The Ultimate Countdown to Christmas: Family Advent Calendar Ideas and DIYs
Oskar's Wooden Ark | November 11, 2021
December is almost upon us, so it's time to bring out your advent calendar and start counting down the sleeps until the big man in red comes down the chimney! For many families, Advent is a magical time filled with joyful anticipation, warmth and unique family traditions. How do you celebrate the countdown to Christmas? Whether you're looking for advent calendars, celebration accessories, ornaments or DIY Advent projects, you've come to the right place. We've even created our very own Oskar's Wooden Ark Christmas Countdown, with 24 fun activities for you to enjoy together as a family this Advent. You'll find the free printout below.
From our family to yours - we wish you a magical countdown to Christmas.
Products from OWA
We have a beautiful selection of products at Oskar's Wooden Ark that will give you all the festive feels this advent season while also bringing extra magic to your home and playroom all year round!
Erzi Advent Calendars
A playful spin on the classic "yummy" advent calendar! Adorned with cute characters, the numbered slots are randomly arranged to make it much more fun. Kids will open one each day and get a wonderful treat - not to eat, but to add to their toy box and keep for years to come! We have two Erzi Advent Calendars to choose from: Christmas Market and Snow Day Snacks!
Photo Credit: @ourcountrytale
Grimm's Advent Spiral
Spiral into any event as you light a candle each day, or move a single candle from hole to hole. Decorate it with our great range of different stackers, figures and candles. Available in Natural and Coloured, you can form it in a spiral, a wave or simply use only one part for decoration - the choice is yours! Check out our full range of Grimm's Celebration rings and ornaments - ideal for bringing the family together to mark seasons and special occasions in a beautiful and meaningful way.
Photo Credit: Grimm's Wooden Toys
Wilded Family Advent Wheel
A magical wheel that will take both children and adults on a journey - ultimately to the centre, towards a celebration of wintery festivity. Count down the weeks with a new element of seasonal magic each time that will enchant children and adults alike.
Photo Credit: @head.hearth.hands; Wilded Family
Add some extra magic this festive season...
Decorate your home with pure Christmas magic thanks to Graupner Holzminiaturen. Their range of Candle Holders, Incense Burners, Music Boxes and Tealight Pyramids are traditional handmade treasures that are often displayed in Germany during the Christmas season. They provide a beautiful and quaint way to create a cozy ambience in the home during the holidays. Why not make an occasion of each Advent Sunday? Sit down together as a family with some festive treats, light some candles and take the time to slow down together and reflect on the joy of the season.
Photo Credit: @ourcountrytale
Photo Credit: @oskarswoodenark
8 DIY Advent Calendars
If you're feeling crafty or you're looking for a modern and fresh spin on the traditional Advent calendar, then look no further. We have teamed up with our wonderful content creators to share some new and exciting ways for your little ones to count down the days until Christmas! If you try any of these fun DIY projects with your little ones, please take a photo and share it with us on Instagram and Facebook, tagging @oskarswoodenark and using #OWACHRISTMAS. We love seeing what you all get up to!
1. Recycled Cardboard Houses
Our very own Linda shows us how to make an advent calendar inspired cardboard village out of recycled materials you probably have lying around at home!
You will need:
🏠 Recycled Cardboard
🏠 Chalkboard Marker
🏠 Hula Hoop
🏠 Hot Glue Gun
🏠 Numbered Coins 1-24 (Linda used the Treasures from Jennifer Number Coins Set, but you can use an alternative, or even make your own)
🏠 24 treats of Your Choice!
What to do:
1. Cut out house shapes from cardboard, drawing whatever design you wish. These will be the house-fronts which will be displayed.
2. Linda has used small cardboard boxes for the houses themselves which she has then stuck to the house-fronts she has made in the previous step.
3. Using 4 flat pieces of cardboard cut to size, attach them with hot glue to the hula hoop as make-shift shelves for the houses to sit on.
4. Stick the houses to the shelves, arranging and numbering them as you wish.
5. Decorate your advent calendar however you like - Linda has wrapped a garland around the hoop, and placed some Predan trees in the gaps.
