The Advent calendar has been a long-standing lighthearted tradition in our family, however this year I decided not to buy any for my children since I find them to be rather trivial and I am absolutely against giving them a chocolate a day for a whole month.
Advent is the preparation leading up to the birth of baby Jesus, and the Advent calendar is purely just another commercial ploy and nothing else.
I have been brainstorming about keeping the tradition but changing it up completely. I did some online research and found some very sweet ideas to celebrate Advent rather than having your kids eat one chocolate a day, with no significance at all.
Here a few favourites:
Family activities ‘calendar’
Write 25 family activities on 25 cards, and place each one in a small envelope, or turn the cards over and write the numbers on the back.
Include activities such as: bake Christmas cookies, watch a Christmas movie, dance to Christmas music, visit a Christmas village, wear red…
Stick to simple things, most of which you were planning to do anyway. The excitement for the children is well worth it, and every little activity will feel so much more special!
The envelopes may be hung to a wreath using little clothes pegs.
Here’s the link to the full blog post on Dandee Designs.
Advent calendar action cards
From www.aliedwards.com
This is similar to the previous idea, but it focuses on actions of goodwill and/or gratitude rather than family activities.
Ali Edwards suggests the following ‘actions’ as a starting point:
- Tell a friend at school you think they’re really cool.
- Take a special treat to a neighbour.
- Pick a name from the giving tree. Find a gift for that person.
- Make a small stocking. Drop it off at someone’s door as a surprise.
- Make a card for a loved one and send it in the mail.
- Recycle some toys to share with others.
- Read a Christmas book to your sister.
- Light a candle and say a prayer for a loved one far away.
- Take food to a local food pantry.
- Take a trip to get the Christmas Tree.
- Go see Santa.
- Go look at Christmas lights & drink hot cocoa.
- Make thank you notes before they are needed.
- Write a list of 10 things you are thankful for this year. Share with your Grandma.
Check out the full blog post here!
Reverse advent calendar
Rather than treating ourselves once a day, what about giving once a day?
This is so very simple to do! Every day, put one item into a box: be it food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, or anything else that one uses on a daily basis. At the end of Advent, donate the box to someone or an organisation in need.
Full blog post here!
Advent blessings jar
Check out the original blog post here.
From www.thirtyhandmadedays.com, by guest blogger www.vermillionrules.com
This is my favourite alternative advent calendar!
First of all, you and your family need to decide on a charity to whom you would like to make a donation.
Take 22 popsicle sticks, some festive washi tape and a marker, and write down 25 things, simple and not, that you have and need to be grateful for. Examples are: cars, light fittings, ways to cook, family members etc.
I took the easy way out and found some festive coloured sticks!
Every day during advent pick out on stick. Let’s say it’s: ‘ways to cook’. Look around the house and count: the oven, microwave, toaster(s) (2!), the barbecue, slow cooker, hob – thats 7 in all! Put 7 coins into a jar (decide beforehand on what coins they should be, whether it be 20c, 50c, 1 Euro..
At the end of Advent, you now have a little something to donate!
A really lovely way to teach your children gratitude and the importance of giving!
Our choice
The ‘advent blessings jar’ is the one I picked for us to do at home this Christmas. Nina was so excited to pick out the lolly stick and have Yanik read to her! It was fun to count our blessings together and definitely taught the children a thing or two about gratitude and sharing your blessings!
A few of our ‘blessings’
Our blessings jar
Our Advent blessings jar sitting pretty on the shelf
Our charity of choice is Puttinu Cares, which is an amazing support group which aids families with children suffering from cancer by offering guidance and financial help by providing a place for them to live in the event that the child needs to be treated in the UK.
I do hope I have inspired some of you to do something different this Christmas!
Happy holidays!
Nakita xxx
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