I tried to google some fun activities to add to our advent this year, but I couldn't find any decent lists....so I made up my own. Here is a list of 25 activities to do as a family during the month of December. You can print off this list and choose one from a jar each day, make it a part of your advent calendar or choose a few and schedule them on your family's calendar. Whichever you choose, take some time out to spend with the most important part of the Holidays...family.
01. Make a advent paper chain to count down the days until Christmas/Hanukkah.
02. Write and mail holiday letters to U.S. Soldiers. Find out how here.
03. Finger paint a Holiday scene in red and green.
04. Learn a new Christmas/Hanukkah song you didn't know before.
05. Make your own hot cocoa and sip it while telling stories of your favorite holidays past.
06. Create a mix CD of holiday songs to play in your car throughout the month.
07. Teach your kids about giving back. Go through your kids' toys and donate gently used items to your local Goodwill, women's shelter or homeless shelter.
08. Make a slide show dvd of your favorite photos from the year.
09. Bake holiday sugar cookies and decorate with green and red candies.
10. Learn about a holiday tradition you do NOT participate in. Like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus.
11. Cut paper snowflakes and hang in windows.
12. Memorize a new Holiday poem.
13. Volunteer at a local food bank.
14. Go ice skating at a local pond or indoor rink.
15. Make homemade candy and drop off at friends houses.
16. Sing and have family members act out each part of the 12 Days of Christmas song.
17. Check out holiday themed books from your local library. Read before bed.
18. Take photos around your home and neighborhood of the signs of the Holiday season. Allow your children to take some photos as well. Print and paste into a small scrapbook for your children to look through.
19. Go carolling at a local Nursing Home.
20. Play Holiday Bingo. Download for FREE here.
21. Surprise your neighbors by shoveling the snow from their driveways/sidewalks.
22. Watch your favorite holiday dvd (ie: Elf, Miracle on 34th St. or a Charlie Brown Christmas)
23. Make Gingerbread houses.
24. Have each family member create a homemade salt dough ornament and hang on the tree.
25. Dress up and act out your chosen holiday scene.
Want to download a free copy of my Holiday Bingo? Click on the link or image above to download to your computer and print. Then cut the four game-boards from the paper and keep the itemized list for the bingo caller. Use red and green M&M's to mark the squares or mini marshmallows. And don't worry, both Christmas and Hanukkah are represented on the game, so use this time to educate your children about how others celebrate the season!
Just a little holiday present from me to you. Enjoy!
9 comments:
This is great! I was just trying to come up with some ideas. I don't think we'll do something EVERYDAY because I'm not as awesome Mom as you, but I want to try and be more "festive" this year.
BYW, thanks so much for the nice comments and BEAUTIFUL pictures of Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful day and am so glad you guys could make it.
I hope you get feeling better!!!
Thank you so much for this Freebie. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 5 post on Nov. 30, 2009. Thanks again.
the freebie isn't showing up for me or my FB friends :)
A festivus for the rest of us! We've already got our pole and are deciding on feats of strength in a few days. But the airing of grievances? Totally my favorite part.
Great LIST Emilie! I may have to link that on my blog... Another GREAT thing to do I just heard about and there's a book on it, called "Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright and it's a wonderful idea that we've just started a couple days ago. Hope all is well with you and your family and wishing you a JOYOUS Christmas Season! Love ya, Laura
Jen_Jake'smom said...
the freebie isn't showing up for me or my FB friends :)
Thanks for letting me know Jen. I fized it!
Thanks for the Bingo ... we decided that we are going to do a bingo for my son's kindgergarten holiday party and this will be perfect.
Your Christmas playlist has opened my eyes to a whole new world of holiday music... aside from the N'Sync and Cheetah Girls and Carpenter's and Osmond Family songs I usually gravitate towards. Thanks for that! :)
ok, mindreader. just yesterday i sat down with my girls in an attempt to think of 25 things we could do for our advent... a very tricky thing! we were having a hard time doing it. and then, lo and behold, like an early christmas present i check your blog and you've done all the work for me. wow.
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