My mom always made an advent chain with activities every Christmas. It is one of my favorite Christmas memories. My sister and I looked forward to doing something new together every day. Now that Buddy is two, I think he’s finally ready for his own Christmas activity advent chain.
To start, I brainstormed a list of possible activities. I looked at my local park district and library websites for special events to do. Then, I found a bunch of easy activities on Pinterest. I also included some activities I remembered doing from my childhood.
Once I had my list, I made a calendar for what we’re doing each day. My mom said sometimes she had to switch links between days, and I’m sure I will have to do that too. I filled in the special events we will go to, and then I filled in the rest of the activities. There are several different categories of types of activities, and I tried to spread them out evenly.
I’m including all of my ideas below, even ones that I won’t use this year.
Crafts
- Make a gingerbread house
- Construction paper snowman
- Use Christmas stickers to make a Christmas scene
- Christmas coloring pictures
- Make a paper plate wreath
Doing Things for Others
- Make ornaments to give to family
- Buy a toy for an angel tree or Toys for Tots
- Draw holiday cards for family
- Donate coins to Salvation Army
- Choose toys to give away
Food
- Eat a candy cane and read a book
- Drink hot cocoa
- Coca colas in glass bottles (a favorite as a child, but Buddy’s not ready for that yet)
- Make toast with green and red sprinkles
- Decorate Christmas cookies
- Make chocolate dipped pretzels
Christmas Activities
- Learn Jingle Bells and sing for others
- Christmas dance party
- Go to the library to check out Christmas books
- Drive around and look at Christmas lights
- Play with “snowballs” (cotton balls)
- Find a hidden surprise (this year it is a new ornament for our tree)
- Make a tree with Play doh and decorate with sequins or pop beads.
- Visit Santa
- Set up the Nativity
- Watch a Christmas movie
- Read a Christmas story
I’d love more ideas to do this year, and to save for future years. If you have any great ideas, please share in the comments.
So sweet. Great ideas.
Colleen,
This activity — these many activities — conger up many pleasant Christmastime memories. I was sometimes a sounding board for Mom’s ideas, and always signed on for family events. Many of your ideas will become classics to be included year after year — making planning easier — but they always have to be age-appropriate. Which is to say, this activity will always be a challenge. That’s a good thing.
Of course, bring the final links to Cleveland.
Love,
Dad
Yes, the links will definitely come with us!