(I got that cool reindeer image from The Graphics Fairy) I am just finishing up this year’s Advent calendar, and I hope to post about it….well, before December 1, anyway, which is better than last year, at least!
We’re doing an activity a day just like we did last year, so I thought I’d post this year’s list. Using lessons learned from last year’s list, I stuck mostly with simple things we can fit in during a typical evening….last year I felt compelled to stick every seasonal outing we might want to do on the list, and then we found ourselves scrambling the envelopes around the night before as often as not because things would come up, and we’d have to rearrange our schedule. So there are a few out of the house things, but mostly just fairly quick fun things we can do whenever.
There are a ton of lists like this out there, but they tend to skew more toward younger kids and be very craft heavy. My kids (except Abe) are (almost) 8 through 12 and not an especially craft-loving bunch. So here’s my list of simple Advent activities for not-so-little kids.
1. Get a Christmas tree/have Abe’s picture taken with Santa at local nursery
2. Decorate the tree
3. Set up hot chocolate station (and drink hot chocolate, of course)
4. Set up Christmas zoo (we have a few pieces from the Lemax zoo…so our little Christmas village like thing)
5. Play Christmas puns
6. Watch Simpsons Christmas
7. Make lasagna
8. Gus’ birthday party!
9. Play Christmas Would You Rather?
10. Address Christmas cards (and drink cocoa!)
11. Play Christmas Pictionary
12. Shop for donations to NFCC’s Santa Shop
13. Make cookies with new Ikea cookie cutters
14.Take Fiesta and Rory to get pictures with Santa
15. See Gus in Annie, then out for dinner
16. Drive around to look at Christmas lights
17. Watch Elf
18. Play Christmas Scattergories
19. Drop off Santa Shop donations
20. Have a fire pit party
21. Watch Miracle on 34th Street
22. See The Hobbit
23. Baking
24. Open one present and read The Night Before Christmas
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This is a fantastic list friend! I really like the idea of having a fire! And all of the movies and special events that fit in there are outstanding! I will be pinning this one!! Thanks for sharing and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and the crew!
Thanks so much Nicole, and thanks for the pin 🙂
Love the activities idea, especially for older kids. Can’t wait to see your advent calendar. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Anu!
Great ideas for older kids (especially boys) 😊. I love the games mentioned, I haven’t played any of these. Thank you!
Glad it helped–thanks for stopping by!
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