Felt Advent Calendar and Number Recognition

We all know the traditional Advent Calendars filled with a chocolate a day leading up to Christmas. 25 days of sweets! Recently, there seems to be many variations to the original calendar for both children and adults. This year, I made one for my teenage son who claims his father eats all the chips in our home (actually, this is true)!

This is an "Advent" Calendar made with felt ornaments that could be placed out throughout December in any Early Childhood Environment and helps foster number recognition.

Alternatively, the ornaments could be matching which would help with transitioning out of Circle Time.

So easy to make and fun to interact with!

Happy Holidays

Santa Clause Felt Activity

Young children enjoy hands on experiences. This felt board activity allows young children to put together Santa Claus themselves, not unlike dress up dolls. The song, Must Be Santa can be used to put the pieces together, whether at a circle time with an Early Childhood Educator or in a home environment.

To make this felt board activity,  find thick paper to make the templates for all they lyrics, then draw them, cut the fabric out and decorate the felt material. Santa will have the following pieces:

• head/face with rosy cheeks
• white moustache and white beard
• red and white hat red
• white coat red pants 
• black buckle 
• black boots
•  red mittens 
• Santa's bag

Further Reading

Christmas Around the World

Preschool Christmas Presents to Make

Circle of Ideas Online Workshops

Felt Advent Calendars

Several years ago, I participated in a Christmas fair with my felt board product. I created these Christmas Advent Calendars and they were a big hit. I am not a sewer, glue is my friend. But, simply browsing through Pinterest and one can find AMAZING Advent Calendars made from felt. I have provided a few at the end of this blog. So whether making them with the sewing machine or not, they are a nice addition for the holidays. I particularly like the hanging felt trees, which children would love to interact with:)



From CraftWhatever Blog with Tutorial



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Christmas Felt Board Poem

When I was working as a preschool teacher, my co-worker gave me a home made gift of felt pieces and a poem with all the staff's name inside. I thought it was so adorable, that I borrowed her idea.  Here is one of my versions.

 

 

 

FIVE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Five Christmas Cookies with icing galore
Jenny ate the Christmas wreath
And now there are four.
Four Christmas cookies, sitting close to me.
Joey ate the star shaped one
And now there are three.
Three Christmas cookies, staring back at you.
Sally ate the red stocking
And now there are two.
Two Christmas cookies, one who likes to run.
Freddy ate that gingerbread
And now there is one.
One cookie left, let’s go to the store
And buy more ingredients
So we can bake some more.

 

Christmas Tree Felt Board Activities

Following are three different Christmas Tree Felt Activities, great for a Christmas gifts or simply keeping the young ones busy over the holidays. The first two can be used as advent calendars. While the third tree is a fun decorating activity. 

Here are decorations
You can place on the tree
Decide where to place them
For all of us to see
Now the tree is ready
So plug in all the lights
And see all its beauty
Each and every night

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas