It has been a long time since I’ve managed to post anything on here. There are lots of personal reasons for this, which I won’t go into here, but with it already approaching the festive season, I thought it was about time added some new, and hopefully useful content. For the last couple of years I have been trying to find the time to establish a proper directory of resources on Artful Kids – it has been something of a stop-start project, but hopefully it is now, finally, starting to take shape. It is a combination of resources already on this site, external resources elsewhere which are free of charge, and resources for purchase. The latter are mainly affiliate linked products, but are chosen by myself. Seeking out inspirational creative products is something I have always enjoyed.

For this first article, I thought I would highlight a few of my favourite items for the lead up to Christmas, whether it be advent activities, creative advent calendars, or indeed calendars that you can make yourself. Products are affiliate linked, which means I will make a small commission if you go on to purchase.

Creative Advent Calendars

These are ‘off the shelf’ advent calendars with a creative theme – which means minimal hassle for you, maximum creativity for the kids. Click on the image to see more.

A science themed advent calendar, which contains 24 experiments on themes ranging from chemistry and biology, to mechanics, optics and magnetics

The Crayola Christmas Countdown Activity Advent Calendar inspires creativity with 24 daily holiday crafts to make as they wait for Santa’s arrival. Each of the numbered calendar “doors” opens to reveal a fun Crayola item and corresponding activity for kids.

This Calendar provides a daily arts and crafts activity for each of the 24 days before Christmas. Suitable for ages 6 and over (some adult supervision required).

A creative idea to make your own alternative keepsake advent calendar to celebrate a baby’s first Christmas.

Advent Calendar Kits

Alrnatively, if you have the time, you may prefer to make your own advent calendar. There are many ways of creating your own advent calendar, it can be as simple as hanging small packages or envelopes from a string with pegs, or on some bare winter branches. The following items offer just a few ideas that can be used to create your own. Once again, click on the image to find out more.

This Christmas Village House Kit contains 25 boxes which can be filled with gifts, and re-used in future years.

If you are creating an advent calendar using envelopes or small packages, these stickers will provide decorative number labels for them.

Seasonal mini wax crayons are a perfect advent calendar filler for kids, and are also small enough to be used in crackers.

Colour-In Advent Calendars

These require little effort from parents, while offering greater involvement for children. Just supply the appropriate pens, pencils, paints and maybe even some glitter!

I love this advent Christmas Countdown – this one is also suitable for big kids, and includes Christmas tips, recipes and activities.

24 Christmas pictures to colour in and then hang onto Christmas string with the mini pegs included in the advent calendar pack. Also includes 6 colouring pencils.

Perfect for group activities, this colour in advent calendar is available in packs of 5, or 30, and comes with it’s own hanging ribbon.

Digital Advent Calendar Resources

If you have the facilities to be able to print out (and cut out) your own resources, these downloads mean you can create your own stickers and calendars, cards and tags, and print them out again and again as needed.

This seller on Etsy specialises in producing sets of advent or calendar boxes to print out and assemble, and offers many different themes. They are so beautiful and imaginative, they are well worth checking out.

A Christmas Countdown of holiday activity cards to download and print out includes 36 activities plus 12 blank ones to be able to fill in your own ideas or traditions.

This Christmas countdown calendar has 24 activity and coloring sheets – a different one for every day of December leading up to Christmas – that include thought-provoking word puzzles, fun facts and the opportunity to color in pictures.