Celebrating Advent :: Part 2

So, without further ado, here's the list. I am adding links for some of these items, but please understand that while I would not link to a company with which I explicitly object to doing business, these are not endorsements of one company over another. In many cases, I have found or purchased these items locally rather than through online sources. So please take the links as what they are: references for you to use if they're helpful, but not a buying guide from me.

And I think it goes without saying, though I'll say it anyway, if you think of something great that hasn't made my list, will you please share it in the comments? Many of these would make nice stocking stuffers, too, if you find yourself lacking inspiration in that arena. :) (Photos in this post are all from last year -- not necessarily pertaining to our actual advent calendar, but I felt that they expressed the spirit I'm hoping to capture here.)

Family Outings/Activities (make a simple coupon/ticket for these as a visual cue)

*Carriage ride (our downtown offers free carriage rides on specific days throughout December)
*Ice skating
*If your community has a "giving tree," you could incorporate one or more elements of this process into one or more (!) days of the calendar: the day your family chooses someone from the tree to give to, or shopping for or making a gift for that person (or you could incorporate some other form of charitable giving into the calendar if you don't do a "giving tree")
*Many public libraries have speical children's events during December
*Many places of worship or community centers also have special holiday events for families
*Sledding (in our area, December is pretty touch-and-go with regard to snow, so we kind of just wait and see if there'll be a snowy enough day for that)
*Special visit to relatives (or a coupon on your traveling day if you travel at the holidays)
*Tea party (either at home or at a local tea house)
*Tickets to see a performance of The Nutcracker or other holiday performance
*Visit Christmas lighting displays
*Visit to Santa
*Any other traditional holiday outing of your family's

Family Traditions

*A special meal -- maybe your child can choose what to have

*Candies for decorating on the day you make a gingerbread house
*Cookie cutter or sprinkles on the day you make cookies
*Coupon for extra bedtime story, late bedtime, etc.
*Moonlit walk (in the spirit of Owl Moon)
*Ornament on the day you put up your tree (think simple, even handmade -- it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive)
*Popcorn (we found red and green kernels last year) for a special movie night (i.e. Charlie Brown Christmas special)
*Special one-on-one time or "date" with parent

Made by Parent for Child

*A mix CD of some of your child's favorite music, or your family's favorite holiday music (I'll share some of ours in an upcoming post), or favorite music from your own childhood

*Crown -- crocheted, made from felt, or other fabrics

*Doll clothes

*Finger Puppets

*Knitted hat

*Knitted stuffed animal
*Holiday napkins

*Origami animals

*Other small handmade toys

Natural World

*"Found" objects from nature (pinecones, acorns, nests, etc.)
*Crystals or beautiful stones
*Evergreen sprigs
*Flowers that are blooming now (Christmas cactus, carnations)
*Paperwhite bulbs (if you give them early enough, they could be blooming by Christmas)
*Seaglass (OK, I know it's not technically "natural", but it's still lovely)
*Seeds (for planting)
*Shells

Multi-Day Items

*One bead (or more) a day, leading up to stringing a necklace or bracelet
*One puzzle piece (or more) a day, leading up to a completed puzzle
*Something that comes as a set, divided over several days, such as: a tea set, a set of nesting bowls, a matreshka, nativity set, checkers game, etc.

Free or Very Inexpensive

*A dollar or even just a few coins to put into the Salvation Army bucket, accompanied by an illustration of the bucket (be sure you do this on a day you plan to go to the store anyway)
*A story you have made up especially for your child
*Bells
*Jokes
*Letter or note
*Marbles
*Poems
*Riddles
*Scavenger hunt or treasure map -- either to an object too large to fit, or just for fun

