Advent calender ideas

IndigoGirl

That's a beautiful advent calendar. We have a Christmas tree shaped one which I love but the white one is very stylish.

I love the ideas of crafty items that go towards a project. You could intersperse the odd choccy now and again and maybe even a pound coin

My OH and I are big kids and we've done a mixture of things over the years. We alternate days with a chocolate for me or him and we have put little notes in there to each other. Maybe for a child you could do notes for an activity you're going to do - a trip to feed the ducks, baking session, out for a hot chocolate etc whatever he/she is into.

Some years, we put a pre agreed number of clues or lucky dip notes in there for little advent pressies. They can be anything from a Terry's choc orange to a pair of socks, just daft pressies that we would have given as stocking fillers but we do it to extend the festivities. It stops me rattling every pressie under the tree and driving my OH nuts

Edited to add: I love Frugal's ideas. Especially the watch a film/sing a song treat ideas. That's the kind of thing I was thinking of when I said activity. It doesn't have to be anything material, that's just what my OH and I do.

Thinking of the little ones, and merging the Christmas decoration and treasure hunt idea, could you leave a clue to find some tree decorations around the house and then let them help decorate on your chosen day (depends when you put your tree up of course).