Looking for advent calendar for kids. This free printable advent calendar includes fun Christmas themed trivia questions for the holiday season. Counting down to Christmas couldn’t be more fun (or more affordable!) Download our countdown to Christmas on the blog today!
I never did an advent calendar growing up so I, honestly, had to look up what the heck these were when other moms talked about them.
In honor of today’s trivia theme, do you know how the advent calendar originated?
As with many of our Christmas traditions, this one originated out of Germany. In the early 20th century, Gerhard Lang’s mother made him a calendar with 24 small candies attached to cardboard, one for each day before Christmas.
Lang grew up and opened Reichhold & Lang printing company where he printed the first Advent cardboard calendar with 24 little pictures. Then, just a few years later, the company printed the first calendar with the little doors that everyone loves to open.
Just imagine what kind of craft celebrity Gerhard’s mom would have been on Pinterest.
That’s pretty much, an original viral project.
I am so excited to share this fun FREE printable advent calendar with you that our amazing contributor, M.J. designed for us!
From our graphic designer, MJ at pars caeli!
Advent calendars are just the cutest, right?
That is–until you have to fill/create/arrange them!
This year we’re going simple with our countdown to Christmas, and we want to make it easier for you, too, with a printable calendar.
This Advent Calendar needs just to be cut, folded, and glued.
Fist bump.
You can even have the kids create it.
The days leading up to Christmas are both magical and hectic!
We have Christmas performances and charitable shopping, Santa’s gifting and work parties galore.
I didn’t want our Advent countdown to be another process on the list so we put together something light and fun.
How to Make a Christmas Trivia Advent Calendar for Big Kids
How about Christmas trivia?!
We watch Jeopardy around our house (with three kids, twelve and under), and a countdown with trivia seemed like a natural way to learn more and to laugh together as we get nearer to the 25th.
We put together twenty-five trivial (some are pretty ridiculous) questions about Christmas traditions, songs, and movies for the whole family.
In fact, this calendar would be great to put next to the coffee pot at work or as a runner across the dinner table.
My kids have been talking about these questions more than I imagined (“what’s your favorite Christmas song?” and “remember that time we saw…”).
Our holiday experiences can be easy entryways to new conversations and insights.
Let’s make an advent calendar together!
Supplies Needed
Craft paper
Scissors
Tape
Glue stick
A straight edge or ruler
Our printable calendar
Directions for Your Free Printable Advent Calendar
STEP ONE:
Print out the numbers and trivia questions.
Set the trivia questions aside for now.
To cut your numbers, slice the page first vertically and then horizontally, creating four pieces.
You’ll then cut those four piece vertically, to make equal-sized pieces of paper.
STEP TWO:
Each number paper has light gray dotted lines to show where they should be folded.
With a ruler or straight edge, fold crisply along that line as indicated in two places.
Once you’ve made the folds, bend them the opposite direction to create a folded piece with the number on the front and a flap on the top.
STEP THREE:
Take the trivia questions back out.
Cut those along the dotted edges. Glue the questions into the inside of the numbered papers.
These are not numbered so they can go in any day.
We put ours in randomly.
There’s a question for every day from December 1 through the 25.
STEP FOUR:
Refold the bottom and then the top flap of the numbered rectangle over top of the trivia question (we don’t want anyone peeking until the right day!).
You’ll want to seal the flap shut.
You can do this with glue or tape.
We opted to cut up some adhesive labels into tiny strips so that we could peel back the flaps without destroying the calendar.
That’s it!
Attach the questions to a ribbon and hang on the side of your fridge.
Or tape them to a pantry door in the shape of a tree!
Or (super simple) keep calendar days in a bowl on your dinner table, and pull one out every day.
You might find yourselves amazed by how many presents you’d get if you received all of them from the 12 Days of Christmas or laughing about what the word mistletoe really means!!
(Oh, I’ve said too much. You have to wait to open that day!)
Happy Christmas countdown from our family to yours!!
Wishing you a simply joyful holiday.
Xoxo,
MJ
SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ACCESS THE PRINTABLES!
Looking for more DIY Advent Calendar Ideas? Here are a few others that I’m loving!
Adorable Toilet Paper Roll Advent Calendar– This fun advent calendar is made from something everyone has on hand – toilet paper tubes! Fill it up with small toys, your favorite candy or cute socks! A fun way to upcycle and create fun memories at the same time!
Use What You Have Advent Calendar– Turn your muffin tins into creative advent calendars with this fun holiday bucket list idea.
Christmas Book Advent Calendar – Each book is wrapped with a number for the kids to open each night before bed. No need to purchase new books every year, only if the age out. Making reusable number gift tags to put on the books each year keeps this a great green alternative.
Christmas Tree Ornament Advent– This mini tree makes counting down super fun! Simply hang an ornament every day!
DIY Paper Advent Calendar– Create an easy DIY paper advent calendar with free printable templates for the boxes! This handmade advent calendar is a fun Christmas papercraft and lovely holiday gift idea for kids and teens.
No Time to DIY an Advent Calendar? Here are some of the Best Advent Calendars for Kids!
If you don’t have time to make an advent calendar, here are some MomAdvice Advent Calendar favorites!
Toy advent calendars can be so fun because they feature 24 fun things to look forward to as you welcome in the holiday.
So many advent calendars are featuring sets that include adorable fun trinkets, magnetic ornaments, or mini figures. Find a set with features and surprises that your kids will never expect.
Advent calendars are such a fun bonus surprise gift under the Christmas tree, aren’t they?
Little People Advent Calendar
Crayola Christmas Countdown
Paw Patrol Advent Calendar
LEGO Friends Advent Calendar
LEGO City Advent Calendar
Grab Your Free Advent Calendar Printables!
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