How to Use an Advent Calendar

An Advent calendar is a fun way to count down the days until Christmas. The calendar runs from December 1st until Christmas Eve, and each date has a little door to open, generally with a Christmas surprise hidden behind it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Advent Calendar

1. Buy an Advent calendar. They come in all shapes and sizes, some religious, some secular and some with little gifts behind each door.

2. Open the first door on December 1, the second door on December 2, the third door on December 3 and so on.

3. Continue opening one door per day until December 24.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to resist the temptation to open doors ahead of the current date. It ruins the fun.
• You can make your own Advent calendar with a little imagination and some art supplies.
• Another inexpensive Christmas countdown idea is to put up a length of string with 24 clothespins on it. The child removes a clothespin a day until Christmas eve.

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[mobee58]

on 12/4/2008 great idea

[sstew9]

on 12/1/2008 Do you start with 1 or 24?

on 11/22/2005 When my children were little I was too nervous to put out our porcelain nativity scene. So, I got out the Fisher Price barn, used the appropriate animals, and choose a Mary and Joseph from the many Fisher Price people. We added a few other touches to make it more religious, and the children had a blast being allowed to touch and handle the nativity set without being scolded!