Looking for some fun ways to countdown to Christmas? Here are some fun countdown to Christmas ideas. During the holiday season, use these as a great way to have some fun Christmas countdown activities for the family.
If you’re looking for advent calendar ideas, why not start a family tradition that is perfect for younger kids, little kids, and the whole family? Start a new Christmas tradition with these family activity ideas below.
This post was sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser NorthPoleFun. But all opinions are mine alone.
It’s early, I know, but I really have been thinking about the upcoming holidays, mostly because I am just so excited for Christmas! And my kids are just as excited as I am!
Between decorating the Christmas tree and our home, buying gifts, and spending Christmas in a warm place with my husband off of school for five weeks, it just is so exciting!
As a parent, I’m especially excited to start building real, regular family Christmas traditions. Because I really believe family traditions are so important!
One of the more recent trends that I love around Christmas time is doing something special for each of the 25 days leading up to Christmas or even the 12 days before Christmas (even though apparently the 12 days of Christmas are supposed to start after Christmas, not before! It’s fun whichever way you do it!). Here are some fun countdown Christmas traditions you can start or implement with your kids.
I decided to look up and gather several fun ways to countdown to Christmas for kids and families! I highly suggest you pick one (or more) to start or implement with your kids this Christmas season!
Countdown to Christmas Ideas: 25 Days of Christmas
There are lots of different ways families like to get in the Christmas spirit in their homes, and a popular Christmas tradition is counting down to Christmas starting on December 1st. Here are four popular traditions families can each day before Christmas for 25 days:
Advent Calendars
I think it is a lot of fun to make Christmas magical starting some traditions starting the first day of December! I made a 25 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar (pictured below) and loved having it a part of our home.
There are lots of different advent calendars out there, some just with candy for each day, but that doesn’t seem very magical to me.
Before December started, I mapped out 25 days’ worth of scriptures and activities we could do for each of the 25 days. I looked at community events that were happening, included things already on our calendar, like church parties, and trips to grandma’s house, and tried to fit them to the actual days of the week and so on. Every year I try to make a new calendar.
What I like about doing the advent calendar this way is that it’s a family affair, and it’s an activity rather than a gift, as well as a daily scripture about Jesus Christ.
In addition or instead of doing an activity each day, you can instead pick up different types of advent calendars:
- unique advent calendars (for kids and adults that are non-toy and non-sweets)
- nativity advent calendar (to help focus on the true story of Christmas all month-long)
- toy advent calendar (because kids love toys!)
The Elf on the Shelf
This is a more recent Christmas countdown tradition that I know many people have latched onto and really love – The Elf on the Shelf.
Every day for 25 days before Christmas, Santa’s elf observes the children in your home, serving as Sant’s eyes and ears, and reports back to Santa every night. Children can talk to the elf, but they can’t touch it. Then on Christmas Eve is disappears until the next year.
My family has not participated in the Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition as of yet, and I don’t think we really have plans to as we prefer some Elf on the Shelf Alternatives (many which are listed in this post).
But I tell you, seeing all of my friend’s pictures on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest of what their house elves have been up to are hilarious and awesome and oh, so, creative. I feel like I get to vicariously participate in this tradition! Many children love it!
Northpole Communicator
A fun tradition we do in our family is using the Northpole Communicator, also starting on December 1st, counting down 25 days of Christmas.
Starting on December 1 of each year, our family gets to tune into the communicator, just once a day, to talk to Santa or one his elves (or Mrs. Clause) at the Northpole and talk to them by pressing the button on the communicator.
They usually ask open-ended questions and are very excited to talk to our kids. We have the kids take turns using it, so they all end up with multiple turns talking to whoever in the North Pole.
If it’s before December 1, or after the once-a-day communication, the Northpole communicator plays a “try again later” recorded message or static air sounds.
We have made sure to keep it out of reach during the day so that someone doesn’t sneak in their turn without anyone else getting to listen in.
This Northpole Communicator is part of a Christmas products line from Hallmark, exclusively available at Walmart. It’s based on a new movie coming out from Hallmark called Northpole.
We also got a copy of the Hallmark book Northpole Once Upon a Northpole Christmas and a fun Snowflake Beacon (which we hang on the outside of our door on Christmas night to make sure Santa sees our home). All of these products launched in stores starting November 1, 2014.
