Nearly a decade ago I made an Activity Advent calendar for my friend. I wrote 24 activities on cards and also threw in a few gifts on random days of the advent. Most of the activities were simple and fun. If it was something that required an item that was easy to include, I would include the item (example: I’d include the Hot cocoa and a peppermint stick on the day that said “Drink hot cocoa and stir with a peppermint stick”.)
There are ways to make this activity advent even more of a gift for someone to enjoy the entire month (or you can do 12 days leading up to Christmas if you don’t want to do 24 days). You can make it simple and just send them the list for them to choose the items they like and make their own advent calendar. Maybe they could even add in their own ideas like going to a Tree Farm to get the tree, attend a Christmas Parade, or sing Christmas Carols with the neighbors. Whatever you decide, I hope this this is helpful and sparks some holiday memories for you to create!
- Listen to Christmas Music
- Drink Hot Cocoa and stir with a peppermint stick
- Take a drive and go look at Christmas lights on houses
- Build and decorate a gingerbread house
- Watch a Christmas Movie
- Wear cozy pajamas
- Read a Christmas Book
- Bake cookies
- Make cut out snowflakes
- Dance to your favorite Christmas Song
- Write a Christmas Wish-List
- Eat your favorite seasonal holiday treats
- Visit a local store to buy a gift
- Volunteer at a Toy Drive or donate a toy
- Write a Christmas card and mail it to someone
- Drive to a grocery store with a salvation army ringer just to donate
- Call a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in awhile
- Take a bubble bath
- Write an “Christmas Cheer” encouraging note for someone to find
- Learn a Christmas joke and tell it to someone
- Draw or Color a Christmas scene
- Surprise a friend or coworker with a hot beverage
- Write a list of non-material things you are grateful for
- Light a holiday candle & make your home smell festive
Again, this is just a simple list, but you can rearrange these ideas or tweak them to fit with you and your holiday traditions. You may have even done a few of these ideas already. But no matter what, it is fun to do an activity based advent calendar and I promise you’ll make fun memories in the process!
The Salty Exchange 