25+ easy and creative DIY advent calendars for kids that are simple to create and super fun for toddlers, preschoolers and even older kids. Great ideas that you can create using supplies at home or that you can get at the dollar store.
The Best DIY Advent Calendars
Whether you like it or not the countdown to Christmas has begun! The anticipation that goes along with this season is largely what makes it so special! A great way to savour that suspense is through Advent calendars which is why I created a roundup of the best DIY ideas for your get inspired by! From simple muffin time calendars to DIY Lego structures!
There is a calendar here that you will be able to create and one your little one will enjoy! No need to spend money on an expensive advent calendar (if that’s not your thing). You can easily put one together that will spark joy and excitement in your child.
Simple and fun Advent calendar ideas
These DIY Advent calendar ideas are particularly good if you have multiple kids. Purchasing advent calendars can get expensive! I have three kids so I know the feeling! Creating a calendar for each that is simple and fun is a great way to keep yourself on budget this season.
OK! Are you ready to have a look at all these fun ideas! Take a peak now and save them for them later. You probably already have a lot of the supples required for these ideas and for the things you don’t have you can pick them up at the dollar store whenever you are there next. So simple and easy!
Not into making an advent calendar? No worries. Checkout these fun advents calendars you can buy:
25+ Simple and Creative Advent Calendars for Kids
Easy DIY Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
DIY Santa Advent Calendar
DIY Cardboard Advent Calendar
Take-Out Box DIY Advent Calendar
Make an EASY Paper Chain Kids Advent Calendar
Christmas Tree Printable Advent Calendar
Santa Down the Chimney Christmas Countdown Craft
Santa’s Beard Countdown
Balloon Ornament DIY Advent Calendar
Sheep DIY Advent Calendar
Craft Stick Advent Calendar
Easy Pom-pom DIY Advent Calendar
Dino-Advent! Make This Dinosaur Advent Calendar
Colourful Ornament Advent Calendar
Homemade Paper Envelope Advent Calendar
Advent Calendar Made From Upcycled Shoe Organizer
Clothespin Christmas Countdown Calendar
How to Build an Awesome LEGO Advent Calendar
Muffin Tin Advent Calendar
Easy Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
DIY Photo Advent Calendar
Paper Cup Advent Calendar
Paper and Washi Tape Advent Calendar
Advent Calendar with Toilet Paper Rolls
Snowman Christmas Countdown Craft
Cereal Box Advent Calendar
Connetix Magnetic Tile Advent Calendar
Looking for more Fun Christmas Crafts & Activities? Check out these fun ideas:
- 100+ of the Best Christmas Activities & Crafts for Kids
- DIY Handmade Christmas Cards
- 25+ Easy Christmas Sensory Bins
- Easy DIY Advent Calendars
- 25+ Christmas Tree Crafts & Activities
- 24 Christmas Crafts You Can Do Right Now
- 21 Christmas Sticky Walls
- 25 Santa Crafts & Activities for Kids
- 25+ Christmas STEAM Activities
- 50+ Hanukkah Crafts and Activities
- 30+ Kwanzaa Crafts and Activities
Age Suitability
This activity is good for toddlers aged children 2 years old and up with adult assistance.
Mess Level
The mess level for this activity is medium.
Difficulty to Create
Easy.
Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids
Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.
Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!
Shop our ready made play kits here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
WILL YOU TRY ANY OF THESE EASY DIY ADVENT CALENDARS WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!
A great fun collection of Advent calendars. Thank you for including my paper envelope calendar in your list.
No problem! Such a great idea!!