I LOVE Advent calendars and Christmas countdown activities of all kinds. When my kids were little, we always had an Advent calendar and read Christmas books each day leading up to Christmas.
I’m awed by all the amazing Christmas countdown activities available online! Today, I want to share 40+ ideas from around the blogosphere. But don’t miss my previous posts, which contain LOTS Of Christmas countdown activities and other December family activities. The links are still good. I won’t be repeating activities in this post, so be sure to check out my previous posts as well:
50+ December Family Activities
Advent Calendars and Other Christmas Countdown Activities
DIY Cone Advent Calendar (Photo from Glittering Muffins)
DIY Cone Advent Calendar from Glittering Muffins
Advent Calendar from Kids’ Art (Photo from Red Ted Art)
Kids’ Art Advent Calendar (for Granny) from Red Ted Art
Christmas Advent Calendar (Photo from 2 Big, 2 Little)
Christmas Advent Calendar from 2 Big, 2 Little
Advent Calendar from Across the Ocean (Photo from Kitchen Counter Chronicles)
Advent Calendar from Across the Ocean from Kitchen Counter Chronicles
Advent Calendar (Photo from Crafty Moms Share)
Advent Calendar from Crafty Moms Share
10 Days of Christmas Countdown Activities from Milk and Cookies
Salt Dough Advent Calendar (Photo from The Fairy and the Frog)
Salt Dough Advent Calendar from The Fairy and The Frog
Advent Calendar (Photo from Living Life Intentionally)
Advent Activity Calendar from Living Life Intentionally
An Elfish Advent Calendar (Photo from An Everyday Story)
An Elfish Advent Calendar from An Everyday Story
Count Down to Christmas – DIY Advent Calendars from Rainy Day Mum
Clothes Pin Wreath Advent Calendar from Simply Mommie
2012 Activity Advent Countdown (Printable) from The Activity Mom
Lego Christmas Countdown from The Activity Mom
Herschel Space and Stars Advent Calendar
No Numbers Advent Calendar from Two of Everything
Our Simple Advent Calendar and Ideas for Creating Your Own from Fantastic Fun and Learning
Advent Ideas, Rhythm from Little Wonders’ Days
The Countdown is On: Making Paper Advent Chains from Training Happy Hearts
Christmas Around the U.S.A. State Countdown Freebie from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
Snowglobe Christmas Countdown Pieces from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
Christmas Tree Countdown (Photo from This Reading Mama)
Christmas Tree Countdown from This Reading Mama
Cardboard Christmas Countdown (Photo from Go Kid Yourself)
Cardboard Christmas Countdown from Go Kid Yourself
Advent Activity Tree (Photo from The Imagination Tree)
Advent Activity Tree from The Imagination Tree
Homemade Jesse Tree from This Simple Home
Magnetic Christmas Countdown (Photo from Craft to Art)
Magnetic Christmas Countdown from CrafttoArt
Creative Christmas Countdown with 24 bloggers, featured by Creative with Kids and Red Ted Art
Everyday is a Holiday, Everyday is a Holiday Part II, and Countdown to Christmas from Kids Stuff World
24 Children’s Christmas Jokes from NurtureStore
Santa’s Fireplace Christmas Countdown (Photo from De Tout Et De Rien)
Santa’s Fireplace Christmas Countdown from De Tout Et De Rien
Easy DIY Advent Jar and 35 Advent Calendar Ideas from Mess for Less
Advent Candy Wreath (Photo from JDaniel4′s Mom)
Advent Candy Wreath from JDaniel4′s Mom
Easy DIY Candy Advent Wreath with Recycled Materials from Pink and Green Mama
Kids Advent from Housing a Forest
Countdown to Christmas with Advent Activities (Photo from Kids Activities Blog)
Countdown to Christmas with Advent Activities by Rachel at Kids Activities Blog
Counting Down to Christmas from Making Boys Men
Paper Chain Christmas Countdown from Kara’s Classroom
Lazy Advent Envelopes (Photo from Mama Scout)
Lazy Advent Envelopes from Mama Scout
Ultimate Guide to Christmas Countdowns from Not Consumed
Building Traditions of Kindness in Kinders by Marsha of A Differentiated Kindergarten at PreK + K Sharing
Our Elf Arrives (Photo from 3 Dinosaurs)
Our Elf Red Snowflake Arrives (includes links to free printables) from 3 Dinosaurs and Royal Baloo
The Good Elf on the Shelf by Laura at Natural Parents Network
20 Nice {Not Naughty} Elf on the Shelf Ideas from East Coast Mommy
