Make Your Own Christmas Countdown Calendar
An Advent calendar, a tradition that began in the early 1800s, is used to countdown to Christmas. It begins on December 1, and continues for the next 24 days. In modern times, this type of calendar is mostly made for small children, helping them count down the days until Christmas (and Santa) arrives.
The general concept of a Christmas countdown calendar is this: The child opens one "door" each day in December to reveal some secret tidbit within. These "doors" or "windows" simply represent something that can be opened or peeked into (such as a pocket or flap of paper) to reveal something hidden within or behind.
The quickest way to see what a Christmas coundown calendar is all about is to take a peek at the Advent calendar we have here online at Christmas Corner. Of course, we're sneaky, so if today isn't a day in December, you'll see a "no peeking" message when you try to open one of the "doors", but use your imagination, and you'll know that there's some type of surprise behind each one (in our case, it's a special holiday image).
Of course, you can have your kids come here every day to open our Advent calendar doors, but you can also easily create one for your kids to enjoy at home this holiday season. Here are 5 quick tips to help you come up with creative ideas to make your own Advent calendar.
1. Take two pieces of cardboard, each the same size. In one, cut out 24 "3-sided flaps", thus making 24 little doors that.be opened and closed like doors. Now place this piece of cardboard on top of the other, and use glue around the edges to paste them together. On the front of each "door", place a number from 1 to 24, numbering each sequentially to represent the first 24 days of December. Now open each door, and place something behind it, on the bottom piece of cardboard. This could be a small drawing, or a tiny trinket, or a note, or any little surprise you wish. You can use tape if necessary to keep the surprise in place. Each day, your little one will open that day's corresponding door to find out what the surprise of the day is! Of course, feel free to decorate the cardboard in any way you wish to make it colorful and representative of the holiday season.
2. A favorite type of Advent calendar is the piece of cloth or felt that has 24 pockets sew (or glued) on to it. Each pocket has a number on it (from 1-24), and you simply place the hidden trinket within each pocket. This type of calendar gives you lots of possible creative freedom, because you can choose from endless arrays of fabrics or felt to make your colorful creation.
3. You don't have to stick with the traditional method of hiding something within or behind something else. You can also create your own countdown calendars by letting your children participate in some special activity each day. For example, you could draw or paint a Christmas tree on a large poster board, and let your child place one paper ornament on the tree each day for 24 days.
4. Or for older children, you could paint 24 stripes on a long candle, and each day, you burn the candle down to the next stripe.
5. Finally, get creative with magnets or stickers, letting your child place them on something fun and festive for each of the 24 days.
As long as you stick to the general concept of having the kids do something unique each day of December, leading up to the "big day", you are free to create your countdown calendar in any way you like. Get creative, have fun, and help your kids find the patience to wait for Christmas Day.
