Christmas Kindness Advent Calendar for Families (Free Printable)

Looking for a simple way to teach your children kindness and generosity this Christmas? Our Christmas kindness Advent calendar offers 24 family-friendly acts of kindness, from writing thank-you notes to helping others in your community.

These ideas are designed for busy families, with flexible options to choose activities that fit your time, budget, and children’s ages.

Jump straight to the printable calendars.

Oh, how I enjoy the few weeks before Christmas. I delight in the decorated houses, the joy of the young children, the music, and the cheerful greetings.

What a marvelous time of year!

And yet what a challenge!

All that commercialism. The pressure and the expectations.

It all seems so greedy.

I must confess that there are times when I feel like muttering some of my own “Bah humbugs!”

Turning Christmas Around

Here’s an idea! Let’s turn Christmas around and upside down! We can make the season about GIVING rather than getting.

A Christmas kindness Advent calendar does that with one small act each day, from December 1 to Christmas Eve. After more than 40 years of working with kids, I have seen how quickly they take to giving when it is simple and fun.

For the bigger picture, see our guide to raising kind kids.

I remember how enthusiastic my three got when their school filled shoeboxes of gifts for children overseas. They loved finding small gifts and treats to fit in the box.

After raising three kids, I also know how busy December is, so I’ve kept it very simple.

Jump straight to the printable calendars.

Christmas Kindness Advent Calendar

Here are the simple acts of kindness. These are my suggestions for each week. You don’t have to do them in the order suggested.

Week 1

1. Start a change jar. Decorate a jar and save your spare change through December. Give children the chance to earn some money for the jar by doing extra chores. Choose a charity to receive the money you collect.
2. Make a list. Have a family meeting to make a list of kind things you can do during December. Need more ideas for your list? Browse our simple kindness activities or see our list of kindness activities sorted by age.
3. Kindness challenge: Challenge family members to do a secret kindness for someone without telling them. Use the ideas from yesterday.
4. Hang a bird feeder: Find a way to feed the birds each day. We’ve got instructions for making a simple birdseed ornament. If you are short on time, you can buy one or simply fill a bird feeder.
5. Thank your mail carrier: Leave a gift for your mail carrier. How about these cute elf kisses?
6. Write a thank-you note to the best-decorated house on your street: Thank them for lighting up the neighborhood.
7. Shop for the food pantry together: Explain why some families need a food bank, then let the children choose most of the items. Call the food bank first to see if they need anything specific.  If you can, bring the children along to drop it off.

Week 2

8. Make Christmas cards for your child’s teachers: We’ve got some free printable Christmas cards your kids can color
9. Donate to a toy drive: Find a local charitable service that delivers toys to families in need. Go shopping and let the children choose what toy to buy. Check the drop-off deadlines so you don’t miss them.
10. High five challenge: Invite family members to give Christmas high fives throughout the day. How many people can you high five? You can also give hugs, but don’t forget to ask permission first!
11. Hold a family baking party: Have a family baking party and make your favorite treats. Then give them to people who work in the community, such as nurses, police, and firefighters. Check with them first to make sure they can receive home-baked goods. Need recipes? Check out our collection of easy Christmas Treats.
12. Bookmarks: Make some Christmas bookmarks and leave them at the library. Here are some cute Christmas bookmarks to color.
13. Chore challenge: Challenge everyone to do their chores without being asked. Celebrate together with some yummy hot chocolate.
14. Thank you notes: As a family, write thank-you notes to people who help in the community like school custodians, grocery store cashiers, and trash collectors.

Week 3

15. Smile challenge: Talk about how a smile can brighten someone’s day. Challenge family members to see how many people they can smile at in one day.
16. Love notes: Provide sticky notes and pens, and ask family members to write love notes and post them around the house. Brainstorm ideas and act as scribes for younger children if needed.
17. Call loved ones: Make plans to call loved ones who live far away. Children could practice a Christmas song to sing or tell a few Christmas jokes.
18. Kind words challenge: Talk about how kind words can make people feel better. Challenge family members to find nice things to say to family members and friends. Brainstorm ideas.
19. Christmas plant delivery: Take a Christmas plant to someone who doesn’t get outside very much.
20. Make an ornament: Make a simple ornament to give away to loved ones or friends. We have a free printable ornament to color and a simple craft stick Christmas ornament for younger kids.
21. Candy cane bomb your neighbors: Secretly hang a candy cane on each neighbor’s door.

