Printable Advent calendar: 24 family activity cards
An activity Advent calendar to print at home: one card a day from 1 to 24 December, each with something to do together where the chocolate would usually be. You download the PDF as soon as your payment is confirmed, print it and cut out the cards, so it is ready even if you only think of it on 30 November.
The family activity Advent calendar holds 24 cards in five kinds: crafts, cooking, games, outings and acts of kindness. Every card lists what you'll need, how long it takes (from 15 minutes to an hour) and a suggested age, from “all ages” to 5+. A last page adds 4 blank cards for your own ideas and 24 number tags for envelopes or bags.
Setting it up takes about fifteen minutes. Print the four card pages at actual size, on 160-200 gsm card if your printer accepts it, cut along the dotted lines (six cards per page) and hide the cards face down: in a decorated shoebox, in numbered envelopes pegged along a string, or in little bags tied to the banister. One honest note for US kitchens: the recipe cards use metric measures (grams, millilitres and °C), so keep the scales handy.
Prefer to write your own? Our guides list 40 Advent calendar activity ideas for the family and 24 acts of kindness for a kindness Advent calendar.
Our guides
Non-Chocolate Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids: 50 Fillers
Non-chocolate Advent calendar ideas for kids: 50 fillers, from free vouchers and riddles to small treats that get used and activity days, plus 5 DIY containers.
Read the guide →Kindness Advent Calendar: 24 Acts of Kindness for Kids
Kindness Advent calendar ideas for kids: 24 small acts of kindness for December, at home, for neighbours and for animals, plus how to run one with a class.
Read the guide →Advent Calendar Activity Ideas: 40 for the Family
40 Advent calendar activity ideas for families: crafts, baking, games, outings and acts of kindness, planned around school nights and weekends, with ages.
Read the guide →
Questions
Can I print the calendar on US Letter paper?
Yes. The PDF is A4: on US Letter, choose Fit to page in the print window. The cards shrink very slightly and nothing is cut off.
What paper should I use?
Ordinary printer paper works. Card of 160 to 200 gsm makes sturdier cards that survive 24 days of little hands, if your printer takes that weight.
What if it rains on an outing day?
Swap two cards: the order is up to you. The lights walk or the starry night can move to a clear evening, and the blank cards let you replace any activity with an idea of your own.
What age is it for?
The whole family. Each card gives a suggested age (all ages, 3+, 4+ or 5+), which is only a guide: little ones join in with a grown-up's help and older children can lead the activity. A grown-up stays close for the oven, the hob, scissors and cloves.
Is a printed calendar posted to me?
No. It is a PDF that you print yourself, and nothing is shipped. That also means you can start late: begin with any card on any day, the order is free.