Advent Calendar

A favorite item to get for the holiday season is the old tried and true Advent Calendar you can purchase for a few dollars, the one made out of cardboard with the preforated doors that you punch open, and hidden behind each door is a treasured piece of chocolate in the form of some Christmas shape.

I grew up with this type of advent calendar and anticipated them every year. To keep with tradition it is exciting to purchase them for the kids but also explore the other options available. So this year we will give the old tried and true clandar a rest and revisit in the future so I can give the advent calendar a tweak or two.

A trip down History Lane

The tradition of advent calendars dates back to the early 19th century. Many variations have been created along the way including, making chalk lines to mark everyday leading up to Christmas. The advent candle also was used to mark the days proceeding christmas, everyday a new candle would be lit. Some calendars host a bevy of chocolate surprise behind the door and yet other calendars contain bible verses. The advent calandar has come and gone in one form or another but I have not found one that incorporates Christ and the other elements that are important to me.

My spin on the Advent Calendar

ADVENT TREASURES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

Finding gifts to help keep the clutter to a minimal is tricky and the tooth decay at bay. Here are a few ideas that will not completely inundate you with more stuff and free your kids from to much sugar. Feel free to pick and choose from the list. The kids in our family range in age from 10 to 18.

Box of jumbo Crayons

Nail Polish

Stickers

Gum

Chapstix

Packet of hot chocolate

Pez Despenser

A film canister filled with coins

Lotto Ticket

Gas Card

Gum

$2.00 Bill

Car Freshener-for those teen drivers, we all know how funky the car smell can get.

Hair Bands

$1.00 Bill

Coupon-repreave from a chore of choice. Yes, there is an expiration date!

Coupon-extra hour watching T.V or stay up an hour later on the weekend

Ear Buds

$5.00 I tunes Card

$5.00 Star Bucks Card

Coupon-one dinner out on me (This does not include a five course meal with lobster and steak)

Gifting is fun and this is not something I would neccesarily do every year. There are five kids in our family so each child get's to pick out five gifts and open five doors. Even though the gifts are $5.00 and under it adds up when searching for 25 gifts. Taking this into account this activity might not be for everyone. One focus of the advent calendar is to make it fun. My other goals and objectives are incorporating Christ and incorporating family centered activities to do with the kids. Hidden within each door I have a small business sized card. On one side of the card states an activity in preparation for Christmas and on the other side of the card lists a bible verse preparing us for the coming of Jesus birth, on Dec. 24th.