How to Do an Advent Calendar Art With Children

Advent calendars help children anticipate the joy of Christmas.

Advent calendars are a traditional part of the holiday season for many families. Creating these calendars with your children can make them an important part of your annual celebration. The calendar begins on the first of December and helps children count down the 25 days until Christmas.

Things You'll Need

• Manila paper
• scissors
• glue
• foil stars
• small holiday stickers

Instructions

1. 

   Measure and mark one-inch squares on manila paper.

   Draw 25 one-inch squares on a piece of manila paper to represent the days until Christmas. They should be spread out over the page, but not too close to the edge. If this activity is being done with multiple children, consider giving each of them a template cut from plastic stencil or other stiff material that they can trace for each box.

2. Write a number on each box, starting with "1" through "24". They should go from left to right, across the page (even though they may not all align exactly in rows). Leave the last box blank.

3. 

   This is the calendar symbol for December 24.

   Draw a Christmas tree on the last blank box. Use a foil star for the tree topper.

4. Draw and color a design on the manila paper, taking care not to color over the boxes too heavily so that the number can still be seen. Alternatively, the boxes and numbers can be traced in black permanent marker so that the colored design does not mask where the doors are located.

5. 

   A craft knife with retractable blade is handy for craft projects.

   Using a craft knife, you or another adult should cut three of the four sides of each square to provide a "door" for each day.

6. Cut out 25 squares, each measuring 1 1/4" x 1 1/4," from a second piece of manila paper. Ask the child to put a sticker in the center of each square.

7. 

   Children should use only safe scissors with blunt tips.

   Glue the cut squares to the back of the colored manila paper. Use glue sparingly, ensuring that none of the cuts in the paper are glued to the picture.

8. For each of the 25 days of December, the child can open the flap to reveal the sticker underneath and continue the countdown until Christmas.

Tips & Warnings

• Use glitter to decorate the picture under the Christmas tree to make it extra special.

• Scissors and craft knives should be used by the adults or under adult supervision.

Resources

• Crayola: My First Advent Calendar
• Creative Kids at Home: Counting Down to Christmas with Advent Calendar