Simple Santa Beard Advent Calendar

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I can’t believe it will be December in two days! Our little nugget cannot contain her excitement (and let’s be honest…neither can I). She’s already creating special pieces of art for Santa to take with him on Christmas Eve (along with his milk and cookies, of course). When she’s eagerly awaiting a big holiday or celebration, I find it helpful to create a simple countdown that she can cross off all by herself – that way she knows exactly how many days remain before the big event. We’ve created birthday countdowns for the past three years. And as for Christmas countdowns, this Simple Santa Beard Advent Calendar has proven to be our family favorite!

I know you can find advent calendars just about anywhere you go during this time of year, but I’ve never been a huge fan of the chocolate or candy-filled varieties. The chocolates are always stale. I much prefer our cute little homemade advent calendar – it’s more heartwarming and fun! Our daughter loves filling in Santa’s beard…one day at a time.

Supplies:

Construction Paper or Card Stock (Green, Red, White, and Pink)
Elmer’s Glue
Scissors
Black Marker
Cotton Balls

Instructions:

Start by cutting out all of the necessary components for your Santa. Cut a small face out of the pink paper, a hat out of the red paper, and a mustache (and trimming for the hat) from the white paper.
Using the black marker, add two eyes to the pink face.
Construct your Santa face by gluing all of the pieces onto your green paper…making sure to leave enough room for his beard and the little message that goes along with the advent calendar.
Below Santa’s mustache, write the numbers 1-24 (in somewhat of a beard shape).
Using a leftover piece of white paper, write down the message/instructions. Glue the instructions to the green paper.
Hang your advent calendar in a spot where your child can easily reach. Keep some Elmer’s glue and a handful of cotton balls nearby. As each day in December passes, have your kiddo glue one cotton ball onto Santa’s beard. The beard will be completely full on Christmas Eve!

Advent calendars can also serve an educational purpose – they promote number recognition and counting skills, and can help children learn about the days in a month! After gluing her cotton ball to Santa’s beard each day, our little nugget always counts the days remaining. As the days become fewer, her excitement grows larger!