Last year I purchased an advent calendar at Dollar Tree (I know, you are shocked, right? Especially since I NEVER shop there. Can you sense the sarcasm? If you are new to this blog, I shop there all the time!) Anyways. I basically just put a little mint in each day and called it done.
This year is going to be different. Advent calendar ideas are all over blogland. I may someday make a much cuter version, but for now, my cheap Santa calendar will have to do.
My darling son (he's 5), has a bad case of the "I want it's!" So to help him realize Christmas and the holidays are about being together as a family and helping others, I wanted show him how we can make those ideas part of our daily lives throughout December. The advent calendar was a perfect place to put this into practice. Now we can focus on what is really important and hopefully I can go through one morning without him asking me for some new toy!
Our list of activites include:
- Go to a Christmas party
- Get a Christmas tree
- Decorate Christmas tree
- Take family Christmas photos
- Bake cookies and decorate
- Make paper snowflakes
- Visit the gingerbread village
- Decorate a paper Christmas tree with beads and sequins
- Read your favorite Christmas book with Mommy and Daddy
- Visit the Valley of Lights in our jammies
- Color holiday pictures
- Eat dinner on the floor by the Christmas tree
- Watch 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' and have special snacks
- Watch 'Elf on a Shelf: An Elf's Story'
- Write a letter to Santa
- Make hot chocolate with candy cane stir sticks
- Set out cookies for Santa and reindeer food
- Visit Santa Claus
- Shop for a child from the Angel tree
- Make an ornament for the tree
- Family game night
- Go ice skating
- Have a Christmas music dance party
- Write a thank you note
- Donate food to the local shelter
- String popcorn for the tree
- Make and decorate a paper chain with things we are thankful for
- Make homemade cards for grandparents
- Take homemade treats to our special friends
- Watch the Christmas tree lighting at the square
You may notice there are more than 24 activities on this list. There are some days that we might double up and it is a possibility that something could fall through. I have most days planned out in advance so I will have whatever supplies we need on hand. If you would like a copy of the printable cards I made email me at laurascraftylife@gmail.com.
Basically all I did was print the activities out on a sheet of cardstock. Then I cut them with my paper trimmer and placed them in the calendar!
Are you doing something similar? I would love for you to share it with me here! Post a link or just tell me what you have planned.
Linked up here:
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap Up Party
The Girl Creative: Creating Christmas
Labels: Holiday, inexpensive, Kids
