Do I need to buy anything to use these cards?

No. Almost every activity uses things most families already have at home — paper, scissors, glue, a flashlight, or ingredients from the kitchen cupboard. A few cards call for candle wax, clay, or gingerbread dough, but nothing here requires a special shopping trip.

What age group are these activity cards for?

The cards are split into three levels. Easy cards suit toddlers and preschoolers and take about five minutes, medium cards suit school-age kids and take around fifteen minutes, and hard cards work best for the whole family or need a little advance preparation.

Can I use these cards with the advent calendar I already own?

Yes. The cards are designed to slot into any calendar format — a box with numbered doors, small paper bags, or a string with pegs. Print the page, cut the cards apart along the lines, and tuck one into each pocket or bag in whatever order you like.

Are these cards religious or tied to a specific tradition?

No. The activities are secular and focus on everyday moments families can share in December — baking, calling relatives, walking to see lights, or writing a card to someone alone. There are no letters to Santa or references to a specific faith.

How long does each activity actually take?

Most fall between 10 and 20 minutes, including any setup. A handful of easy cards take as little as 5 minutes, and a few hard cards — like baking gingerbread or building a small gingerbread house — need a bit more time in the oven, though the hands-on part still stays short.

Advent Activity Calendar Cards for Kids – 30 Printable Days

Activity Workshop · Printables

Advent Activity Calendar Cards for Kids – 30 Printable Days

Candy in the advent calendar is fun, but plenty of families notice it's the moments spent doing something together that actually get remembered once December is over. These 30 cards swap the chocolate for a small, concrete activity — something you can do in 10 to 20 minutes with things you probably already have at home. The cards are split into three levels, from a five-minute paper snowflake a toddler can manage to slightly bigger undertakings like baking gingerbread or building a poster of the year's best moments. Print them, cut them apart, and fill whatever calendar you already own — a box, paper bags, or a simple string with pegs.

About this sheet

Candy countdowns are easy, but they don't leave much of a trace once January arrives. A shared activity — even a five-minute one — tends to stick in a way a chocolate square doesn't, and it costs nothing extra to swap one for the other.

Each of these 30 cards names one activity and explains exactly how to do it: what to gather, how long it takes, and what the outcome looks like. There's no vague prompt to figure out on your own at 7am with a toddler pulling at your sleeve.

The three difficulty levels aren't about being harder or easier to enjoy — they're about matching the day. A five-minute snowflake works on a weeknight with dinner still cooking; a gingerbread-baking afternoon fits better on a weekend with nowhere to be.

Print the set once, cut the cards apart, and drop them into whatever calendar format your family already uses. There's no calendar to buy and no set order to follow — rearrange the cards to match your own December.

What you get

30 printable activity cards, one for every day of December
Three difficulty levels so toddlers and school-age kids both get cards that fit them
Activities that use things you likely already have at home
A print-and-cut layout that fits any advent calendar format — box, bags, or string

How to use it

Print and cut. Print the page on regular paper and cut along the card outlines — no special paper or cutter needed, just scissors.
Fill your calendar. Tuck one card into each door, pocket, bag, or peg of the advent calendar you already have, in any order you like.
Open one card a day. Each morning or evening, open that day's card together and do the activity — most take 10 to 20 minutes.
Mix the difficulty. Spread the easy, medium, and hard cards across the month so busy days land on a five-minute activity and free evenings get the ones with more prep.

Download free

Pick an age, download the A4 PDF with answers, and print. No sign-up.

More activities More printables

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy anything to use these cards?: No. Almost every activity uses things most families already have at home — paper, scissors, glue, a flashlight, or ingredients from the kitchen cupboard. A few cards call for candle wax, clay, or gingerbread dough, but nothing here requires a special shopping trip.
What age group are these activity cards for?: The cards are split into three levels. Easy cards suit toddlers and preschoolers and take about five minutes, medium cards suit school-age kids and take around fifteen minutes, and hard cards work best for the whole family or need a little advance preparation.
Can I use these cards with the advent calendar I already own?: Yes. The cards are designed to slot into any calendar format — a box with numbered doors, small paper bags, or a string with pegs. Print the page, cut the cards apart along the lines, and tuck one into each pocket or bag in whatever order you like.
Are these cards religious or tied to a specific tradition?: No. The activities are secular and focus on everyday moments families can share in December — baking, calling relatives, walking to see lights, or writing a card to someone alone. There are no letters to Santa or references to a specific faith.
How long does each activity actually take?: Most fall between 10 and 20 minutes, including any setup. A handful of easy cards take as little as 5 minutes, and a few hard cards — like baking gingerbread or building a small gingerbread house — need a bit more time in the oven, though the hands-on part still stays short.