Printable Advent Calendar for Pre-Readers: Hands-On Christmas Fun!

Counting down to Christmas is so much fun, especially for little ones. But what if your child isn’t reading yet? A printable advent calendar designed for pre-readers can make the whole experience exciting and stress-free for everyone. With easy-to-follow activities and colorful visuals, it’s a playful way to build anticipation without needing to read a single word.

In our home, and likely yours, Christmas is a highly anticipated holiday! My kids look forward to the decorations, the cookies, our special “Christmas breakfast,” and…let’s be real here…the gifts. I swear, my youngest starts making his Christmas list on December 26!

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Nestled within all the festivities and cheer, we also enjoy taking part in counting do to Christmas! While we have done our fair share of surprise toy-based advent calendars and will use our “refillable” advent calendar year after year, there’s just something refreshing about completing an easy, printable advent calendar.

Print and go, my countdown advent calendar is a hit for all ages…but…sometimes the pre-readers are left feeling out-of-the-loop. What if they don’t know how to count yet? What if they don’t recognize the numbers yet? What if they’d prefer a sensory experience?

I’ve got just the thing!

The Printable Advent Calendar Story

A bit ago, I was procrastinating happened to be on Facebook and found a post where someone was reminiscing about an advent calendar they had used as a child. Instead of the typical countdown with numbers or opening of doors, their calendar was hands-on, required no reading at all, and instead included the child in preparing Santa Claus for his chilly travels on Christmas Eve.

I had never seen or heard of such an advent calendar, and it sounded like fun, so I made my own recreation!

In just a few, you’ll be able to download my cute printable advent calendar but, hang on for a sec and let me tell you the story behind it!

Activate your childhood wonder & imagination, please…

Ok, so – you know how Santa flies all around the world delivering presents to children on December 24th, right? It’s likely very cold in many parts of the world and, even if the temperatures aren’t below freezing, the sky temperature is cold. So, Santa is all bundled up in his red suit and he’s got his hat on his head.

What keeps his face warm? I’m glad you asked.

His beard. Santa’s beard keeps his face warm! In this case, it takes him December 1 to December 24 to grow a beard full enough to keep his face warm enough to stay cozy during his Christmas Even flight.

How does the advent calendar fit in with the story? Well, to complete the no-reading-required advent calendar, all you need is the printable, crayons, scissors, tape, glue…and some cotton balls!

On December 1, after putting the calendar together (directions below), Santa will start the month with no beard at all! There are a total of 24 circles within his beard “area,” so, every day, the kids will glue one cotton ball into a beard circle. When the advent calendar is complete, Santa will have a full beard of cotton balls, making his beard full & warm enough to keep him cozy during his night of delivering presents.

Cute, huh? Let’s chat about how you’re going to put this all together because, if you think I was able to fit ALL of that on one sheet of paper…you’re mistaken! It’s still super easy to complete though, so don’t let the bit of prep work scare you!

Assembling the Printable Advent Calendar

To complete this advent calendar for kids, you’ll need:

• the pdf file (access further down in the article!)
• 4 sheets of white printer paper
• a printer capable of printing with black ink
• a pair of scissors
• clear tape
• crayons or preferred coloring tools
• glue
• 24 white cotton balls

I promise, it’s easier to put this advent calendar together than it looks! Here’s how you do it:

• Print out the 4 pages in the PDF file

• Set the 2 bottom pieces side by side and use scissors to cut off the excess on the top and center (see red cutting lines). Tape those pieces together in the center

• Set the 2 top pieces side by side and use scissors to cut off the excess in the center. Tape those pieces together in the center.

• Place the 2 bottom pieces on top of the 2 top pieces slightly, just so all the lines complete through the top and bottom pages. Tape the top and bottom parts together in the center.

• Have the kids color in the images, leaving Santa’s beard plain white.

• Complete the advent calendar throughout the month of December, adhering one cotton ball to a circle in Santa’s beard every day.

See? Easy peasy!

Start Counting Down to Christmas!

As with all of my free printables, I’ve made it super easy to access this pre-reader Christmas advent calendar printable! You can either:

• fill out the form below: you’ll get the printable advent calendar file sent straight to your inbox
• request access to the Printable Playground: where you’ll get access to ALL of my printables – it’s an ever-growing collection, so the Printable Playground is perfect for homeschool families looking to make learning meaningful, memorable, and fun…all year long!

Either way, as long as you’re a subscriber, you’ll have access to the Printable Playground…it just depends on how quickly you want access! I send the monthly password in each newsletter so, should you choose to fill out the form below, you may need to wait a few days for the password. No biggie!

Merry Christmas!

Whether you choose today’s pre-reading Christmas advent calendar or my traditional advent calendar with numbers…or something else entirely, I have no doubt that this Christmas will be full of magic this year!

As you go through the season, don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the company of each other and realize the beauty of the family you’ve created and the friends you’ve made.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? Which advent calendar will you use this year? I’d love to hear all about it! Leave a comment below or consider sharing your plans over in my free Facebook group: That Homeschool Family Hangout!

Until next time, stay safe and enjoy quality time with your family,