The holiday season is a time for families to come together and celebrate, and what better way to do so than with an advent calendar that the whole family can enjoy? Advent calendar are a fun and festive way to count down the days until Christmas, and with a little creativity, they can be customized to include surprises and activities that are suitable for all ages. In this article, we’ll explore some ideas for creating an advent calendar that the whole family can enjoy.
Choosing a Theme
One way to make your family advent calendar more engaging is to choose a theme. Some popular themes include:
- Christmas Movies – For families that love watching Christmas movies, a movie-themed advent calendar can be a fun way to count down the days until Christmas. Each day leading up to Christmas, the family can watch a different holiday movie together.
- Acts of Kindness – The holiday season is a time for giving, and an advent calendar that focuses on acts of kindness can help instill this spirit in children. Each day leading up to Christmas, the family can perform a different act of kindness, such as donating toys or clothes to a charity or volunteering at a local shelter.
- Christmas Crafts – For families that enjoy crafting, an advent calendar that includes a different craft project each day can be a fun way to get creative and make some festive decorations for the home.
- Family Activities – An advent calendar that includes a different family activity each day can be a great way to spend quality time together during the holiday season. Activities can range from baking holiday treats to going ice skating or taking a drive to look at Christmas lights.
Creating Surprises and Activities
Once you’ve chosen a theme for your family advent calendar, it’s time to start planning the surprises and activities. Here are some ideas for creating a fun and engaging calendar for all ages:
- Treats – Chocolate and candy are traditional advent calendar treats, but you can also include other festive snacks like popcorn, hot cocoa mix, or mini candy canes.
- Small Gifts – Small gifts like stickers, holiday-themed erasers, or small toys can be a fun surprise for children.
- Activities – Activities can range from simple things like reading a Christmas story together or listening to holiday music, to more elaborate activities like going ice skating or hosting a family game night.
- Coupons – Create coupons that can be redeemed for things like extra screen time, choosing the movie for family movie night, or a special dessert.
- Family Traditions – Include some of your family’s favorite holiday traditions, such as baking cookies or watching a specific holiday movie.
Displaying Your Advent Calendar
Once you’ve created your family advent calendar, it’s time to display it in a prominent location in your home. Some ideas for displaying your advent calendar include:
- Hanging it on the wall – Use string or ribbon to hang your advent calendar on the wall in a central location in your home.
- Placing it on a table or shelf – If you’ve created a stand-up advent calendar, you can display it on a table or shelf in your home.
- Incorporating it into your holiday decor – If you have a Christmas tree or other holiday decorations, you can incorporate your advent calendar into your decor by hanging it on the tree or placing it on a festive tray with other decorations.
Conclusion
Creating a family advent calendar is a fun and engaging way to count down the days until Christmas and spend quality time together as a family. By choosing a theme and including surprises and activities that are suitable for all ages, you can create a calendar that the whole family will enjoy. Display your advent calendar in a prominent location in your home and enjoy the countdown to Christmas together.