Do you want a way to make sure you do a holiday-related activity each day in December? Do you want this year to be the year that you make time to stop and enjoy the holiday season? Then stop and create this fun and easy Christmas DIY Countdown Calendar.
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This activity is about creating your own family traditions and taking the time to enjoy the holiday season. This isn’t just for families with children. This can be a fun adult activity as well.
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Last year I saw this pin from Hi Sugarplum on Pinterest and thought what a great idea, I am going to create one for Taylan and start some family Christmas traditions. This project was as much for me as it was for my son. I felt like I am always busy running around trying to get everything done in time, that I don’t get the time to actually enjoy it. I wanted to make sure I stopped and enjoyed this time of year with my family.
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You know what, it turned out great. I think I had more fun with it than Taylan. It is now one of our new family traditions that I plan on doing year after year. Now it’s your turn to join me in this fun activity. Here is how to create your own Christmas DIY Countdown Calendar.
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STEP 1 | BRAINSTORM FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Take a moment to think about fun holiday activities you would like to do and use this Christmas countdown to make them happen. There are a ton of inspiration lists on Pinterest. I pinned some activity list pins to my Christmas Decorating Ideas board on Pinterest to help get you started with your list.
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You can have the fam help with the creation of the list or it can be a surprise that gets flipped each morning. Your choice. Make a list of all your favorites. You are going to need a total of 25 activities.
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STEP 2 | PLAN OUT THE CALENDAR
Now the important part, pull out your December calendar. Make sure you organize the activities around the time you will have available each evening or day.
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For example, you don’t want to tour the town looking at Christmas lights falling on the day when its a school night with after-school activities or an after work function already scheduled. Remember we want this to be as painless as possible. We don’t want this generating more stress, it is meant to be a fun activity.
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Save the more time-consuming activities for an open weekend day. Or break up larger projects, for example, you can bake the cookies on a Sunday afternoon as one activity and then Monday’s activity is to decorate them in the evening.
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STEP 3 | GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
Now that we have created our list of holiday activities in order. Let’s go shopping for supplies. Here is what you will need…
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- 2″ x 3″ Cardstock Cards
- Washi Tape
- Number Stickers – purchased these last year in Bullseye’s Playground at Target
- Pens
STEP 4 | CREATE CALENDAR
Write or print each day’s activity onto your cards.
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Stick the corresponding date sticker on the backside of the card.
STEP 5 | HANG CALENDAR
Find a space in your home for the calendar, you will need an approximately 28″ wide by 34″ high space. It can be a wall, fridge, door, or window. Arrange the cards in a fun Christmas tree shape using the Washi tape to stick it to your surface.
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You can arrange it in number order or you can scatter the numbers. You can have them nice and neat in a lined up row or you can throw caution to the wind and hang them randomly. I go with the latter, I know shocking behavior for a Type A, it adds a little artistic style to the countdown calendar and it would bug me if they weren’t lined up completely straight.
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STEP 6 | ADD ACTIVITIES TO YOUR CALENDAR
Important: Put the activities into your calendar, you need to know what to expect each day.
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Even better if you are on top of it, make a list of the supplies you will need throughout the month and purchase them now. I know that is thinking WAY too far ahead. I don’t know who those people are, but I do strive to act a little more like them.
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STEP 7 | FLIP CARDS OVER EACH DAY IN DECEMBER AND COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY
Each day in December turn over the corresponding number card. I like to remove the washi tape and restick the card activity facing out. That way it stays in a cute Christmas tree shape.
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Now have fun and enjoy the time with your family doing fun holiday activities together.
What do you think? Is this something fun that you and your family can and will do this year? Share with me images of your Christmas Calendar Countdowns on Instagram.
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