Week 4

22. Tidy up challenge: Set a timer for 10 minutes and see how much the family can tidy together. Finish with a cheer!
23. Give to a charity your family chooses: Count up the change jar, roll the coins, and pick a charity together. One of my favorite ideas is to finance a microloan. See how to make a Kiva loan.
24. Look back over the month: Sit down on Christmas Eve and share a favorite treat. Talk about all the kind things you did and how it felt to give. Affirm each child with the words, “[Child’s name], you are a kindness giver, and the world is better because of you.”

Talk about it

A few questions to ask after you’ve done each act of kindness

• “How do you think that made the other person feel?”
• “Why do you think this was helpful?”
• “What could we do another time?”

Parent Tip: Children don’t need to do every activity perfectly, and they shouldn’t feel they have to earn praise by being kind.”

Two Calendar Options

Free Printable Calendar

Our free kindness advent calendar is a one-page printable with 24 numbered boxes, one simple act of kindness for each day from December 1 to Christmas Eve.

Every box has a small picture to color, so children can color it in as they finish the act and watch the page fill up through December.

Print it, hang it on the fridge, and the whole family can see what is coming.

Download your free Advent Kindness Calendar here.

Christmas Kindness Cards

Make things super easy by downloading a set of our Christmas kindness cards. The set contains 24 cards featuring cute Christmas gnomes and really simple acts of kindness. Kids will enjoy the Christmas countdown as they share the gift of kindness each day.

How to Use the Kindness Cards

1. Print and cut. Print the cards on cardstock if you can, then cut them apart.
2. Choose your number. Use all 24 cards from December 1 to Christmas Eve, or pick 12 and count down from December 13.
3. Pick a spot. Put the cards in a jar, a basket, or a set of numbered envelopes for your children to open each day.
4. Let the elves deliver them. Tuck a card into the hands of a kindness elf and put it somewhere in the house, then let the children hunt for the elf each day. Our post on the magic of the kindness elves has everything you need to set them up.

Why Use the Kindness Cards

• Choose your own order. Spread the cards across your calendar to create a custom calendar for your family. Save a bigger act, like a weekend baking party, and slip in a quick one on a hectic school night.
• Easy to switch when life happens. If a sick child, a late night at work, or a snowstorm disrupts the day, swap the card for something really easy. Nobody falls behind, and the calendar stays fun instead of becoming one more thing on the to-do list.
• Blank cards for your own ideas. The pack includes blank cards so that children can add acts of their own. Kids care more about a calendar they helped build, and you’ll end up with a set that fits your family.
• Do as many days as you wish. Some families like to do all 24. Others like to count down the 12 days of Christmas. Another option is to do one kindness activity each week. The cards make it easy.
• The cards can become a fun activity. Tuck a card into a kindness elf’s hands, hide it somewhere in the house, and have the children search for the elves each day.

Other Christmas Kindness Ideas

The 24 days above are designed to be quick and easy. If your family would rather pick one bigger act of kindness this Christmas season, the ideas below take more time and planning, but they leave a lasting impression. Choose one that suits your family and set aside the time to do it.

1. Start a “You’ve Been Mugged” chain. Fill a mug with treats, add instructions and a gift tag, and leave it for a neighbor to enjoy, refill, and pass on.  Our printable kit has everything you need.
2. Invite someone for a Christmas meal. The season can be hard for people who are alone, including international students, seniors with no family, and singles who can’t get home. Church leaders, university chaplains, or student services groups can help you find them. Send the invitation today and pick a date close to Christmas.
3. Coloring Kits: Put together coloring books and crayons for children visiting the hospital emergency room.
4. Offer free babysitting to a young family. An afternoon off can be a godsend this time of year, and most children enjoy helping with little ones for a short time.
5. Shovel snow or do yard work for a neighbor.
6. Sing carols for your neighbors.
7. Help someone wrap their gifts. An elderly neighbor with stiff hands or a young parent would both appreciate it.
8. Offer a ride to a Christmas service. Many people without cars would love a warm lift. Ask your religious leaders who might need one.

A Christmas kindness advent calendar doesn’t need to be fancy. One small act a day can turn a busy December into a month of giving without any stress.

Download the free printable calendar to get started, or pick up the kindness cards.

Whichever you choose, you’ll make memories together and help the gimme monsters stay away.