4 Creative DIY Advent Calendar Ideas for EYFS & KS1
Posted by EYR Team on 24th Nov 2025
read moreLooking for a creative way to count down to Christmas with your EYFS or KS1 class? Making an Advent calendar can be a lovely festive activity, giving children the chance to get creative while building excitement for the Christmas holidays.
From a colourful Christmas tree to a recycled cardboard roll design, here are four easy DIY Advent calendar ideas that can be adapted for different ages and settings.
1. Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
A Christmas tree Advent calendar is a bright and colourful way to count down the days until Christmas. This simple idea can be made using paper cups, with each cup representing a day in the countdown.
Children can help decorate the cups, add the numbers and personalise the finished tree, making it a lovely collaborative classroom project.
You will need:
- Paper cups
- Green card or paint
- Cardboard or a large piece of backing card
- Glue
- Squares of tissue paper
- Decorations such as pom-poms, stickers, tissue paper or sequins
- Small treats, messages or activity ideas to place inside
How to make your Christmas tree Advent calendar
- Arrange your paper cups into the shape of a Christmas tree, with fewer cups at the top and more at the bottom.
- Secure the cups to your backing board using a strong glue.
- Decorate the cups using green paper, paint or other festive materials.
- Fill each cup with a small surprise, message or festive idea before covering if needed.
- Cover the cups with tissue paper, add a number to the front and secure in place with an elastic band
- Add a star or other decoration to the top of your tree.
Classroom tip
Get children involved by giving each child a cup to decorate. This can turn the Advent calendar into a collaborative class display that everyone has helped to create.
Learning opportunities
This activity can support:
- Number recognition and counting
- Fine motor development
- Creativity and self-expression
- Working together as part of a group
2. Personalised Pocket Advent Calendar
A pocket Advent calendar is a great option if you want to reuse the same calendar year after year. Using a hanging organiser or fabric pocket display, children can help personalise each pocket with festive decorations and numbers.
You could make one large class calendar or create smaller versions for groups of children.
You will need:
- A hanging pocket organiser
- Textile markers and paint
- Brushes
- Festive decorations
- Stickers, pom-poms or other craft materials
- Small surprises, messages or activity prompts
How to make your personalised pocket Advent calendar
- Start with a hanging organiser with enough pockets for your Advent countdown.
- Add the numbers 1 to 24 to each pocket.
- Decorate the pockets with festive materials, colours and patterns.
- Encourage children to help personalise the calendar by adding their own decorations.
- Place a small surprise, message or activity inside each pocket.
Classroom tip
Instead of filling every pocket with a physical gift, try adding a festive message, joke or simple class activity. This keeps the focus on the shared countdown rather than on treats.
Learning opportunities
This activity can support:
- Number recognition
- Fine motor skills
- Creativity
- Communication and language through discussion
- Personal and social development through shared participation
3. Advent Candle Wreath
A traditional Advent wreath can be adapted into a creative classroom craft activity. Children can help shape and decorate the wreath, creating a festive display to use throughout Advent.
For an EYFS or classroom setting, we recommend using LED or flameless candles rather than real candles.
You will need:
- Air-drying clay, modelling material or playdough
- Natural or artificial greenery
- Festive decorations
- Small ornaments, berries or other decorative materials
- Advent candle
How to make your Advent candle wreath
- Roll and shape your clay or modelling material into a circular wreath base.
- Decorate the wreath using greenery and festive materials.
- Create space in the cente of the wreath for your candle.
- Add the candles to complete the design.
- Display the wreath in your classroom and use it as part of your Advent countdown.
Learning opportunities
This activity can support:
- Fine motor development
- Creative exploration
- Sensory experiences
- Understanding traditions and celebrations
- Collaborative working
4. Cardboard Roll Advent Calendar
If you're looking for a more sustainable Christmas craft, this cardboard roll Advent calendar is a brilliant way to reuse materials you may already have in your setting.
Cardboard tubes can be arranged into a festive shape and decorated to create individual compartments for each day of Advent.
You will need:
- 24 cardboard rolls or tubes
- Cardboard for a backing board
- Coloured or festive paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Tissue paper or other materials to cover the ends
- Festive decorations
How to make your cardboard roll Advent calendar
- Cut out the cardboard base in a circle shape
- Paint the base green and glue cardboard rolls onto it once dry
- Place a small surprise, message or activity inside each tube.
- Cover the open ends with tissue paper or another lightweight material.
- Add the numbers 1 to 24 so children can open one section each day.
- Add festive paper or decorations to the outside of the rolls.
Classroom tip
This is a great opportunity to talk to children about reusing and repurposing everyday materials. Ask them what other objects could be transformed into Christmas decorations or crafts.
Learning opportunities
This activity can support:
- Fine motor skills
- Creative thinking
- Understanding recycling and reuse
- Counting and number recognition
- Problem-solving
What Can You Put Inside a Classroom Advent Calendar?
Once you've made your Advent calendar, the next question is: what should you put inside it?
You don't have to fill each compartment with sweets or toys. A classroom Advent calendar can contain all sorts of small surprises that children can enjoy together.
Here are a few simple ideas:
- A festive joke
- A kind message
- A Christmas sticker or small decoration
- A Christmas fact
- A short class challenge
- A festive question to discuss together
- A small craft material
- A Christmas-themed activity
- A suggestion for a song to sing
- A favourite festive book to read together
You could also alternate between small surprises and simple shared activities throughout December.
Make Your Advent Calendar Work for Your Setting
The best Advent calendar is one that works for your children, your routine and the time you have available.
For younger children, keep the calendar visual and hands-on. Pictures, objects and simple numbered compartments can make the countdown easy to understand and exciting to take part in.
For older children, you could give them more responsibility for making and decorating the calendar, or involve them in deciding what to place inside.
You may also want to consider the different traditions and celebrations represented in your setting. An Advent calendar can be used as part of your Christmas activities while still ensuring that all children feel included and able to take part in a way that is appropriate for them.
Which Advent Calendar Will You Make?
Whether you choose a colourful Christmas tree, a personalised pocket calendar, a traditional Advent wreath or a recycled cardboard roll design, making your own Advent calendar is a lovely way to bring creativity into the countdown to Christmas.
Each of these ideas can be adapted to suit your classroom, nursery or home, and children can get involved in decorating, numbering and personalising the finished calendar.
Looking for more festive inspiration? Explore our range of Christmas craft resources and activities for EYFS and KS1 to help make the festive season creative, engaging and fun.
