Every year I look for new traditions to add to my families celebration of Christmas. Johanna’s first year I did the official santa letter, response letter from Santa and certificate. Then the next year I started the Christmas eve boxes where I fill a box for her and my husband with little things – pajamas, cologne, snacks, a coloring book, stickers, earrings, etc. Well this year I decided to add an advent calendar to the mix!
This came about because I was trying to figure out what kind of service activities my 3 year old could do during the Christmas season. It was hard to find something that actually got her involved, but then I started thinking about things we love to do. We are definitely going to do a Christmas child box, but what about baking cookies for our local fire department, the mailman, and ups delivery guy? How about sugar free treats for the local nursing home? Then I began thinking about all of the activities I wanted to do with her for the season and how exciting it would be. Me being a planner started to put together a list so that in December I wasn’t caught by surprise, and instead knew exactly what I was going to do when I was going to do it. An advent calendar made perfect sense! I know there may be some parents out there struggling with ideas of what to do, so I decided to share my list in case it could be helpful to you! Here are our 25 activities (and a couple of extras in case those don’t work out for whatever reason):
- Make and Decorate our family Christmas ornament
- Decorate a plate for santa
- Make Santa cookies and reindeer treats
- Write letter to Santa while sipping cider
- Frozen movie night
- Christmas Lights at Watkins Park
- Read a Christmas story
- Decorate the Christmas tree
- Make hot chocolate with all the toppings!
- Decorate gingerbread house
- Train ride with Santa
- Breakfast with Santa
- Operation Christmas Child
- Make cookies for our local nursing home
- Chocolate dipped pretzels, yummm!
- Make snickerdoodles and watch a christmas movie
- Make paper crowns and talk about the wisemen and the gifts they brought Jesus
- Make Glitter snow globes
- Christmas Eve Boxes!
- Have fun taking christmas family photos
- Make Christmas bark while singing carols
- Bake treats for the mailman and ups guy
- Take treats to the fire station
- Zoo lights
- Visit the holiday market in downtown DC
- The living Christmas Tree Music and Lights show
- Ice skating!
- Go to the movies to see the new Annie
And while I was browsing the internet to get more ideas of things to do, I came across this blog which had the brilliant idea of putting together an advent reading plan. It takes the various stories in the bible that talk about Christs birth, and breaks them up into 24 nights, so that you can read them and discuss them as a family. Awesome! Anything that puts the focus back on Jesus gets an Amen and toss of glitter from me! It’s so cool that she posted the breakdown of each day so you don’t have to go searching for the scriptures yourself.
The bible she got the stories out of is the Jesus story bible. Pick it up if you can. It will make following her template easy peasy.
I pray this post has been a blessing to you and your family during the Christmas season. Please share what your favorite Christmas traditions are and how your family keeps the focus on Jesus as well!
Wow, you have so many great ideas here. I need to try a few of those.
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Thank you! I really tried to do a variety of things with her to keep it interesting!
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I love the idea of doing something the whole month of December with your family, I think we are going to give it a try this year!
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Do it! And blog about it so I can steal whatever ideas you come up with for next year lol.
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Thats allot of things to do.. i am sure many families will be doing this.
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It is! If I look at it all at once I get overwhelmed.
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Ooh – I love these ideas!! Thanks for sharing!
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Hopefully this inspires you and others!
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This is a great list! I need to make one.
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It makes me feel so organized for the Christmas season. Thank you for stopping by!
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What a smart idea to break the Christmas story down for advent too. I also love your ideas!
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Thank you! Prayerfully everything goes according to plan lol
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Those are great ideas and suggestions. The hot chocolate one is always a hit at home
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Gotta love hit chocolate! Thanks for stopping by!
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Thanks for sharing all of these ideas. This is the second time today that I’ve read about Christmas Eve boxes or baskets. I might have to do this for my nephew this year.
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Yes they are awesome! I never get one though. That changes this year lol.
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I will try this when my kids get a little older! Awesome idea!
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My 3 year old is a”what’s next ” kind of kid so I can’t wait to do this with her. Thanks for stopping by!
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wow, my daughter would love to do this. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for stopping by Dhemz!
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I love advent activities! I really like the idea of the advent reading plan.
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That’s probably what I’m most excited about myself!
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You really have some great ideas. Why didn’t I think of doing that? Now I just will have to.
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Yes! There’s still plenty of time to plan. Do it!
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What a great idea! I love all your activities. Pinning this!
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Thank you Tricia! I’m so happy others are finding this helpful.
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I think it’s so sweet that your family already has such great holiday traditions! That’s so cool and important!
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When I got married family traditions was one of the things I was most excited about, so stuff like this makes my soul smile!
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What a cool idea! I think my son would love this! Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you for stopping by! Please do share any activities you come up with. I’m going to need some for next year lol.
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I’ve never made an advent calendar. You’ve got some great ideas!
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Thank you, Valerie! This is my first time as well.
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Thank you Valerie. Just pursuing everything goes as plan.
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Praying not pursuing lol.
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What a fun bunch of activities! I want to be in your family! 🙂
I love Advent. It’s haunting and beautiful.
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Come on over and join us! The more the merrier *sprinkles glitter and cheer*
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My kids LOVE Advent calendars (especially if they involve chocolate. Great list!
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Kate this will be my first rodeo with the advent calendar. Wish me luck!
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