The holiday season is supposed to be full of joy, togetherness, thankfulness and anticipation of the new year ahead. However, many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of parties, shopping and traveling, losing sight of what’s truly important.
Using an advent calendar is a great way to make the holiday season more meaningful. It provides small moments of reflection and bringing your family together leading up to Christmas day.
In this comprehensive guide, as a professional custom advent calendar printing manufacturer, I’ll explain everything you need to know to use an advent calendar effectively.
Why Use An Advent Calendar? 5 Key Reasons
Wondering if advent calendars are just for kids? Think again! Using an advent calendar offers benefits for Christians and non-religious families alike.
Here are 5 best reasons to incorporate advent calendars into your family’s holiday traditions:
1. Makes Christmas anticipation more fun
Having a physical object to open each day, like an advent calendar, helps build eager anticipation for Christmas as the big day approaches. It also helps time pass more quickly for impatient kids awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus!
2. Teaches children patience and discipline
Children must patiently wait for each new calendar day rather than opening every flap at once. This requires discipline and is a useful learning experience for them.
3. Brings families together
Spending a few minutes together every morning or evening to open that day’s calendar flap or drawer encourages family bonding. Even teenagers tend to show interest in unwrapping a small, mysterious gift!
4. Provides daily inspiration or learning
Many modern Christmas countdown calendars provide uplifting messages, Bible verses, stories, Christmas trivia or activity suggestions. This gives families something new to talk about, reflect on, or engage with every day leading up to December 25th.
5. Less stressful holiday preparation
Having bite-sized holiday tasks, activities, stories or inspiration behind each calendar door makes the lead-up to Christmas less stressful. There’s no pressure to do everything all at once.
Choosing an Advent Calendar for Your Family
The options for advent calendars today are nearly endless. When selecting one, think about your family’s age range, interests, religious background, and budget.
Here are some of the most popular styles to consider:
Paper or poster calendars
These classic advent calendars feature numbered flaps on a paper or poster board background with holiday images. The flaps hide tiny gifts, chocolates, Bible verses or illustrations.
They make excellent stocking stuffers for children and adults. Prices range from $5 to $30 generally.
Fillable fabric calendars
These reusable fabric calendars feature 24 or 25 tiny pouches to fill with your own small gifts or treats. They often have holiday imagery like Santa, Christmas trees, snowmen or nativity scenes.
Fillable calendars allow you to control the items being revealed each day. They cost roughly $10 to $60.
Woo boxes
Advent calendar “woo boxes” feature slide-out wooden drawers which the giver pre-loads with gift cards, jewelry, bath/beauty treats, or other pampering surprises for their loved one. These make romantic holiday gifts for a spouse or partner.
Craft kits
Craft advent calendars allow kids to build excitement by assembling the actual calendar themselves. Behind each numbered door is a Christmas-related craft activity, ornament or holiday treat to discover.
For crafty children 5+ years old, these make excellent gifts costing roughly $15 to $30. They engage kids in hands-on holiday-themed learning and fun.
LEGO kits
For kids who love LEGO bricks, LEGO advent calendars provide the ultimate Christmas countdown experience. Starting December 1st, kids get to build a new holiday model, scene or mini toy each day leading up to Christmas.
LEGO advent calendars feature unique seasonal designs and themes every year. They usually retail between $40 and $60.
How to Use an Advent Calendar: 5 Easy Tips
Once you’ve selected the perfect advent calendar for your family, here are 5 top tips to get the most enjoyment from it this holiday season:
1. Determine the ideal start date
While December 1st is the traditional day to begin unwrapping your advent calendar, not all calendars start then. Carefully check your calendar’s packaging so you know the intended “start day”.
If your calendar has 25 days, start on December 1st. For a 24 day calendar, begin on December 2nd so Christmas day is the final reveal.
Just make sure to explain the start day to young children so they don’t get ahead of themselves and start opening early!
2. Pick a consistent time
Create a meaningful family ritual by opening each advent calendar flap or drawer at the same time daily. Doing it first thing in the morning sets a festive tone for the whole day. Or make it an evening tradition after dinner or before bedtime.
Consistency is best so every family member remembers to participate.
3 Develop conversations and learning
Leverage your advent calendar to spark family discussions, storytelling, laughs and learning. Ask questions related to that day’s calendar image or holiday topic. Research unfamiliar concepts and words together.
Let children guess what illustration or gift might be behind each upcoming flap or box based on holiday themes. The possibilities are endless!
4. Give everyone involved their own role
Instead of one child or the same parent opening the calendar every single day, give each family member assigned days to unwrap that day’s treat.
You can also take turns reading holiday stories, facts or jokes featured on certain days. By having set roles, no one feels excluded.
5. Make it last by limiting turns
When small children are involved, all calendar flaps often get opened at lightening speed on the very first day! Avoid this by limiting turns, allowing just one or two openings per day maximum.
Carefully store the calendar out of reach in between turns. This keeps the magic and suspense alive right through Christmas day rather than ending prematurely.
Unique Advent Calendar Activities, Crafts and Traditions
Besides unwrapping a small treat, gift or inspirational message daily, consider incorporating supplementary holiday activities into your advent calendar tradition.
Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Assemble a simple LEGO Christmas scene or building together each evening using pieces revealed that day
- Let children create their own mini greeting card for that day’s beneficiary based on the charity name unveiled
- Bake or decorate holiday cookies corresponding with that day’s theme or color
- Learn and sing a new Christmas carol together every few days
- Watch a selected classic holiday film every few evenings leading up to December 25th
- Take a family walk around the neighborhood to admire outdoor holiday light displays
- Do a Random Act of Kindness based on each day’s suggestion
The possibilities are endless! Advent calendars help build not just excitement for Christmas day itself, but also unity, creativity and cheer throughout the entire month of December.