6. Place a little something in each house for your little one to find each day.
Check out our Best Stocking Fillers for 2021 for some inspiration of what goodies to include in your houses!
2. Decorated Paper Lunch Bags
Bea shows us how to make a very simple advent calendar lunch-bag project that you can fill with surprises galore for your little one to be delighted by each day!
You will need:
🎀 Kitpas Art Crayons
🎀 Twine
🎀 24 Brown Paper Bags
🎀 24 Goodies of Your Choice!
Photo Credit: @_simply_bea_
Photo Credit: @_simply_bea_
What to do:
1. Label the bags 1-24 and draw your desired design on each one using crayons.
2. Place a goodie in each bag.
3. Seal the bag with some twine.
4. Have your little one open a bag each day and discover what's inside!
Check out our Best Stocking Fillers for 2021 for some inspiration of what goodies to include in your bags!
3. Beeswax-Decorated Candles: Advent Wreath
Bea shares how she makes a lovely Christmas candle display which is open for you to add your own spin, design and interpretation to, to make it all the more unique!
You will need:
🕯 Stockmar Modelling Beeswax
🕯 Grimm's Beeswax Candles
🕯 Grapat Perpetual Calendar (or any alternative base)
Photo Credit: @_simply_bea_
Photo Credit: @_simply_bea_
What to do:
1. Use the modelling wax to decorate the candles - Bea has wrapped colourful strands around her candles and then added some holly detailing.
2. Arrange the decorated candles as you wish - Bea has used a Grapat Perpetual Calendar turned upside down. You could also use a Grimm's celebration ring and add other celebration ornaments and decorations. Why not add some festive foliage?
3. Light your candles! You may choose to light one each Advent Sunday as you count down another week closer to Christmas.
4. Kitpas Chalkboard Countdown
Why go out and buy a countdown calendar when you can easily make your own at home that will be something no one else has? Bea shows us how!
You will need:
🎅🏼 Kitpas Art Chalk
🎅🏼 Kitpas Chalkboard
🎅🏼 Twine
What to do:
1. Divide the chalkboard into sections using the twine to ensure straight lines to draw the numbers.
2. Write the numbers 24-1 in the spaces.
3. Decorate how you wish, using Kitpas chalk.
4. Cross off a number each day to reveal how many days are left until Christmas day.
4. The Kitpas chalkboard is so versatile - what else will you use it for?
Photo Credit: @_simply_bea_
5. Grapat Christmas Tree - Counting Our Advent Blessings
Ruth shares a tradition she carries out with her family each Christmas that is all about gratitude and giving thanks for all of the blessings in our everyday lives.
Photo Credit: @pagesofchildhood
You will need:
🎄24 Grapat Rings
🎄24 Grapat Mandala Pieces
What to do:
1. Arrange the 24 Grapat Rings into the shape of a Christmas tree.
2. Each evening, have your little ones choose a mandala piece to fill one of the spaces on the tree.
3. Take turns sharing something that each of you are thankful for that day. As Christmas draws near the tree will get more and more colourful and it will serve as a symbol of all the wonderful things to be thankful for.
6. SumBlox Countdown Christmas Tree
It wouldn't be a true countdown without SumBlox! Allie has displayed a beautiful Christmas tree using SumBlox amongst other products. Although not your traditional advent calendar, this clever idea brings an element of play and learning to your Christmas countdown!
You will need:
➕ SumBlox
➕ Regenbogenland Crystal Gem Blocks
➕ Grimm's Building Boards
➕ Grimm's Star Candle Holder Decoration
What to do:
1. Arrange your SumBlox into a make-shift Christmas tree with the highest numbers down the bottom and lowest number at the top.
2. Use whatever other products you wish to make your tree all the more creative!
3. Ask your little one each morning how many days left until Christmas.
Photo Credit: @woodentoyplay
7. Graupner Advent Calendar
Ruth shares yet another tradition in her family that involves the concept of decorating the Christmas tree gradually over the whole month of December.
