Activity Advent?

Updated on December 20, 2013
J.G. asks from Chicago, IL
4 answers

For the second year in a row, I've done an activity advent with my kids. Last year at this time I wrote down notes for this year, and I'm glad I did! Those were actually our best activities this year. It got me thinking if others on here do this, and if so, what were the big hits in your house?

In mine, I put candy canes in the bag one day, and we then put candy canes on the tree (and the kids got to eat one). They loved this activity, and it required very little prep on my part. Another winner was making homemade wrapping paper.

Next year I want to add good deeds for others into the mix a bit more.

What fun things have you done in your house this month?

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

We also do the Jacquie Lawson calendar; my father sent it over for the boys. We've been following along with that some--we made a figgy pudding on the day it showed the recipe and how to do it. The boys played with the snowflakes game on that site (I was very very surprised at how artistic my 4 year old is with that), and then we set aside some time to do cut out snowflakes with paper and hung it on our windows (I got the idea from the Lawson calendar but had to get on the internet to figure out how to do it for real---hadn't done it since I was like in 2nd grade). We played a new game together as a family, we have certain things we do "traditionally" on certain days: this day we decorate the house and tree, this day we watch this Christmas movie, this day we bake/decorate cookies, stuff like that. Every year we go to the big parade downtown on Black Friday, see a local production of The Nutcracker and visit Santa and see his reindeer, participate in our community holiday festival and toys for tots drive, we adopt a family for the Angel Tree, we do other fun stuff as we find it: ICE, a special event at a historical village, a popcorn stringing party for the kids with a neighbor and her kids (the dog ate it but it was fun, lol), a cookie exchange, a couple potlucks, 3 birthdays, some more concentrated time to work on cub scout badges/belt loops during their days off school, impromptu fun like going to play if it snows (or in our case, it iced and we rode boogie boards down the slopes at the park....a southern version of sledding). There's always a play to check out, sometimes a dance, etc. There's lots you can add here.

I like your idea of an activity advent, especially adding good deeds. My husband saw a man that we suspect is living in some bushes in a field, and he was terribly underdressed for recent icy weather (pj bottoms, flip flops, a ripped coat) but when he went to speak to the man, he had disappeared. He was upset and told me about it, so we put together a drawstring, waterproof bag for him with soaps, a 9 piece toiletry kit (what you see in the travel section of stores), some good leather gloves, a winter cap, a pair of socks, thermal underwear (pants and shirt), a hoody, and my husband's hiking boots that he'd replaced with newer ones a couple months ago, and some nonperishable snacks we had in the house (cliff bars, nutrigrain bars, nuts/dried fruit, pb crackers, and a 1 liter water bottle that he could refill if he wants), and then my husband sought him out to give him the gift....and an extra jacket (Jeremy's been the same size for 20 years, and never throws clothes away).

I think anything you do during the season could be incorporated into your calendar, just do it with purpose. Like a special day to do specific shopping, or to write letters/fill out cards, take a fun picture together (even if a neighbor has to take it if you don't want to go to a portrait studio), go to a community event, make cookies or some treat together, go see Christmas lights, there's SO MUCH that goes on around here during the year. I'd look at your community calendar for the month and incorporate some opportunities there into your advent. Sounds fun!

1 mom found this helpful

A.C.

answers from Huntington on

What a fun idea.
Some of the fun things we have done:
Decorated the tree
Went sledding at the local park
Drove around the neighborhood with hot cocoa to look at the lights
Wrapped gifts together
Watched a Christmas show while eating popcorn
Sat together and read some Christmas books like Polar Express
Made a treat and delivered it to the neighbors
Played a family board game

1 mom found this helpful
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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

We just do fun holiday stuff but I LOVE your idea of an activity calendar!

Here are some things we've done that maybe you could add to yours:
-make cookies for the neighbor
-watch Christmas movies together (Rudolph, Polar Express etc) w/popcorn
-decorate the tree & house together Dec 1st
-make cookies together (diff kinds), make gingerbread houses
-drop off toys/games/cards for kids at the hospital (children's wing)
-drive around to look at lights
-tree trimming event at local town square
-holiday play for kids in town
-making decorations

1 mom found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

Our neighbour buys us the Jacquie Lawson online advent calendar every year. We absolutely love it. It is an interactive advent calendar that provides an activity, story or game each day. This year is the Edwardian Christmas, last year the Alpine Village. The animation and the music is beautiful. https://www.jacquielawson.com/advent
ETA: We naturally seem to have an activity for every day of advent, between school, church and community activities, and the normal Christmas preparations-decorating, letter and card writing and baking. Some of the activities include Christmas concerts, advent services, sleigh rides, letters to Santa, Christmas parties, drive thru light displays, visiting mall Santa, putting together Christmas Hampers and carolling.

1 mom found this helpful
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