Elf Possible – 3 Tips for a Successful Elf Season from Peanut Blossom
Elf on the Shelf Printable Joke Cards from Over the Big Moon
Christmas Books
Countdown to Christmas Book Tree from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
25 Christmas Books for Kids from Here Come the Girls
My Little Advent Bookcase (Photo from My Little Bookcase)
Christmas Countdown Ideas for Little Bookworms from My Little Bookcase
Book Tree Advent from Reading Confetti
Book Advent and Christmas Books for Toddlers from Gingerbread House
24 Books to Countdown to Christmas from Kara’s Classroom
25 Days Until Christmas Countdown ~ Books & Advent Ideas from Connecting Family & Seoul
Christmas Books from Middle of Somewhere
Kids’ Christmas Activities Pinterest Board
Pinterest – Kids’ Christmas Activities
I have a Kids’ Christmas Activities Pinterest Board with Christmas activities of all kinds.
I’d love to hear what you’re doing for Christmas countdown activities! 
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I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
Ooh the gummi bears are so CUTE!! So many wonderful ideas here! Thank you for including our homemade kids art calendar too!
Maggy
maggy, red ted art recently posted..Creative Christmas Countdown – Our Virtual Advent Calendar!
My pleasure, Maggy! I love that your kids helped create an Advent calendar as a gift!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Thanks for adding it in!
Annette {This Simple Mom} recently posted..Personalized Gifts
My pleasure, Annette!
Deb recently posted..Giveaway – 3 $100 Gift Certificates for Alison’s Montessori!
Deb, this looks GREAT! SO many wonderful ideas. Thank you for including mine.
Becky recently posted..FREE BOB Book Printables: Set 1, Book 5 (Dot and Mit )
Thanks, Becky! And my pleasure … I love that you integrated so many learning activities into your Christmas countdown activity.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
We also count down with 25 books! I use a reusable gift box so that I don’t need to wrap each book.
Something for those who want to focus on Jesus’ birth would be a Jesse Tree. I have mine at http://www.thissimplehome.com/2012/11/homemade-jesse-tree.html if you are interested.
Thanks so much for your comment, Annette! Great idea of using a reusable gift box for the 25 books! And thanks so much for sharing the link to your Jesse Tree. I love Jesse Tree activities and added your link to my post so that everyone can see it.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
What a fantastic list you have put together with so many wonderfully creative ideas. Thank you for featuring several of our family countdowns!
Thanks, Jill! My pleasure … you have some awesome Christmas countdown activities!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Great list, thanks for including our ‘No Numbers’ Advent Calendar!
Thanks so much … and my pleasure! Your jars are beautiful, and I always love activities using glass pebbles!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
love Deb – pinned & shared!!
Thanks so much, Stef! I really appreciate your pinning and sharing my post!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
What a fun round-up Deb! Thanks for sharing ours =-)
Beth
Beth recently posted..O is for Owl
Thanks, Beth! My pleasure … I LOVE your Christmas countdown activities!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Thanks for linking up to TGIF! You always have such great round-ups! I featured this at TGIF this week here: http://www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/2012/12/tgif-linky-party-57.html
Have a great weekend,
Beth =-)
Beth recently posted..TGIF Linky Party #57
Thanks so much, Beth! I really appreciate it … and thanks for hosting TGIF!
Deb recently posted..Christmas Around the World: Scotland
Great round up Deb! Thanks for including ours
Valerie recently posted..Christmas Around the World – Quebec
Thanks, Valerie! My pleasure … I love that your Christmas countdown is both simple and appealing!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
I love this list! I’m in planning mode for December so this was very helpful, thank you! ^_^
Jasmine recently posted..Review and Giveaway #2 – 102030Go!
