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How to Plan a Stress-Free Activity Advent Calendar for Christmas

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Count down the days to Christmas with an activity advent calendar without adding extra stress!

In an attempt to make Christmas about memories instead of just presents, we have been doing an activity advent calendar for the past few years.

The first year I attempted to do an activity advent calendar I failed miserably.

It was so hard to plan and keep up with the activities. I had made December more stressful for myself and then ended up just putting candy in the last half of the advent calendar because I was burnt out.

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This was not the beautiful Christmas I wanted for my kids or myself. So I tried a few more things and I have finally figured out how to plan a stress-free activity advent calendar for Christmas.

Do you want to create memories with your family this year, but don't want to add more stress? I show you how to plan a stress-free activity advent calendar including a free printable scheduler and activity cards. CraftingmyHome.com


Planning a stress-free activity advent calendar does not mean you have to have less memories during the month.

I love doing big Christmas activities that take some planning and extra time, but I’ve found I need to balance it out with 5-minute, no-prep options too.

I don’t have to time to make and decorate cookies with the kids  or go out on an adventure every night.

diy advent calendar on the floor in front of a christmas tree

The trick to making the littlest activities into magical memories is to add a little anticipation.

Open up the advent calendar each morning, before work and school, so they can think about the activity they get to do with you when they get home.

Make it a big deal to open it up together and talk about how much fun it will be to do the activity with them.

Now even if you are just doing a little activity, they know they will have some Christmas time with you!

paper displaying a stress free advent calendar activity

To plan our month, I print out the Christmas Advent Scheduler.

On the scheduler I have grayed out the Saturdays and Sundays so I know which days we will have more time for an activity.

Then I mark the big events that are already on our schedule, like Christmas parties.

schedule for a stress free advent calendar activities

I find it is easiest to fill in the little activities only on a weekly basis.

At the beginning of each week I will have a better idea of what days will work for activities like making cookies, and which ones we will be more pressed for time on.

Those are the days I add in activities like color a Christmas picture or read a Christmas book.

And on days that mom and dad are busier, I know I won’t have the extra energy so we plan activities like watching a Christmas movie or cartoon.

Once the activities are planned, try to make sure you have the supplies on hand that you need so you don’t add more stress for yourself on busy days.

I plan what ornaments or decorations we will be making and pick up the supplies we need in advance. Now there is nothing stopping us from creating memories together.

day one of the stress free diy advent calendar activities

Also, make sure you have an advent calendar that allows you to change things out if needed.

I have a Silhouette advent box and I love it, I can add little goodies in with the activity cards if I want to.

I don’t make new boxes every year, but I do switch them out occasionally (when I want to update the look, like I am thinking I should this year).

I do everything I can to plan around our schedules, but life happens! There is so much going on in December, so give yourself a break if you have to do less big activities than you initially planned.

Remember, doing activities together is about spending time together, not what the activity is.

diy advent calendar box with activity paper in front

I created some cards you can use in your advent calendar of 24 different activities to do throughout the month. I also created a sheet with 6 extra of the easy no-prep activities and 6 blank cards with fun graphics for you to fill in your own activities.

This will give you plenty of options, and a few extra cards with easy activities you can add in as needed.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ADVENT SCHEDULER AND CARDS

So here’s to an amazing December, with loads of fun activities with the family and non of the stress it can bring on! I know we are all super excited to count down the days and create Christmas memories together as a family.

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Sahana

Sunday 6th of December 2015

Wow, lot of great points to prepare a stress free advent calendar. I love those little boxes you made with silhouette. Thank you for accepting our invite and linking with us at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you next week again.

Kati Farrer

Tuesday 8th of December 2015

Thank you Sahana! I am enjoying the mont much better knowing I don't have to worry about one more thing!

Alayna

Thursday 3rd of December 2015

Awesome! I'm having one of those palm-to-the-forehead moments here - it's just a great idea to give yourself a break with the planning and not try to put a month's worth of ideas together all ahead of time but just to tackle a week at a time and plan more according to how the week is shaping up. And those boxes are so cute - red, black and white is one of my absolute favorite color combinations.

I am co-hosting the #HomeMattersParty link party this month and would love to have you stop by for a visit. The door opens for the next party tonight at midnight! http://alaynascreations.co/blog/

Kati Farrer

Saturday 5th of December 2015

Yeah, I've tried to plan a whole month and failed too many times, now we just plan a week at a time and we are much more successful :) Thank you!

Laurie

Wednesday 2nd of December 2015

Your advent activities calendar is adorable! I love what you said about the activity is about spending time together and less about the activity! Well said. Thank you for sharing with us at Brag About It! Have a fabulous week! ~Laurie

Kati Farrer

Saturday 5th of December 2015

Thanks Laurie! Sometimes I have to remind myself to just stop and spend time doing easy stuff instead of making a big to do. Coloring pictures together as a family was really awesome the other night, and took no prep at all!

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