could use a reusable advent calendar that will be easier for them to help open than a shop bought one. Make the advent with a variety of age appropriate snacks like these Organix flapjack bites suitable from 1 year or Kiddylicious which have varieties for different ages as they grow. Non-edible alternatives could be rubber ducks (try to get ones with no hole in to avoid mould), an age appropriate toy split up, like a couple of new building blocks each day from this set or go traditional with a toddler friendly nativity set which you can bring back out each year.
A Tip To Stop Sneaking
One of the great things about making your own advent calendars is that they are perfect for people that like to sneakily peak ahead. Unlike commercial store bought calendars you don't actually have to fill all the doors (or windows, bags etc) in advance. You just need to fill one at a time. Even if you just buy a refillable calendar like this and pop in a chocolate each day there will be no cheating.
