Traditionally, Advent calendars are small gifts you open for 24 days in December. This year, plan 24 activities to enjoy with the family during the holiday season. Not sure where to start? Check out our list.
1. Make a blanket fort and read a Christmas book. Simply put a large blanket over the kitchen table, add cozy pajamas and a few pillows.
2.Try Christmas Carol Karaoke. Head over to Karafun.com where you will find instrumental versions of Christmas songs as well as lyrics.
3. Have a gingerbread house contest. Break the group into teams or work individually to complete your gingerbread house kit.
4. Purchase cheap canvas and paints from a craft store to paint winter scenes that you can continue to display in January. Holiday paint-by-number sets are fun, too.
5. Have a puzzle night. If you have a competitive family, purchase a few of the same puzzle (100-300 pieces) and see who can finish it the fastest.
6. Make a hot cocoa bar. Fill a crockpot with your favorite hot cocoa recipe and offer mix-ins like candy canes, sprinkles, whipped cream and marshmallows.
7. Make gifts for Amazon and UPS drivers. Fill a dollar store mug with a hot cocoa pack, and add a candy cane with a note that says, “Just add water.”
8. Listen to a Christmas radio show. You can find old radio shows on Spotify or YouTube. Cozy up on the couch with your comfy blankets and warm drinks and enjoy listening.
9. Make plantable holiday cards. Add torn paper and water to a blender to make a pulp. Add wildflower seeds. Flatten out to dry. Decorate and give to friends.
10. Sponsor a family and go shopping together. If you choose a family to sponsor for the holidays, take the kids along to pick out food, clothes or toys.
11. Get outside to play Winter Olympics games. Your games can include relay races, snowball distance throwing or freeing objects from a block of ice.
12. Visit your local fire station, hospital or police department and drop off some treats. Instead of cookies or candy, try water bottle flavors, granola bars or winter essentials like lip balm.
13. Decorate your bedroom doors. Use removable hooks and tape to hang up garland, battery-operated lights or personalized art on your kids bedroom doors.
14. Watch a local holiday play. Small community theatres and local high schools usually have a holiday play or musical that runs in December. Prices are lower and sometimes free.
15. Participate in a holiday-themed 5K. Check out FindARace.com to find December races in your area. Invite family and friends to dress up in Santa hats and run for a charity or just for fun.
16. Thrift sweaters to make your own Ugly Christmas Sweater. Decorate with garland, pom poms, buttons, felt, beads and bells.
17. Go on a Christmas decoration scavenger hunt in the neighborhood. You can find printables online or create your own. You can also do this with Bingo cards.
18. Elf your Neighbors. Create a little basket of goodies – store bought or homemade and leave it at their front door. Leave it anonymous and encourage them to pay it forward.
19. Make a Christmas tree on the wall with Christmas cards you have received. If you don’t know how to display your Christmas cards, why not put them on the wall in the shape of a tree.
20. Make food for the birds. Add two cups of birdseed to 1 cup of each of peanut butter, lard, cornmeal, flour and oats. Place in molds until dried. Hang in a nearby tree and watch them eat.
21. Make appetizers for dinner. If you want to try out new holiday appetizers or sides before preparing them for your guests, this is a fun way to do it.
22. Cut out snowflakes. You can find directions to make snowflake cutouts on Instructables.com or YouTube. Hang in windows or doorways.
23. Do some pre-holiday pampering. Choose a day at the spa or salon or pamper yourself at home with store bought face masks, nail polish and bubble bath.
24. Give Mrs. Claus the night off. With all the shopping and wrapping complete, take time to just admire your hard work and count your blessings. Another holiday season is in the books.
Pam Molnar is a writer and mother of three. The joy and craziness of the holiday season fuel her creativity for the rest of the year.
