Around here the excitement is palpable. Ever since Aidyn was old enough to participate, we have done an advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas. Now, ours isn't as fancy pants as this one (cough, Christmas Vacation Advent House, cough):
But it serves the same purpose, and because the boys get treats with ours, they might even like it a little bit more. I thought I'd post a few advent calendar ideas that you can use next year.
Many of these are related to popular Christmas songs. To get the kids in the Christmas spirit, I would suggest playing the song first and then having them guess what the matching treat might be. (That way, they really have to listen to the song.) For older kids, who might already be familiar with Christmas songs, you can just have them guess how the treat is related to Christmas. (Sometimes the guesses are really funny!)
If your advent calendar is like ours (small pockets), you can put just the song title on a small strip of paper in the pocket itself and then give the treat out separately after you've played the song.
The last seven days leading to Christmas contain Bible verses that tell the Christmas story.
Daily Advent Calendar Filler Ideas
day 1 Pennies – The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the FIRST day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.)
day 2 Jolly Ranchers – Deck the Halls (‘Tis the season to be JOLLY.)
day 3 Pop Rocks – ROCKIN’ Around the Christmas Tree
day 4 Hershey Kisses – I Saw Mommy KISSING Santa Claus
day 5 Nickels – The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, FIVE golden rings.)
day 6 Popcorn – Let It Snow (I brought some corn for POPPIN’.)
day 7 Hot Chocolate – Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (Have a CUP OF CHEER.)
day 8 Bell Shaped Chocolate (Nestle usually makes these at Christmas) – Silver BELLS
day 9 Lollipops – The Little Drummer Boy (these represent drum sticks)
day 10 Dimes – The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, TEN lords a’leaping.)
day 11 Your Children’s Favorite Candy – My Favorite Things
day 12 Life Savers – The Chipmunk Song (these represent hula-hoops)
day 13 Mr. Goodbars – Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (He knows if you’ve been bad or GOOD so be good for goodness sake.)
day 14 Christmas Peeps – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (There’ll be parties for hosting, MARSHMALLOWS for toasting.)
day 15 Ring Pops – Santa Baby (Santa Baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a RING. I don’t mean on the phone.)
day 16 Red M&Ms – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (these represent Rudolph’s nose)
day 17 Pet Treats – to teach that it is more important to give than to receive
day 18 Cow Tales (these represent the animals in the manger) – Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a MANGER; because there was no room for them in the inn.
day 19 Candy Canes (these represent shepherds’ hooks) - Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country SHEPHERDS abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
day 20 Almond Joys - Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
day 21 Reese’s Pieces – Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men.
day 22 Double Bubble Gum (these have a crown on the wrapper) – Matthew 2:1-2 there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born KING of the Jews?
day 23 Starbursts – Matthew 2:2 For we have seen his STAR in the east, and are come to worship him.
day 24 Chocolate “Coin” Candy – Matthew 2:11 When they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; GOLD, and frankincense and myrrh.
day 25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) – Quarters – Christmas is on December 25.
Here's the link to the printable document shown above if you'd like to print it for reference: Daily Advent Ideas.
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