Advente activities ideas please!!

furrypig

Hi everyone!

Thought I would pick your brains if you don't mind!

Scattymam1 has a fab thread of christmas crafts 24 for advent and I initially thought we were doing the same thing but I want different activites, many od which will be free or v cheap or things that you might be doing as a family anyway.

For example

buying the tree we all go out together and last year went to a Christmas tree farm complete with reindeer and spent time discussing the merits of the tree and coming to a joint decision about which on is our perfect family tree!

having a lights night when you take the children round the local neighbourhood to look at all the amazing Christmas lights/decorations that people put up one house near us is wonderful and does it for Charity every year and is another tradition we seem to do each year!

having a 'Christmas camp out' this is suggested on organizedchristmas.com and involves sleeping in the lounge with all the Christmas lights on!! I did this last year with my kids and they thought it was fabulous (infact we had to do it more than once!) and it doesn't cost anything!

Many of these things the whole family will do but will all be Christmas related and I am going to do a few Christmas crafts as the activities and already have ideas for these (most are covered on Scattymam1's thread!) but my son age 7 and hubby are not really into allthe crafting side of things so was trying to think of a few easy activities!

What do you think??

Have you any more ideas??

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, I have a few more ideas I'm working on and will let you know my final 24 advent ideas when I have completed my list.

Furrypig xxx

scattymam1

This is such a fab idea for spending quality time together as a family (which for me is what christmas is all about) I may have to use some of these ideas myself.

How about carol singing at an old peoples home or something or for an older member of the family - this would be free and bring a lot of christmas cheer - obviously if you can get a few more families together to sing and just sing a few songs and take along some shortbread or something.

rainmac

Make biscuits, fudge, mince pies and give them to neighbours, friends...

Go for a night-time walk or drive to see everyone's outdoor Xmas lights and then home for big mugs of hot chocolate - sorry you've already mentioned this one!

Visit Santa, depending on how old your kiddies are!

Decorate the tree whilst listening to lots of Xmas tunes/ carols.

Make popcorn, shut the curtains and settle down to watch a Xmas film together.

InDebted2U_2

This year I'm planning for us to make some Xmas scenes/cottages out of gingerbread. Fun to make, good for unique decorations and finally, great to eat on Boxing Day!

I recently picked up a cheap book for this, but there's bound to be some recipes/instructions online or books in the library.

Also, following inspiration from our trip to Legoland on Monday, how about using Lego bricks (on their side) to make a Christmas themed mosaic? You could then prop in up in the window or on the mantelpiece. Similarly, you could make Christmas decs out of Hama beads, which are reasonably cheap to buy and fill up some crafty time nicely.

InDebted2U_2

This year I'm planning for us to make some Xmas scenes/cottages out of gingerbread. Fun to make, good for unique decorations and finally, great to eat on Boxing Day! I recently picked up a cheap book for this, but there's bound to be some recipes/instructions online or books in the library.

Also, following inspiration from our trip to Legoland on Monday, how about using Lego bricks (on their side) to make a Christmas themed mosaic? You could then prop in up in the window or on the mantelpiece. Similarly, you could make Christmas decs out of Hama beads, which are reasonably cheap to buy and fill up some crafty time nicely.

furrypig

Thanks scattymam1 I hadn't thought of carol singing mind you with the way we sing it might be kinder not to go singing to all the poor old folk (or anyone else) in our neighbourhood!! Definitely planning ondoing lots together as we will all really love it!! Getting in the Christmas spirit just thinking about it all!

furrypig

Rainmac you are on the same wavelength as me with your ideas!

I have Christmas family film night on my list too! Also decorating the tree together after choosing it is definitely another of our traditions so will be one of my 24 activities too. My 10 year old no longer believes in father christmas which is so sad but she is keeping up the pretence for her little brother (and for me too as she knows I love to believe!) so probaly won't do a father christmas visit though I did consider it when i saw the Harrods father Christmas advertised as it's free and menat to be really good. I think I want to visit him if the truth be known so we will see!!

Making biscuits is definitely being added to the list so thankyou!!

furrypig

Indebted2u I meant to make a gingerbread house last year and never got round to doing it if I remember properly I found the details on the internet but it is something we could do together tho not so sure how hard it would be but if it all goes wrong it'll probably still taste good!!
Thank you!

Jammygal

We always have an advent party on the 1st !! We eat mince pies and have nice Christmasy nibbles. I give the kids their advent calendars and a couple of Christmasy books to read the weeks leading up to Chrimbo

furrypig

Thanks Jammygal i was going to give choccie advent calendars to them as their first advent present but it will be really nice to have an advent party!! What day of the week is 1st Dec I wonder?? Just checked and it's a Monday so could be a good night!

ZLS1984

Hi,

following the ginger bread house idea, could you make it out of salt dough and decorate it with beads and gems. This way you have it to keep for ever.

How about going holly hunting nearer the time, so that you can have some nice holly in the house.