Simple Advent Calendar for Little Kids

Learn how to make a simple advent calendar that your little kids will love. This tutorial will walk you through each step and give you creative ideas for this simple advent calendar.

Picture of hands holding a paper bag with the number eight written on it using a clothespin to hold it to ribbon

I started making a simple advent calendar for my son several years ago. This activity has become a tradition that I will continue to do for as long as my children consider it fun!

Making a simple advent calendar is a wonderful Christmas tradition that little kids love. As the creator of the calendar you have the freedom to be as simple or elaborate as you desire. This simple advent calendar is fun, and it’s also a great learning tool for kids. The activities can be used to teach your little children important lessons like doing things for others. This project is also a great tool to help kids learn and recognize their numbers.

If you have researched advent calendars before you know the options and complexity of what is out there can be pretty intense. I’ve found a simple design that fits well with our family’s lifestyle philosophies. It’s both simple, frugal and easy to create.

List of Items Needed for Simple Advent Calendar:

Ribbon
Brown Paper Bags
Tape
Marker
Wooden Clothespins

This simple advent calendar is easy to make and almost all items can be purchased at your local dollar store. I will walk you through each step to make this advent calendar for little kids for the holidays. Also, I will share the twenty-four items/ideas that we have chosen to fill our calendar bags with this year.

Step One – Place Ribbon for Calendar

First, take your ribbon and run two pieces the entire height of your door. You will tape the ends on the backside of the door to secure the ribbon. Here is a picture for reference.

french door with glass panes and two pieces of ribbon hanging from the door

two pieces of ribbon on door with glass panes

Step 2 – Count and Cut Your Bags

The next step is to count out your paper bags. You can purchase a pack of bags at store and then count out twenty four for your project. I personally cut the tops off of my calendar bags so that there is less excess to fold down. This also helps all of the bags fit better on the ribbon of the door.

person using scissors to cut brown paper bags

Step 3 – Write Out Numbers

Once the bags are counted and cut, use a marker to write the numbers 1-24, one number on each bag.

picture of hands holding a green marker writing the numbers one and two on a paper bags

Step 4 – Fill Bags with Items

Once all of the numbers are on the bags it’s now time to fill them with fun. I fill my bags each year with experiences, consumable gifts and service projects.

If the items you have chosen will fit, you can place that item in the bag. An example of this type of item is a bouncy ball. However, if the item is too large or it is an experience or activity, you can write it down on a piece of paper instead. These ideas can be written on regular paper or you can use simple, inexpensive Christmas gift tags.

Step 5 – Hang Your Bags to Complete Your Advent Calendar

After I have placed the gift tag or actual item in the bag, I fold down the top and use a clothespin to hang the bag on the ribbon.

two hands holding a paper bag with the top folded down

Once all of your items are hung you now have an adorable advent calendar that your little kids will enjoy throughout the holiday season! It’s a great activity for them to practice recognizing their numbers as well.

twenty four brown paper bags hanging on a french door with numbers one through twenty four written on them to be an advent calendar

Here is the list of all of the items and activities that we chose for our family this year. We spent about $50 in all for this simple advent calendar. This includes the supplies, items and activities. I encourage you to choose the ones that fit you and your little kids the best.

Advent Calendar Ideas:

Christmas movie & popcorn
Make a paper chain to decorate your little Christmas tree
Write Christmas cards to great grandparents
Bouncy balls
Check out Christmas books from the library
Make bird feeders with peanut butter and birdseed
Christmas stickers
Candy cane scavenger hunt
Make some treats for our neighbors
Go for a drive to see Christmas lights
Write Christmas cards to grandparents
Boxes of raisins
Build a cotton ball snowman
Make Christmas ornaments
Drink hot chocolate
Bubbles
A few chocolate chips
$1 bill
Mini play-doh
Make paper snowflakes
Build a mini gingerbread house
Color in Christmas coloring books
Sunglasses
Play a game as a family (this year it’s Go Fish)

I hope this simple advent calendar tutorial has inspired you to make one for your little kids this season. Hopefully this will be a wonderful Christmas tradition for years to come. I would love to hear what ideas and items you put in your simple advent calendar this year. Comment below and let me know. Merry Christmas!