An Activity Advent

I need to confess one of my geeky tendencies – advent calendars. I LOVE them. All of them. The kind that you use for one year or the type you keep forever. I love them with drawers, and doors, and pockets. I’m not sure why I’m so drawn to them but my son always has a way to countdown to Christmas.

In the past, each day has meant a Bible verse from one calendar and a piece of candy from another. This year, I’m going to try something new. Something inspired by Pinterest…

An Activity Advent. The concept is simple; instead of receiving a piece of candy each day, we will do an activity. I figure Jordan will still get plenty of sugar during the season.

One of my advent calendars is shaped like a tree and has 24 numbered drawers.

 

 

(left)What the calendar looks like December 1st
(right)What it looks like December 25th

 

 

 

Each day, he will open the corresponding drawer and pull out a tag with an activity listed on it. My list of fun stuff is below. You’ll notice there are a couple of “cheat” days where he’ll get to grab a Christmas candy. I was trying to be realistic with what we could accomplish after work and school.

1 – Make A Christmas Chain
2 – Make Snowman Donettes to Eat Tomorrow
3 – Pick out and Decorate Christmas Tree
4 – Go shopping for a Needy Family
5 – Sign Christmas Cards
6 – Grab a Christmas Treat
7 – Make Ornament Magnets
8 – Make Tags for Christmas Presents
9 – Go look at Christmas Lights
10 – Wrap Presents
11 – Make Christmas Cookies
12 – Grab a Christmas Treat
13 – Write a Letter to Santa
14 – Grab a Christmas Treat
15 – Make Gingerbread Nativity
16 – Family Movie Night: A Christmas Story
17 – Grab a Christmas Treat
18 – Special Outing
19 – Make Indoor S’mores and Hot Chocolate
20 – Grab a Christmas Treat
21 – Make Reindeer Rootbeer to drink on Christmas Eve
22 – Make Christmas Cookies
23 – Visit Great-Grandparents
24 – Get Milk and Cookies ready for Santa

Day One’s Activity Tucked into it’s Drawer

It took me awhile to come up with all of these ideas but I think the end result will be well worth it. I mean, what a way to make memories! As a bonus, some of the things we would have done anyways. Now mommy has an organized schedule to keep her on track!

 

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