The Shepherd on the Search
Focusing on the true meaning of Christmas is DaySpring’s Shepherd on the Search. Instead of hiding a naughty Elf on the Shelf, you hide a shepherd, who is on the search for Jesus’ arrival, ending Christmas day with him finding the Nativity manger.
And bonus, the whole set comes with a book (yeah for more books!), CD, the Shepherd, and a little Nativity for just $30.
Kindness Elves
Kindness Elves are kind of like Elf on the Shelf, but they promote acts of service instead of, well, Elf stuff.
The Kindness Elves are magical friends who love nothing more than to sprinkle kindness and joy wherever they go!
They love to visit your home and spread this happiness with your children, encouraging them to do small acts of kindness in their daily lives. This simple, yet powerful, idea of spreading kindness amongst kids has become incredibly popular with parents during the 25 Days of Christmas.
It’s such a wonderful holiday tradition! I love that the elves make suggestions for acts of service and that the elves will sometimes do a bit of service for members of the household too. If you want to join me in using them, pick up your own unique Kindness Elves set (they’re only $24.78).
A New Christmas Book Each Day
A growing trend is for families to wrap up 24 or 25 new books, preferably Christmas books, to be read each day before Christmas, helping to create a wonderful family moment as you read the book together as a family, all snuggled up close together (maybe even by a fire!). It’s a really neat tradition! Check out my list of 25 Jesus-Centered Children’s Christmas Books for some inspiration on what books to gift!
Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands
This ebook is a great way to make Christmas really meaningful! Each day of Advent, Truth in the Tinsel leads you through a passage of scripture, a corresponding ornament craft, and talking points for you and your kids. It’s more than a book and devotional: it’s mediation, hands-on learning, and memory builder for your family.
It’s a great way to really experience God’s word leading up to Christmas with your family and a fun way to make decorations for your Christmas tree too! Perfect for kids from preschool to elementary ages. You can buy a copy here.
12 Days of Christmas
Once upon a time, we had a Secret Santa (oh, and Santa is real), who for 12 days before Christmas dropped off presents for our family on our doorstep at the same time each evening!
It was so much fun to receive such great gifts, all of which were catered right to our family and included adorable little poems. We never figured out for sure who was dropping gifts at our door, but it really did help to make it the season magical, and we were humbled and grateful for the blessing it was to receive these gifts!
I have always wanted to do this for another family, or otherwise, do our own Christmas tradition surrounding the 12 Days of Christmas.
Although, historically, the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day, not the 12 days before. I know some people still participate in gift giving after the Christmas holiday (some even buying and giving gifts after Christmas Day in part to save money on the gifts!), but many in the United States do this tradition before. However, you may want to do it, it is a blessing to give and serve another family for an extended period of time.
What are some other family activities that you can add in to your simple Christmas countdown activity?
Don’t forget to have fun as well with various thoughts and ideas. Along with various advent calendar activities, don’t forget to sing some Christmas songs, make some sugar cookies, create a special ornament, drink hot chocolate, and set up the nativity scene as well.
As you think of new ideas, you can add them to your must-do list with each passing day. Let everyone add a few of their favorite ways and fun activities to this time of year!
Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas says
I would get the Cozy Sweater Minnie Mouse for my grand daughter. She loves Minnie Mouse.
Nicole Elliott says
Count down ideas are always so much fun! We have always done an advent calendar–but I love the idea of including special event for each day with it–the North Pole Communicator is sure to be another fun daily countdown! #client
Hezzi-D says
Fun ideas! I always loved our December advent calendar when I was a kid. I really like the idea of a different book every day.
Marilyn says
Thanks for getting me motivated to start working on Christmas! Happy Halloween! 😉
Valerie@Occasionally Crafty says
My sister and I do a 12 Days of Christmas for each other’s kids, alternating each year. This is our turn to put together a package for her kids so I’m looking for all sorts of fun ideas.
Valerie@Occasionally Crafty says
Oh, and I would buy that North Pole communicator. My kids would love it! What a fun idea!
Tammy Northrup says
That North Pole communicator is seriously cute!
Herchel S says
I love this! I plan on making an advent calendar this year and I started with the Elf on the Shelf madness last year.
The scriptures are a wonderful idea. I don’t like to do candy either for my little ones.