19+ Advent Activities For Kids Ideas That Beat Screen Time

December fills up fast, doesn’t it? One minute it’s Thanksgiving leftovers and the next you’re Googling something fun to do at 4pm with zero supplies on hand.

Too many options and not enough time is basically the whole holiday season in one sentence, lol!

That’s exactly why this list exists. Instead of scrolling through hundreds of pins at midnight, I did that part for you already.

I kept only the ideas that are actually doable on a weeknight, easy on the wallet and still look good enough to snap a picture of.

This isn’t just another countdown calendar roundup either. You’ll find crafts, kindness projects, Christmas Eve traditions and a couple of Santa tricks that never fail to get a reaction.

There’s truly something for every kind of December here.

Some of these take twenty minutes with things from the junk drawer. Others are a full afternoon project for a slow Saturday.

Either way, nothing on this list requires a trip to three different stores, thank goodness.

Use it however works for your house. Pick one a week or knock out three in a weekend, no rules here!

Under each idea I’ve added the little details you’ll actually want to know, plus a link to the full how-to.

Ready to make this the coziest December yet? Let’s get into it.

ADVENT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IDEAS

Advent Calendar Countdown Chain

We’re starting off strong with the classic countdown chain. It’s the kind of these project that takes ten minutes and instantly makes the whole house feel more festive.

Loop strips of red and green paper into a chain with one link for every day left. Tear one off each morning and watch the excitement build.

This one never gets old, no matter how many years I make it, haha!

Cardboard Box Advent Village

Got a stack of cardboard boxes lying around from online orders? This tiny village turns them into a whole cozy little town on the mantel.

Paint on windows and doors, add a strip of battery lights inside and suddenly cardboard looks like something worth keeping. Cereal boxes work just as well as shipping boxes here.

Christmas Movie Night Tickets

Movie night tickets turn an ordinary Tuesday into an event. Print out little paper tickets with a different Christmas movie listed on each one.

Let everyone pick a ticket from a jar and that decides the night’s pick. Pop some popcorn, dim the lights and call it a whole thing.

Gingerbread House Building Station

Is it really December without a gingerbread build happening somewhere in the house? Not in my book!

Set up a little station with graham crackers, icing and a bowl of candy for decorating.

Graham crackers glued with icing are far sturdier than the store kits, by the way. Lay down a big sheet of parchment first because frosting goes everywhere, every single time, lol!

Printable Advent Activity Cards

Printable activity cards solve the problem of staring at a blank calendar wondering what to do next. Each card has a tiny task like build a fort or write a letter to Santa.

Shuffle the deck and pull one a day. It takes the planning out of December completely, which honestly might be the best gift of all.

Ornament Painting Craft Afternoon

Who says ornaments need to come from a store? This painting afternoon turns plain wooden or glass shapes into keepsakes worth hanging every year.

Read also: 20+ Genius Keepsake Ornament Ideas Kids Worth Stealing

Lay down newspaper first because paint finds its way onto everything nearby, haha! Acrylic paint pens are a lot less messy than regular paint if you want an easier cleanup.

Sensory Bin Winter Wonderland

This winter wonderland sensory bin is a lifesaver on the days when it’s too cold to play outside. Fill a bin with white rice or fake snow, then bury little pinecones and tiny figures inside.

Digging through it keeps little hands busy for way longer than you’d expect. Add a few cheap scoops and cups from the dollar store for extra fun.

Christmas Story Bedtime Basket

A bedtime basket full of Christmas books makes the countdown feel extra special once the lights go low. Wrap each book separately and unwrap one every night before bed.

Twenty-four books sounds like a lot, but the library and thrift stores make it easy to fill the basket without spending much at all.

Random Acts Kindness Jar

Kindness advent ideas don’t need to be complicated to make a real difference. A simple jar filled with little acts of kindness written on slips of paper is all it takes.

Pull one slip a day and complete it together, whether it’s writing a thank you note or holding a door for a stranger. The jar refills every year without much effort.

Daily Kindness Challenge Cards

Daily kindness challenge cards work a lot like the activity cards, just with a warmer purpose. Each card lists a small challenge like sharing a toy or giving someone a compliment.

They’re a nice way to keep December from turning into just a countdown to presents. No shame in needing the reminder, lol!

Neighbor Cookie Delivery Day

Delivering a plate of cookies to a neighbor is such a simple gesture that somehow still means the most.

Bag a dozen cookies, tie on a ribbon and knock on a few doors. It costs almost nothing and the smiles are worth every bit of the effort.

Cozy Pajama Christmas Eve Box

A cozy pajama box is one of the sweetest christmas eve box ideas kids actually look forward to opening. Fill it with a fresh set of matching pajamas and maybe a pair of fuzzy socks.

They put them straight on for the cozy movie marathon that usually follows. Everyone heads to bed warm, matching and ready for the big morning.

Hot Cocoa Movie Box

Hot cocoa and a movie is the easiest box to put together and somehow always the most popular. Pack a mug, some cocoa packets, marshmallows and a favorite holiday movie.

Read also: 18+ Romantic Christmas Dates For Couples Ideas To Steal

Add a few candy canes for stirring the cocoa. It turns into the whole evening’s plan without any extra planning needed.

Personalized Christmas Eve Crate

A personalized crate takes the idea one step further with a name tag and a few items picked just for that person. Slippers, a small book and a favorite snack all fit nicely inside.

Wooden crates from the craft aisle look nicer than a plain box and can be reused every single year.

Flour Santa Boot Prints

Flour footprints are one of those santa footprint ideas that takes two minutes and gets a huge reaction the next morning. Dust flour across the floor near the fireplace or front door.

Read also: 18+ Adorable Handprint Craft Ideas Kids Make in Minutes

Press a boot stamp through it a few times leading away from the tree. It looks convincing enough to make anyone believe, haha!

Glitter Santa Footprint Trail

A glitter trail works the same magic without the flour cleanup. Sprinkle a bit of glitter across the floor near the chimney or window in a wandering path.

It catches the morning light and makes the whole story feel a little more real. Just don’t expect to fully get rid of the glitter until March, lol!

Santa Footprint Doormat Craft

This doormat craft turns santa footprints into something you display all season instead of cleaning up the next day.

Paint a boot print pattern across a plain doormat and let it dry outside overnight. It greets guests before they even knock.

Magic Reindeer Food Jars

Reindeer food ideas are basically glitter oats in a jar. Somehow that’s exactly the point.

Mix oats with a bit of sparkly sugar and scatter it across the lawn on Christmas Eve.

Jar it up with a little tag explaining the magic. It’s the kind of small tradition that sticks around for years without much effort at all.

Glow In Dark Reindeer Food

Last but definitely not least, we have this glow in the dark version. Swap the regular oats for glow powder mixed with sugar and it lights up the yard after dark.

It’s a fun twist for anyone who already made the classic jar a hundred times before. Scatter it right before bed and let it do its thing overnight.