24 Christmas Advent Calendar Ideas Using CONNETIX

5. Create a Secret Message



Write a Christmas message for someone to decode. Include pictures, letters or numbers that correspond to each letter of the alphabet. Include the picture or number where the corresponding letter goes. Who can decode the message the quickest? The message might even be a recipe about how to make Christmas tree cake pops or something else delicious. It might even be your Santa Wish List!



6. Set up a scavenger hunt through the house



On separate tiles, write 5 categories that relate to Christmas (e.g. movies, songs, toys, something red or food) and display them. Then give everyone the same letter from the alphabet. Everyone has 2 minutes to write an original answer for each category. If an answer is repeated there’s no score. Repeat using the same categories but switch the letter. Whenever you win a round, take a tile from a spare pile. Then, at the end, build the highest tower with the tiles you’ve collected.

10. Wordsearch



Create a wordsearch with different Christmas words. Place a new letter on each tile and list the words on a large tile. Don’t forget that words can go forwards, backwards, vertically and diagonally, and you can even use the same letter for multiple words. Get someone to solve it. If you’d like a challenge, time each person who completes the wordsearch to see who solves it the quickest.

11. Mirror Play



This one is about teamwork. Two people stand on either side of a window (so, one person is inside and one person is outside). Each person has the same number and coloured tiles. Place the same colour and shape tile at the same time against each other with the window in between. Can you build something without talking to each other? (Please note this might not work with double or triple glazed windows).



12. Make a puzzle



Lay your clear tiles into a grid. Place your CONNETIX on top of your grid to create a Christmas themed picture, then trace around these tiles using a chalk marker. Take off the top layer of tiles and leave them next to your puzzle. Ask someone to put your puzzle back together. If you want to make it more challenging, add some extra tiles with the tiles that make up the top layer to try and trick the other person.

18. Christmas Memory



Draw a minimum of five different Christmas pictures on a new tile. Redraw each picture on another tile. Lay out all the tiles upside down. You might even need to double your tiles up so you can’t see the pictures shining through a single tile. Taking turns, each player flips over two tiles at a time to see if they’ve found a match. If they have, they can keep the pair, if not then turn them back over and the next player takes their turn. Don’t forget where each picture is hidden for your next turn.

21. Create a building competition



Give each player the same number of tiles. Provide a building prompt (Christmas tree, presents, Santa etc.) and set a time. One person is the judge and will hand out points after each round. Who is the winner after three rounds?



22. Decorate some tiles as Christmas presents



Place them upright and add a number to each tile (larger tiles are lower points than small tiles). Now use a soft ball or bean bag and take turns trying to knock over as many presents as you can. Who has the most points after 3 rounds?

23. Create a secret message



Ask everyone to write a message with blue texter and in swirly letters on a piece of paper. Now cover your message with red swirls, so you can’t read the message anymore. Swap your paper and use a red tile to reveal the message everyone wrote!