Crafts

*Beeswax sheets and wicking to roll candles
*Candle and candle decorating wax or paints (can be found at craft stores or online through places like Hearthsong)
*Coloring book or sketch pad and fresh set of crayons or colored pencils
*Crafts made with natural objects (ornaments, people, or animals from pinecones, acorns, nuts, etc., a candleholder made from a crosspiece of a branch and decorated with crystals, bits of evergreen, nuts, etc., ornaments made with woven wheat or long pine needles, fire starters made by dipping long, thin pinecones into melted beeswax, bird feeders made using pinecones, peanut butter, seeds, etc. A lot of these ideas can be found in the books Earthways and Crafts through the Year, and there are kits out there, too.)
*Do you have any idea how many things can be done with pipe cleaners? Think about it. ;) Our house would probably stop functioning if we ran out of those babies.
*Embroidery supplies or kit
*Felting supplies or kit
*Knitting mushroom/tower and some yarn
*Modeling wax or clay
*Lanterns made using recycled food cans with holes poked in them with a hammer and nail (or other light-oriented project) -- really good for the day of the Solstice
*Origami paper and instructions for older children
*Pieces of wool felt for your child to cut up and make things with -- perhaps with some dolly pegs (old fashioned clothespins) and some other little bits of yarn and trims to make little people
*Rubber stamps
*Small sewing project or kit
*Supplies for a holiday craft such as stringing garlands, making ornaments, or simple gifts
*Supplies for making holiday cards, gift tags, or wrapping paper (such as construction paper, glitter paint/glitter pens, a large roll of kraft paper, rubber stamps, etc.)
*Window crayons or markers

Purchased/"Gifty" items

*An item to add to something your child or family collects: a piece of a collectible nativity set, Playmobil pieces, an Ostheimer figure, another toy that your child has a collection of, etc.
*Balls: rubber balls, knitted balls, felt balls, fabric balls, etc.
*Bath toy
*Bird call whistle
*Card games
*Collectible coins
*Costume jewelry
*Dress-up item
*Family game
*Fancy soap
*Hair ties
*Harmonica
*Jacks game
*Jump rope
*Kazoo
*Lacing cards
*Lip balm
*Music box
*One year I found a beautiful and inexpensive little etched glass votive candle holder with an evergreen-scented candle for Elisabeth, and she loves getting it out of our Christmas things each year
*Pajamas (could be homemade if you sew)
*Pencils made out of twigs (one source)
*Play silks -- mini or regular
*Slippers (I'm thinking of this in terms of maybe this is something my child really needs, and perhaps before Christmas -- could also be homemade)
*Small snow globe
*Socks
*Special drinking cup -- a holiday mug, or a little cup for your child to have as his "own". Two possible sources here and here
*Spinning tops
*Stickers
*Tiny toys

Food/treats

*Chocolate coins or small candies
*Mini candy canes
*Nuts
*"Stained glass" cookies
(We have never given food items in our advent stockings, so I'm afraid I'm a little lacking in ideas there. Sorry.)

Reader Sarah made a comment that her family uses an advent calendar with beautiful pictures behind each window rather than gifts in order to avoid the feeling of materialism that expecting "something" -- whether an actual gift or just the promise of an activity -- engenders. I think she makes a really good point, and I'd certainly like to emphasize that while we have definitely given real gifts in the calendar, we are very heavy on the coupons for activities here. In our family, it offers a way for Elisabeth to understand that even the season has a rhythm to it -- today we'll trim our tree, today we'll make cards, today we'll make cookies, etc. So, I want to encourage all of you to think of it in that light as much as possible in order to keep yourself out of the overwhelming trap of feeling obligated to buy or find a lot more tangible gifts, in addition to everything else on a busy parent's plate at this time of year! This list, I know, is very long. But don't feel like you need to somehow do everything on it! (We haven't!) Choose what works for your family first and foremost!

Comments

[Beth]

What a wonderful resource. Thank you for sharing this! Our little guy is two and it's been such fun for me to read your posts and think about our own family traditions (both old and new).

Thank you!

[Jennifer]

I love the lantern idea for the winter solstice - that's perfect. Great list, Grace. Thanks for sharing all these ideas.

[emily]

what a thoughtful list of gift ideas. printing it out now... thanks grace!

[Sarah]

The nice thing about the coupons for activities is that it helps you plan out what you're going to do throughout the season! A time when my family could use this daily coupon idea is during the 12 days of Christmas as we like to celebrate right through 12th Night ending with a burning of the greens, fortunes, and a 12th night cake.

[Amber]

Oh my, what a wonderful list! I love the photos, too. Did you make the little knitted pigs? Sooo cute! Also, I love those lighted snowballs. What a great idea.

I tagged you for a playful meme on my blog. Come see! If you don't have the time, just disregard it.

[cloth.paper.string]

fantastic suggestions, grace!

growing up we had an advent calendar hanging in our kitchen. it was an embroidered angel with a skirt festooned with numbered pockets, each pocket big enough for three little andes mints. one for me and one for each of my siblings. i can not eat an andes candy today without thinking of the holiday season.

we're starting to create our own family traditions now that the little one is old enough to understand a bit about such things and i'll surely be back to your thoughtful suggestions. thank you, thank you!!