Thanks so much, Jasmine! I’m glad the timing was right.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Thanks for sharing our book tree advent! What a fabulous list!
Lorie recently posted..Book Tree Advent
Thanks so much, Lorie! My pleasure … I love that your book tree Christmas countdown is so attractive and creative!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Great Roundup Deb! I love the Gummy bear tree. Thanks for including us!
Esther recently posted..The Legend of the Indian Paint Brush
Thanks, Esther! The Gummi bear tree is super creative, isn’t it?! My pleasure … I love all the skills that your activity helps develop in addition to being fun!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
These are all amazing. I love the faux fireplace!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Taking Time to Play- Scented Red and Green Playdough
Thanks, JDaniel4′s Mom! I had so much fun putting this together. The faux fireplace is awesome, isn’t it?! I love your activity, too!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
WOW! what an incredible round up of some truly diverse and unique ideas! I love this Deb. Thanks SO much for including one of mine!
Anna recently posted..Snow Dough Recipe for Winter Sensory Play!
Thanks, Anna! I’m amazed at the creativity of bloggers around the world … it’s great fun to see so many different ideas. I absolutely LOVE your Advent Activity Tree!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
What a great round up – we are still working on our holiday countdown activity and hope to finish it and have it soon! These are such great ideas.
Jen Fischer recently posted..{Ten for Giving Tuesday} Things That REALLY Go!! Giving That Goes the Distance…
Thanks, Jen! There are so many countdown activities to choose from now that it’s both harder and easier than it ever was!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
I really enjoy the season of Christmas and Advent. This is, by far, probably the most extensive list I’ve seen yet on Advent ideas/posts. Thanks so much for it!
Thanks for your kind comment, Demetria! I love Advent and Christmas, too. This was a lot of fun to put together!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Oh, love all these ideas. We are set for years to come. I just posted this week about my “ABC Your Way to Christmas” Part 1. It’s 26 books and 26 family fun literacy activities to take you right up to Christmas. You can see it here: http://growingbookbybook.com/2012/11/26/abc-your-way-to-christmas-part-1/
Jodie recently posted..Giveaway Winner Announced
Thanks, Jodie! I love your “ABC Your Way to Christmas” idea! Thanks so much for sharing the link!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Wom great ideas!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! I hope you have a great December!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
Lots of great ideas! I only have teens and above, one is a guest who just mentioned how nice it was in his family to have an advent calendar with goodies, so I’m looking for an easy way to do that. I liked the envelopes idea, very easy!
Mary recently posted..Holiday Attitude Check | Keeping the Holidays Positive
Thanks, Mary! I always loved easy ideas for Advent calendars, too.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
So many fun ideas make my traditional calendar look blah in comparison, but it works for us and I love incorporating the kids and service ideas into it. I wrote about last night and published it this morning at http://www.traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-countdown-is-on-making-paper-advent.html
Martianne recently posted..The Countdown is On: Making Paper Advent Chains
Thanks so much for sharing your link, Martianne! Simple ideas are exactly what many people need for Christmas countdown activities. I love the way your kids are so involved in making your Advent chains. I couldn’t resist adding your link … even though it must be at least 50+ Christmas Countdown Activities by now.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Crafts
Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday! I did an Advent Calendar Round-Up today and featured yours.
Carrie recently posted..Advent Calendar Round-Up
Thanks so much, Carrie! I really appreciate it!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Crafts
Hi Deb !
We’ve made an Advent Calendar with montessorian inspiration: maths, practical life and faith.
I hope you will like it !
http://caminemplegats.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/advent-montessoria-mates-vida-practica.html
Have a nice day, amd thanks for sharing so great ideas!
Caminem Plegats recently posted..Advent montessorià: mates, vida pràctica i fe
Thanks so much for sharing the link to your Advent calendar! I love the way you have different ways to open each day’s bag … amazing!
Deb recently posted..Christmas Around the World: Scotland
I may not say this enough but thanks for all that you do!
Cassie recently posted..Hanukkah Books
Thanks so much for your very sweet comment, Cassie! It always makes me smile to see your lovely comments. I truly appreciate all you do, too!
Deb recently posted..Christmas Around the World: Scotland