Photo Credit: @pagesofchildhood
You will need:
☃️ 24 Graupner Christmas Decorations
☃️ 24 Pouches
What to do:
1. Source 24 pouches - Ruth has hand-sewn hers.
2. Place a decoration in each pouch.
3. Each day, remove a decoration from a pouch and place it on the Christmas tree. By Christmas Day, your tree will be filled with beautiful decorations.
4. Ruth and her family look forward to repeating this activity each year. Every single ornament in their Graupner collection has special significance for them and this tradition of decorating their tree over time, gives them a wonderful opportunity to focus on and appreciate each ornament individually in the lead up to Christmas.
8. Grapat Tinker Tray Advent Calendar Hack
Discover something wonderful each day with this Tinker Tray Advent Calendar - a brilliant DIY from Julie @indospired!
You will need:
🎁 Grapat Tinker Tray
🎁 Ostheimer Pieces
🎁 Recycled Cardboard
🎁 Wrapping Paper
Photo Credit: @indospired
Photo Credit: @indospired
What to do:
1. Using the Grapat Tinker Tray as the guide, Julie has cut out windows in the cardboard in line with the sections of the tray.
2. Number the windows 1-24 and decorate the cardboard how you wish - Julie has used wrapping paper.
3. Hide something special behind each window for your little one to find each day - Julie has hidden Ostheimer figures.
The Ultimate OWA Christmas Countdown
Create, Play, Learn AND Explore your way to Christmas Day with these fun countdown prompts that our elves have delivered to you just in time for December! Download our free OWA Countdown Calendar for 24 days of festive inspiration. Don't forget to tag us in your fun - #OWACHRISTMAS.
Day 1: Create Your Wishlist
Christmas is near, Christmas is close,
Write a list of what you wish for the most!
Day 2: Small-World Festive Play
Gather your toys and your imagination,
And partake in a small-world creation!
Day 3: "Frohe Weihnachten"
Learn to say a new season greeting,
You may do some research or reading.
Day 4: Go on an Elf Hunt
Be quiet and be quick,
For they're sneaky and they're slick.
Day 5: Write a Letter to Santa
Write a letter to the Man in Red,
For he remembers all that is said.
Day 6: Festive Marble Run
Build a run of festive fun,
Add red and green, and bells supreme!
Day 7: Read a Christmas Book
Pages of magic and surprise await,
Turn them over to learn their fate.
Day 8: Random Act of Kindness
Make a donation, or give a smile,
The smallest of things, can go a mile!
Day 9: Make Christmas Cards
Make them colourful and with love,
Write one for everyone you think of.
Day 10: Festive Family Bingo
Use pictures of Rudolph and of snow,
Who will be the first to say 'BINGO'?!
Day 11: Furoshiki Gift Wrapping
Learn to wrap gifts in something new,
It can be in red, green, or even blue!
Day 12: Watch a Christmas Film
Watch a festive flick about Saint Nick,
The Polar Express is our pick!
Day 13: Make a Decoration
Create something unique for your tree,
The best part is, "it's made by me!"
Day 14: Doll Christmas Party
Host a tea party of festive glamour,
You'll be an ultimate doll party-planner!
Day 15: A Family Tradition
Ask your mum, or maybe your dad,
What traditions the family have had.
Day 16: Outdoor Festive Fun
Let's get outdoors and have some fun,
Ice skating is an idea, just to name one!
Day 17: Snowflake Mandala
Grab your loose parts of blue or white,
And create a masterpiece of delight!
Day 18: Christmas Music
Deck the halls, and fa-la-la-la-la,
Whether you're at home, or in the car.
Day 19: Find Santa's Workshop
Search the globe or maybe a map,
Find Santa's home and then give a clap!
Day 20: Christmas Light Hunt
Go for a walk, or perhaps a drive,
You'll be enchanted when you arrive!
Day 21: Festive Baking
Bake some cookies, or even a cake,
You'll be proud with what you make!
Day 22: Christmas Dress-Up
Wear a hat, or maybe some elf ears,
Get excited, as Christmas Day nears.
Day 23: A Christmas History
"Why do we celebrate Christmas Day?"
Ask a loved-one and see what they say.
Day 24: Attend Carols
Sing loud and proud, it's almost here,
Remember to dance, clap and cheer!