[Dawn]

I love that you are doing this. We were just talking about what traditions we want to incorporate for the holidays into our family, our first child is due on May 17th! With your list to get us started, we are certain to be successful!

Thank you.

[Nicole]

What a thoughtful list, I really love the idea of using coupons to form a rhythm for the season!

[ani]

i can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this is. thank you for all the time you put into this post! i'll definitely be using this for reference.

[patience]

Thank you, it was so gracious ;-) of you to share this with us. I have taken extensive notes!

[Bluebirdbaby]

Grace...you're awesome :)

[Gwyn]

What an awesome list - I love the multi day ideas - I limit the countdown to a week though - the kids are way too impatient still!

[lina]

Wonderful ideas, thank you Grace. I made some little felt mice this week which would be perfect stocking/advent fillers.

[yolanda]

I will try out some of these . I am so glad to have found your blog.

[Kimberly]

What a lovely lovely post! Thank you for sharing.

[Michelle]

This is fantastic! Thanks!

I'm looking forward to sharing advent with my daughter this year and this will help get me started!

[cyndi]

i just found your blog a few days ago. it's enchanting. and thank you for the advent lists you've posted. earlier today i looked at the calendar and noticing how quickly the days and weeks are passing i began to feel the "weight" of the holidays and everything that one is "supposed" to do. after reading your lists though i have a different perspective. i don't feel as though the coming weeks are something i have to hurry and "get through". i now feel a sense of joy and lightness at the thought of passing those moments with my children and husband. and i will most certainly use some of your list ideas. thanks again.

[laura]

thank you,thank you,thank you!!!!

from another mom getting over that nasty cold

:) laura

ps i love the dolls you make!

[amanda]

Grace, this is such a wonderful gift to my family! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Just think of how many families are going to enjoy these fun and meaningful activities because you took the time to share them. This is fabulous, many thanks :)

[Lisa Clarke]

What a fantastic list - this is the kind of holiday I want every year, and I always fall short, being so busy. I really want my boys to experience a warm December, and as such, I'm going to make a bigger effort than usual, and I'm going to use your list as a springboard. Thanks for taking the time to put it together!

[kristin]

fantastic ideas. all in one place. and far enough ahead. thanks...
i liked the idea of a bulb - i wouldn't have thought of that i don't think. i agree that many of these can cross over for stocking stuffers as well - for some small food items i do things like a few chamomile tea bags tied with a ribbon, or a few honey sticks (that can totally go with your tea set or tea party idea)...

so thanks for this lists. most of all thanks for the motivation to start thinking of it this year before november 30th!!! :)

[Ella]

i've been trying to get to this post for awhile and even now i haven't much time so i'll be back again. Thank you for compiling all your ideas. i appreciate it. i'm not so familiar with Advent so i'm learning this year. As for crafts i would have to add lantern making and wool felt acorn making;
http://www.techniche.net/ellablog/?p=150
Thank you again.

[mary]

All of the ideas are really wonderful. I hope you don't mind if I like to it.

[Angela]

I love your lists! I'm bookmarking them for inspiration. Thank you. :)

[Laura]

I think I am late to comment on this post, but I just wanted to thank you and tell you how helpful it was for me as I put together our first advent calendar this year. I blogged about it today and linked to you. Hope you don't mind. Thanks again for putting this together.

[Amanda]

Amazing suggestions. Simply put, WONDERFUL.

Thank you!

[grace]

this list is awesome! truly awesome. ilove the outing ideas and the pieces of something bigger ideas. I don't think I'll be able to tackle an advent calendar this year but I'm so saving this list for next year. thank you!!

[Siri]

I did the bead-a-day thing one year with the letters in their names, evening it out on the last day of the shortest name by putting the rest of the letters of the longer named child in that day. Little woooden shapes from a craft store are nice (I tend to do trees) that can be painted/glittered/drawn on with markers.
We don't start our advent calendar or decorate until after our son's birthday on the 7th so as not to take away from the excitement surrounding that...although he's waking up each morning with counting down the days until then!
We'll certainly be making the tin can lanterns this year for the solstice.
Thank you.

[Melissa]

Okay, I've never seen the Living Craft magazine before so I immediately fell in love with that link...thank you!!! I now have a subscription to it.

I really appreciate this post and you have inspired me and my family this holiday season!