50+ December Family Activities

Have you decided on your family activities for December? Unless you’ve already started planning, this is a great time to start. There are wonderful activities you can choose from online to start or continue family traditions.

Last year, I had a December Family Activities post with resources that still work well this year. I checked all the links. In this post, I’ll be adding new resources from 2011. I won’t be repeating the links from last year’s post, so please check both posts to find activities for your family.

The activities typically work well for homeschoolers, families who don’t homeschool, school teachers, and group leaders. Just choose the activities that fit your children’s ages and interests. These aren’t necessarily Montessori activities – just great family-centered activities.

Christian Christmas Activities

Here are some sites with December activities with a Christian emphasis:

Thanks to Leslie from Thoughts from the Sheepfold and Storyteller from Wonderful in an Easter Kind of Way, I learned about the video “Advent in 2 Minutes” from Busted Halo.

Busted Halo’s Advent Surprise Calendar (online calendar – great for teenagers and adults)

Advent Calendar from Beliefnet (online calendar)

Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Calendar from Joyfully Weary

Names of Jesus Advent Chain (Photo from Spell Outloud)

The Names of Jesus Advent Chain (photo) from Spell Outloud

Printable Advent Chain from The Catholic Toolbox

Free Printable Jesse Tree Ornaments and Devotions for Advent 2011 from Tired, Need Sleep

How to Celebrate Advent with a Jesse Tree (free eBook) from Feels Like Home

Refocusing Christmas: Our Jesse Tree from La Dolce Vita: The Sweet Life

Advent from Homeschooled Kids

Homemade Advent Crown from Sun Hats and Wellie Boots

Advent Activities 2011 (Image from Training Happy Hearts)

Planning a Simple, Yet Complete Advent 2011: An Alphabet of Plans for a Literature-Based Family Advent Rich in Sensory Input and Special Activities from Training Happy Hearts

Advent Agent (free printable) from The Only Thing Pink in a World Gone Blue

Truth in the Tinsel from Home with the Boys

How We Celebrate Advent from Catholic Mothers Online

Advent for Children: 10 Products under $10 from Catholic Icing

Christmas Around the World: Calendar Connections (Photo from 1+1+1=1)

12 Days of Christmas – Christmas Around the World Calendar Connections from 1+1+1=1

Daily December Secular Activities or a Mixture of Christian and Secular Activities

Advent Calendars

Activity Advent Countdown (printable) from The Activity Mom

Advent Calendar Ideas from The Crafty Crow

30+ Ideas for Activities Advent Calendars from Code Name: Mama

Kid-Friendly Advent Calendar Ideas from Hobo Mama

Christmas Advent Ideas from Teach Beside Me

10 Fabulous Homemade Advent Calendars from The Imagination Tree

Advent Activity Calendar from Teach Mama

24 Nature Play and Eco Craft Activities ~ Countdown to Christmas from Little Eco Footprints

A Different Kind of Advent Calendar (positive character traits) from Creekside Learning

Creative Christmas Countdown from 24 bloggers

Personalized Christmas Advent Calendar {Free Printable} from Living Locurto

Christmas Activity Calendar from Dilly-Dali Art

Advent Countdown Calendar Including 100 Activities: FREE Printables from Design Dazzle

Cutting Paper Strips for Advent Countdown Chains (Photo from The Education of Ours)

Advent Countdown Calendars Made out of Paper Chains from The Education of Ours

Advent Calendar Activities from The Peaceful Mom

Advent Teaching Resources from TES (you just have to register to download free resources)

Advent Calendars from Chestnut Grove Academy

Advent Calendar (Photo from Leptir

Our Advent Calendar from Leptir

Advent Activities from The Dinner Table

Our Alphabetical Advent Calendar: Christmas Activities from A-Z from Momstown Calgary North

Christmas Activities from the Past from Inspiration Surrounds: Creativity Abounds

Advent Calendar (tutorial) from burlap + blue

Advent Envelopes

Photo by Jessica Lucia at Flickr Creative Commons. (If you’d like a tutorial, there’s one at Easy DIY advent calendar: 25 small folded paper envelopes from A Peek Inside the Fishbowl.)

Christmas Books

Christmas Books (with links to other Christmas traditions) from Spell Outloud

Christmas Book Advent Calendar from The Inspiration Thief

Christmas Book Countdown (Photo from Kindergarten and Preschool for Parents and Teachers)

Christmas Countdown with Books from Kindergarten for Teachers and Parents

Our Advent Season Activities and Book List from Stop, Drop, and Blog

Elf on the Shelf

Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Your Countdown to Christmas from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

Fun with Elf on the Shelf from Parenting

Mixture of Activities

Candy Cane Playdough (Photo from Little Wonders’ Days)

Advent/Christmas Activities, including Candy Cane Day (photo) from Little Wonders’ Days.

Christmas Tree of Heart Shapes (Photo from Learning Ideas Grades K-8)

December Advent Countdown Box from Are We There Yet?

Christmas Crafts (Paper Christmas Tree Craft photo) from Learning Ideas – Grades K-8

Holiday Traditions from Living Life Intentionally

Christmas Fun from 1+1+1=1

Online Advent Calendars and Advent Apps

Squigly’s Advent Calendar from Squigly’s Playhouse

Advent Calendar – Secondary (math) from nrich

The Festive Apple: iPad Advent Calendars for 2011 from appletell

Elf Christmas Countdown (free app) from AppBrain

Kids’ Christmas Activities Pinterest Board

I have lots of Advent Calendars along with many other Christmas activities of all types in my Kids’ Christmas Activities Pinterest board. Often, you’ll be able to tell which activities you like best by choosing a visual image from the board.

Note: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these activities and/or the holiday season in general, please check out my post and links at Raising Figure Skaters: Feeling Joy This Holiday Season.

I’d love to hear about your December family traditions!

Photo Credit: “All I want for Christmas is … joie de vivre” by Let Go at Flickr Creative Commons.

Linked to AfterSchool Linky Party, Living Life Intentionally Linky Party, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. , Pinterest Tuesday, Show-and-Share Saturday, Link & Learn, and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas, and December Holiday Blog Hop at PreK + K Sharing.