This is a super easy no-sew Advent countdown calendar created with socks. A printed activity is tucked inside each of the twenty four socks one for each day counting down until Santa visits. The activities listed are for the family to spend time together creating, making, reading, playing and eating! A lot of the activities are probably something your family might do anyway – decorate the Christmas tree, bake cookies, drive around the neighborhood to look at lights etc. This is a fun idea to organize your family plans and events and give kids a countdown until Christmas. I’ve included 100 activities that can be printed out and used for your Advent calendar. Pick and choose 24 activities that will work for your family. Once you’ve completed the activity remove the activity card from the sock. Your kids will quickly see which socks don’t have the activity card in them – thus the countdown.
Supplies:
24 socks
ribbon or ⅝” Twill Tape Ribbon Red
Mini Clothespins 2-½″-24/Pkg
24 round wood disks or round hang tags
Sticker numbers (I used craft foam)
24 Blank Tags White
Step 1:
I used my Cricut Cutting Machine
to cut out craft foam for numbers. I happened to have the foam on hand and it was the right color. After cutting out numbers 1-24 I glued them to small 1 inch wood disks.
Step 2:
Hot glue the wood disks to the front of the sock. If you are interested in turning over the numbers as you count down days, then don’t use the wood disks. Use round hang tags instead.
Step 3:
I used Command Strip Hooks
on my fireplace mantel to hang the Advent countdown. Hang the twill tape where you will be placing the countdown to get a measurement of how long the twill tape needs to be. Mark it and take down. Don’t cut yet!
Step 4:
Lay the twill tape on the floor or counter. Arrange the socks in the order that looks good to you. Clothespin the socks to the twill tape.
Step 5:
Print out the activity lists you’ve chosen. Cut out the activity and paste onto the tags or print the activity list on cardstock and don’t use the tags. Place one tag inside each sock. To resize the list place in a word document and resize.
Remember to check your calendar to fit just the right activities with the right evening. You can always switcheroo the activities at the last minute ; )
Step 6:
Hang up the twill tape and socks over a doorway, fireplace mantel, etc. It helps to have two people for this part. Cut the excess twill tape.
Decide what activities your family would like to do. The key is figuring out your family schedule in December and doing simple activities that don’t require a lot of time on certain days (i.e. make Hot Chocolate, write a letter to Santa or draw a Christmas picture). Maybe the weekends work best for more time consuming activities i.e. decorating a Gingerbread house, Christmas shopping, going sledding, etc. I’ve included several “read a Christmas story” or “read a Christmas book” because it’s an easy, great Christmas activity. Check out how we do our Christmas books with Christmas book bags. We have several books and so we will include the book reading into our 24 day count down. For example one night we will roast marshmallows and read a Christmas book. Another night we will set up the Nativity and read a Christmas book. These activities don’t take too much time and can be done together.
There are activities for younger kids and older kids. Older kids can help wrap gifts, send out Christmas cards (stuff envelopes, sign names, lick stamps) make it fun! Younger kids would enjoy playing with play dough, eating a North Pole breakfast, etc.
Foil Chipboard Numbers Stickers
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The Bean Sprout Notes says
Loving the variety (and quantity) of activities included. This is the most inclusive list of advent activities I have found. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley says
I just signed up for your newsletters, but now i cant figure out how to download the advent calendar?
Toni - Design Dazzle says
Ashley,
Check your inbox (or spam folder) for an email from us. There will be a link you click on that will take you to the page for ALL the free printables.
Please let me know if you still can’t access them. I would like to help you out.
Toni
Yury says
Done with subscription but still can’t find the way to download the advent calendar activities.
Toni - Design Dazzle says
Yury,
When you receive the email about your subscription, there is only one link to click on and it will take you directly to all the free printables. Please let me know if there is anything else you need.
Toni
COURTNEY says
I have followed the link on my email numerous times and I can not find a way to download the advent calendar activities. Can you please assist me or show me where the link maybe to download the printable as I am not finding and have tried multiple ways and times.
Thank you!
Toni - Design Dazzle says
Hi Courtney,
I just sent you an email. Hopefully we can help you get these downloaded and printed!
Toni
Ana says
I deleted the subscription email with the link to download the free printables. Can you resend it? Or is there another way to get to the printables?
Thanks!
Toni - Design Dazzle says
Ana,
Every week we send out an email with our newsletter. At the bottom of the newsletter there is a link to ALL of our free printables. You will receive the newsletter Wednesday morning. Check your spam if you don’t see it in your inbox.
Thank you!
Rebecca says
Please send me the advent printable from the sock advent idea. Thanks a bunch!
Toni - Design Dazzle says
Hi Rebecca!
You’ve been sent an email. Check your inbox (or spam) for an email from Design Dazzle. Click the link in the email and it will give you the page with all our FREE printables.
Thanks!
adrian says
happy holidays – thanks!
Toni - Design Dazzle says
Thank you, Adrian!
Debbie says
thank you
Toni - Design Dazzle says
you are welcome!
Kathrine Miller says
Love it!
Toni - Design Dazzle says
So glad you love it!!
Brittany says
Looking forward to using these advent activities for our family this year.
Toni - Design Dazzle says
This is such a great family activity! So glad you are able to use them.
Teresa slagstad says
looking forward to trying the advent calendar at the assisted living center i work at.
Toni - Design Dazzle says
What a great idea!