As the holiday season approaches, one fun and engaging idea is to create a Countdown to Christmas calendar filled with daily DIY activities for kids. Crafting a personalised calendar not only keeps the festive spirit alive but also offers a great opportunity for family bonding and creativity.
Forget the usual chocolate advent calendars—instead, let’s make every day of December a celebration with crafts, games, and festive challenges that will bring joy to your little ones. We’ve included a mix of general festive ideas and some special JCB-themed activities to keep things interesting!
Design Your Countdown Calendar
First, you’ll need to create the actual countdown calendar. You can keep it simple or go all out with your design—what’s most important is that it’s easy to use and fun for the kids!
Use 24 small paper bags, each labelled with the numbers 1 through 24. Hang them on a string or attach them to a large board. Inside each bag, place a note with the daily activity. Use colourful envelopes and stick them to a poster board or wall. Number them 1 to 24 and place an activity card inside each envelope. Once you have your calendar ready, it’s time to plan the activities!
Plan Your Daily DIY Activities
To make the countdown to Christmas truly special, fill each day with a unique DIY activity. Here are some fun ideas that incorporate crafts, games, and festive challenges:
Week 1 – Creative Crafts
December 1 – Make Your Own Christmas Ornaments. Use salt dough, paint, and glitter to create personalised ornaments for the tree.
December 2 – Build a Gingerbread House. Use a kit or bake gingerbread from scratch, and let the kids go wild with decorations.
December 3 – DIY Snow Globes. Fill a jar with water, glitter, and a tiny festive figurine to make a magical snow globe.
December 4 – Create a Christmas Card for a Loved One. Encourage kids to design and craft handmade cards to send to family and friends.
December 5 – Craft Paper Snowflakes. Fold and cut paper to create intricate snowflakes, then hang them around the house for a wintry feel.
December 6 – Make Reindeer Hats. Use construction paper, glue, and googly eyes to create cute reindeer hats for the whole family.
December 7 – Pine Cone Christmas Trees. Gather pine cones, paint them green, and decorate with glitter or tiny pom-poms to create mini Christmas trees.
Week 2: Fun Games and Puzzles
December 8 – Christmas Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of Christmas-themed items for kids to find around the house or garden.
December 9 – Pin the Nose on Rudolph: A festive twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” using a cut-out of Rudolph.
December 10 – JCB Christmas Bingo. Create bingo cards featuring JCB vehicles, tools, and Christmas symbols. Play bingo with small prizes or treats!
December 11 – Jingle Bell Toss Game. Set up a target and have the kids toss jingle bells into it for points.
December 12 – JCB Construction-Themed Word Search. Create a word search puzzle with words related to JCB vehicles, construction, and Christmas. A fun activity to keep little ones busy!
December 13 – Christmas Cookie Construction. Bake sugar cookies shaped like diggers, cranes, and other construction vehicles. Let the kids decorate them with coloured icing and sprinkles.
December 14 – Festive Puzzles. Print out or purchase Christmas-themed puzzles to complete together.
Week 3: Festive Challenges and Activities
December 15 – Write a Letter to Santa. Have the kids write their wish lists to Santa, complete with drawings.
December 16 – DIY Christmas Wrapping Paper. Use stamps, paint, and markers to create unique wrapping paper.
December 17 – Christmas Carol Karaoke. Organise a family karaoke session with all the classic Christmas carols.
December 18 – Make Your Own Hot Chocolate Bar. Set up a hot chocolate station with marshmallows, whipped cream, and candy canes.
December 19 – Holiday Movie Night. Let the kids pick their favourite Christmas movie and make a cosy night of it with popcorn and blankets.
December 20 – Build a JCB-Themed Christmas Village. Use building blocks or construction toys to create a miniature Christmas village complete with JCB vehicles and construction signs.
December 21 – Decorate the Front Garden. Create a festive display in the garden with lights, reindeer, and other decorations.
Week 4: Preparing for the Big Day
December 22 – Make a Christmas Eve Box. Fill a box with goodies like pyjamas, a book, and a small toy to open on Christmas Eve.
December 23 – Bake Christmas Morning Muffins. Get a head start on breakfast by baking muffins or a sweet bread for Christmas morning.
December 24 – Read a Christmas Story Together. End the countdown with a cosy family reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ or another favourite holiday story.
With your Countdown to Christmas calendar ready to go, you’re all set for a month of fun, creativity, and festive family bonding. Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy the time spent together and create lasting memories.
The Countdown to Christmas calendar is more than just a fun holiday activity—it’s a way to slow down and savour the season. By planning a variety of DIY crafts, games, and challenges, you’ll fill each day with excitement and anticipation, making the lead-up to Christmas as magical as the day itself!
Happy holidays, and happy crafting from all of us at JCB Explore!
