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Christmas

Advent Jar of Good Deeds?

7 replies

PoppadomPreach · 15/11/2012 11:49

So I'm gearing up for the Christmas spirit thing, and happily going to throw myself into it. I have my advent calendars, and was considering an elf on the shelf type thing, but after reading a thread yesterday which suggested we do go over the top a little, I thought perhaps I should do something a little mores "constructive" (well at least a little less, me me me)

My DC are only 3 and 4 so i'll be limited in what I can do, but I thought that rather than teaching them that's christmas is only about receiving lots of goodies, they can give a little back too(I'm parking the rather obvious religious aspect, which I do not ignore, but is not the focus of this post)!

Anyway, thought I'd have an advent "good deeds jar" and each day they choose a good deed (same for both of them) and do that. It will be small and rather inconsequential, but something of which they will probably understand the significance. I'll give them a "good deed sticker" each day which should help too!

So can you help me out? I'm struggling for Ideas. Have come up with the following:

  • make little cakes for neighbours (we know well)
  • choose a toy to take to charity shop
  • draw a christmas picture for grandparents/great grandparents (should get a couple of deeds here!)
  • tidy room (I can dream)
  • sweep up leaves in garden (ie help me)
  • help with simple household chores


Not sure these are terribly inspiredn- can anyone think of anything else (and apologies for this long, tedious and slightly self- indulgent post)
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mummy1986 · 15/11/2012 12:08

Do you have a local elderly nursing home?
My mum is doing a hamper for her local one, and is taking my dd (4) with her near xmas to deliver it.

Could you bake some cookies or make some paper chains and take them to the home for the elderly?

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PoppadomPreach · 15/11/2012 12:19

Oh I'll look into that. Thank you!

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Adversecamber · 15/11/2012 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

racingheart · 15/11/2012 13:27

Some of them could be helping to do Christmassy things, like:

making paper chains for the house
decorating the tree
making marshmallows, chocolate truffles and turkish delight as presents for friends
filling shoeboxes with small gifts for one of the Christmas present schemes
going into town, listening to a brass band and putting money in the donation box
putting the stamps on the Christmas card envelopes
posting your cards for you
making fat and seed balls for the birds to feed on as it gets colder
generally feeding the birds and squirrels over winter by chopping up left over crusts
if they are musical, learning a carol on the piano to play for relatives at Christmas
hand making cards for granny & grandpa
making table decorations for the big day

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PoppadomPreach · 15/11/2012 16:00

Ooh fabulous ideas. Thank you very much! Should be able to get an advent's worth of good deeds now (execution will be quite another thing though!)

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dementedma · 15/11/2012 19:47

Painting jam jars to put nightlights in.
Agree feeding the birds.
Helping set the table, or putting away non breakable things.

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PoppadomPreach · 15/11/2012 23:13

Thank you demented

I have a small issue with feeding birds in that we have had rats in the garden twice (live in country) and they were feeding from bird table. Once we stopped feeding, no more rats. That said, we now have a cat, which will clearly deter rats, but that raises a whole new issue....

But agree it is a good thing to do, especially for the kids.

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