Ideas for filling an advent calendar?

[gertdog]

DS received an early gift from my mom- it is a very cute advent calendar that hangs on the wall and has a decorated pocket for the 24 days before Christmas. My sister and I had an advent calendar growing up, but it came with its own set of items to mark the day (felt ornaments to hang on a felt tree). The ornaments were lost over the years, which is why (I think) my mom chose a calendar with pockets you fill with whatever you choose.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what kinds of things might be fun to put in the pockets. I decided that the 24th each year will be a new ornament for the tree, but I'd like the other items to be small, inexpensive tokens of the season rather than "gifts" if that makes sense. I don't want the calendar to become another stocking to stuff!

Here are a few things I've thought of- a sprig of holly, a small candy cane, a paper snowflake, a jingle bell, a family photo from last year's holiday.

Any ideas? :)

[greysangel]

how big are the pockets?

[gertdog]

how big are the pockets?

They are actually pretty good-sized- I'd say a little smaller than a cassette tape.

[Kathy B]

How about a cassette tape? :D With Christmas songs of course!

Maybe a recipe for a Christmas treat you can make together.

Perhaps some pockets could be filled with a card or note giving instructions for something to do that day.....drive around to see the lights, take a gift to the neighbor, send a Christmas card to Grandma, sing Jingle Bells before eating supper.....

Or one day you could fill the pockets with a roll of stamps that he can help you put on your Christmas cards to mail.

[Peggy]

We have an advent calendar that is like a small cabinet with doors that open. Every year I have fun filling up the boxes in advance and DD loves opening box to see what is inside. I have used individually wrapped truffles and Christmas candies, individual packets of flavored hot chocolate and teas, flavored lip gloss, small lotions with holiday scents, small bubble bath or bath salt packets, holiday socks and earrings... Hmmmm, I can't think of any other ideas right now but will come back if I do. I'm in the process of filling it up for this December so I look forward to finding some new ideas here too! :)

Peggy

[DanaSD]

cookie cutter
mistletoe
holiday CD/tape
mulling spices
cocoa
holiday candle (scented) or a candle to light dinner a holiday meal
christmas cookie
small book - I just bought some holiday board books from Target for $1 and they're very small. Night Before Christmas and Velveteen Rabbit.
small bottle of holiday liquor or champaigne, :)

[Robyn1007]

I'll bet there are some of those little mini books with Christmas stories. I really like Kathy's idea though of a little note or instruction with something to do for the day to get in the spirit.

[greysangel]

I love the notes idea as well...I always stick little "love" coupons in chaz' stocking :D

You could also do things like stickers, stamps, penny candy, ornaments, notepads, gift certificates/coupons, pictures, little games (like party favors) etc..

[Clover]

Maybe a recipe for a Christmas treat you can make together.

Perhaps some pockets could be filled with a card or note giving instructions for something to do that day.....drive around to see the lights, take a gift to the neighbor, send a Christmas card to Grandma, sing Jingle Bells before eating supper.....


These sound like fun non-giftie things. Also--a Christmas poem. A seasonally-related origami something you folded up for him. A little packet of birdseed--you put peanut butter on a pine cone, roll it in the seeds, and put it out for the birds. (That said, isn't your son still a baby/toddler? It seems a little young for an Advent calendar. He won't know why you're doing it, or why you'll suddenly stop doing it just when he thought it was a normal part of daily life.)

[SDMomChef]

I do a mix for our advent calendar - some days will have a candy cane or other small candy, and other days will have an activity like "Look at Christmas Lights" or "Go to the Nutcracker" or "Make Sugar Cookies" or "Send Grandma a Christmas Card" or "Visit Santa", etc.

[gertdog]

(That said, isn't your son still a baby/toddler? It seems a little young for an Advent calendar. He won't know why you're doing it, or why you'll suddenly stop doing it just when he thought it was a normal part of daily life.)

You're right, he's quite young, and probably won't remember what we do this year or know why- but then there are lots of things we do every day that he doesn't understand yet, that will come to mean something to him later on. :) I'd like to start the tradition now, and have it be part of the holiday experience. And I like the idea of having some items that make an appearance year after year.

There are some great suggestions so far- thank you! I particularly like the idea of a poem, an activity, origami, a cookie cutter w/ a recipe and a plan to make cookies together. And I'm glad people are sharing ideas for older kids/family too- I'll file those away for later use. :)

[LaraW]

Stephanie, where did your mom get that Advent calendar? My mom brought one out this year when they visited, but its the paper kind that you open one "door" each day. I think both my kids would enjoy something with "pockets" like you're describing

[gertdog]

Lara, I'm not sure but I'll ask her- or if I remember tonight, I'll see if there is a tag on the calendar. It's big- probably 30" x 36" or so.

[DanaSD]

Pottery Barn kids had a very cute one but it looks like they sold out

wall calendar (http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/ch230/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C16%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C%7C% 7C%7C%7Ccalendar&cm%5Fsrc=sch)

We got a freestanding house from Costco - its really neat. Target has a cute red square wooden one but the boxes are a little too small to put much in. There are also a lot of fabric ones on ebay.

[gertdog]

Dana, that's the one we have! So Lara I guess that answers your question, though it's not much help if it's sold out- sorry. :(

I have seen several variations on this theme, though, and also many like Dana is describing- a freestanding house or tree with doors you can hide things behind.

[leightx]

There are quite a few Pottery Barn advent calendars on ebay (and not much more than they were selling for originally - probably about the same when you figure in shipping).

Advent Calendars on Ebay (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2 F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=pottery+barn+advent+calendar&category0=&submitSearch=Search)