Free Advent Calendar: 24 Questions for Family Time

The Curiosity Calendar is a free printable Advent calendar created by Compagnon, the knowledge box for 8-15 year-olds. From December 1st to 24th, behind each day lies a question to share as a family: to share a laugh, spark imagination, swap stories, or learn something new together. You will receive it by email after entering your address.

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How does the Curiosity Calendar work?

All you need to do is print it out and check one window a day—just five minutes at dinner or snack time.

1. Enter your email address and receive the calendar in your inbox.
2. Print it on a standard A4 sheet of paper, double-sided, and stick it on the fridge.
3. Every day, one window, one question. The whole family joins in to answer.

What kinds of questions are in the calendar?

The 24 questions span five different themes: curiosity, imagination, family, games, and Christmas traditions. They are designed for kids aged 8 to 15, who may no longer believe in Santa Claus, but love being taken seriously.

Here are three questions to give you a taste:

• Curiosity: Do you know what Advent means? And why we celebrate it?
• Game: Who can name the most animals that live in the snow?
• Family: What is something you know how to do that your parents don't?

What if nobody knows the answer?

The answers to the curiosity questions can be found on the back of the calendar. For instance, the word “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, which means “arrival”: waiting for the arrival of Christmas. And for any other questions… just ask Compagnon.

Why choose a chocolate-free Advent calendar?

Because once kids turn 8, what they look forward to most during Advent is spending quality time together. A question-based calendar doesn't necessarily have to replace chocolate, but it brings something else to the table:

• a daily family get-together that is short and easy to stick with;
• conversations that go way beyond “how was school today?”;
• a calendar that teens enjoy too, when toy calendars feel too childish;
• free, and ready in under a minute.

How to adapt it to your child's age

The very same question will bring completely different answers depending on your child's age—and that is the whole fun of it.

• Ages 8 to 10: read the question out loud and let them answer first. Game and curiosity questions work especially well.
• Ages 11 to 13: let them open the window and read the question. They can also decide who gets to answer first.
• Ages 14 to 15: lean into the imagination and family questions, and welcome quirky or witty answers. They often end up being the best ones.

A calendar to share with grandparents

The Curiosity Calendar was also designed with grandparents in mind: on Wednesdays, over the Christmas holidays, or during phone calls, these are 24 great opportunities to talk about something different. Feel free to share the PDF with them or print out an extra copy.

Where does the Advent calendar come from?

The Advent calendar originated in Germany in the 19th century to help children count down the days until Christmas. Advent refers to the four weeks leading up to Christmas, and its name comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival”. Traditions vary widely from one country to another: we explore them in our blog post Christmas around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the calendar free? Yes, it is completely free.
• Do we need a Compagnon device at home? No, the calendar is open to every family. If you don't have a Compagnon, you can have fun testing out the answers using our website demo.
• What age is it suitable for? The questions are tailored for kids aged 8 to 15. Younger siblings and grandparents love playing along too.
• How should I print it? On a single sheet of A4 paper, double-sided: questions on the front, answers on the back.
• I discovered this after December 1st, is it too late? Not at all: jump right into today's window, or catch up on previous days all in one evening.
• Can I give it to a grandparent? Yes, you can share the PDF or print a copy for a grandparent.
• What do you do with my email address? Your email is used to send you the calendar. You will also receive the Compagnon newsletter (at most 2 emails per month), with a 1-click unsubscribe link.

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