It is December 1st now...wow, time flies!! Like it or not, and yes, even during a worldwide pandemic, December still comes bringing with it the sights and sounds of light and joy ...and Christmas!!
It started as a joke, but really, the ONE THING my sons unanimously requested for Christmas was MORE MINE CRAFT! Gracious me.
If your family is anything like mine, we don't go crazy with Christmas, but December is still stock-full of gift-experiences. Can you relate? How many of the following does your family participate in?
Elf on a Shelf
Advent
and Advent Calendars
Operation Christmas Child
Angel Tree
Devotionals
Christmas Movies
and Books
St. Nicholas
Hanukkah
Kwanzaa
Birthdays
White-Elephant Gifts
Stocking Stuffers
Christmas Cards
Maybe it is super important that your family cut their own tree or go caroling, we all have our own things. But I think we can all agree, there is just SO MUCH!!! In Our household, we don't do everything on the above-noted list. (Thankfully we never even entertained the Elf...I. Just. Cannot. Even.) But in our home, Advent Calendars and St. Nicholas are biggins!
This means that there is some prep work ahead of time and, likely, some money spent. Again, we don't go crazy, never have.
This year I am really trying to focus on a minimalistic approach as well as an experiencial one. -We can only enjoy so many Hershey Kisses and Dollar Tree Holiday erasers. This is how the brainchild for free, cheap, and fun was born!
What do we already do?Here is a list of items to inspire you- it includes our actual list and line-up. Enjoy! (Mine Craft optional)
Day 1:
Write their Christmas Lists! Play Christmas music and encourage your kiddos to have fun dreaming of what sounds like great gift ideas. Maybe enjoy some cocoa or Christmas-inspired cookies.
Day 2:
Take their focus outwards. What can we do for their teachers, coaches, and other important leaders in their lives? Letters- always. Encourage your children to write something meaningful and use lots of colors when drawing a picture! If possible, take your children shopping for small gift ideas. Candles are always appreciated! Other ideas: coffee gift cards, fancy chocolate, and nice lotions! Have your child participate in the pack and preparation of the gift. Use extra ribbons!
Day 3:
Make Christmas Ornaments! This can be done for free if you are crafty. Just take a look around your house and see what you have available. Construction paper? Great! Make Santa with paper and cotton balls! Aluminum foil? Stars and Angels! Flour? You can make and bake original artwork! Many stores also offer very inexpensive ornament ideas. (Check out the Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby.)
Day 4:
Watch a favorite Christmas movie! This is our first Friday of December so we are staying home and getting comfy! We are also baking cookies EVERY WEEKEND in December, because, why not? Each boy got to chose a favorite and we'll make sure to share with neighbors!
Day 5:
Shine your boots and clean your rooms because tonight St. Nicholas arrives!
Day 6:
St. Nicolas! Allow your children to run outside and excitedly bring their cold boots back inside to enjoy their gifts! Suggestions: Dollar Tree has great Christmas Ornament necklaces and headbands. Small Lego Packs. This year I found small Mine Craft figures for less than $5 each, which is a win! Also, every year we get the St. Nicholas chocolates from Aldi. Toothbrushes, chap stick, socks- these all make great gifts!
Day 7:
We are making our Gingerbread House today!! (We found ours for just $5 at the Dollar General this year!)
Day 8:
Do you have a loved one oversees? In a nursing home? Do you have a sponsored child? Today is a great day to write a letter, send a package, go for a visit.
Day 9:
Boxing Day! OK, according to Wikipedia, true Boxing Day isn't until after Christmas day, but I'm throwing this one out early. Today you think about people who serve you and show them so gratitude. Your postman, your garbage man, your paper boy. A little letter with a gift card attached goes a long way.
Day 10:
Today will be the first day of Hanukkah, so you will want to bring out your Menorah! We got a beautiful light-up one and, over dinner, the boys get to take turns lighting up the appropriate candles. This is a great time to talk about Jewish custom even if you aren't Jewish! What a great segue to Jesus!!!
Today we will also play board games! Oh. My. Gracious! What a simple, so often overlooked, idea! Allow each child to pick one favorite and play them each together as a family. (If you have a larger family, spread this activity out over more days.)
Day 11:
More movies! More Cookies! There are also plenty of wonderful Christmas books, and I know people who have 1 book per day which are holiday-related. -That is SUCH A GREAT IDEA for simplicity and fun! Bonus: LIBRARIES ARE FREE!!! If you're up for it, you can wrap the books and each day your child gets to pick one to read!
Day 12:
Arts and Crafts! What fun ideas can you come up with for a project? Need help, Google and Pinterest share a wealth of ideas!
Day 13:
Are you making homemade gifts for anyone? This is a great day to get those going!
Day 14:
Eleven days left until Christmas! At this point it is a lot of fun to make a chain-link countdown banner. All you need is some paper and tape- bonus if you have red and green paper! Every day, allow your child to take off one ring until they get to the last- Christmas Eve!
Day 15:
A Christmas Scavenger Hunt around your neighborhood! There are plenty of FREE PRINTABLE online or you can make your own!
Day 16:
Pickle in the Tree! This is a fun tradition of hiding a simple pickle (you can purchase one for $1 at the Dollar Tree). Have your children search for it and maybe offer the winner a small gift. Allow them time to recreate the game with one another because you know they'll want to! This is also a great day to gather near the tree and read a ton of great books- together or individually. Enjoy the lights. Put on your pjs and just get comfy!
Day 17:
Crafts- again! If you have kiddos, you know that this is always a great way for them to get excited, plus, I know you, you saw MORE THAN ONE idea when you were scrolling Pintrest on the 12th!
Day 18:
More movies, cookies, and books!
Day 19:
Getting really close now. Are your children buying/making gifts for one another? Now might be your best best. You -likely- know what you got for them, so this is a great chance to help your children pick up that "one last gift".
Day 20:
Drive around and look at Christmas lights, listen to Christmas music, and drink Christmas Cocoa!
Day 21:
More cookies, friends. All. The. Cookies.
Day 22:
Today we will BAKE A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR JESUS! His birthday is soon approaching and time is getting short! Encourage your children to join in and even pick the flavor of Jesus cake- He likes them all!!!
Day 23:
Today we are decorating for a birthday party! We will also pick up our Helium Birthday Balloon so that we *hopefully* are now out of the stores for good!
Day 24:
Open one present! Something small, usually the gift from a sibling. Today we will also read the Biblical account of Christmas and prep our Reindeer food (oats and glitter). Before bedtime, don't forget to sprinkle it in your front lawn!!
***
You may have noticed that I omitted some really important holiday items:
build a snowman
go sledding
make snow ice cream
...play a little extra Mine Craft
These are givens- they will happen. The first three mentioned above require snow, so...these can't be exactly planned for, but anticipated! Add them in whenever you are gifted with the white fluffy stuff! As for Mine Craft, add it in whenever you want to thoroughly delight your kiddos, or have a few minutes to yourself!
Let me know which ideas you include in your advent calendar lineup this year and share some of your own ideas which can inspire us all to have fun on a budget!
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