Advent Calendar/Activity ideas for teens rather than younger children please?

[BiddyPop]

Hi all,

I have a nice list of ideas to do in December for smaller DCs - but DD is now getting to a stage that "colour in a Crib scene" and "learn a new joke to tell Daddy" are no longer, um, "cool" shall we say.

Would anyone have ideas for a young teen for things to do in November/December to both prepare for Christmas and to have some seasonal magic?

DD is not terribly musical, she loves sports really. She does bake (and leaves a big mess - although she's starting to tidy up some bit) and she likes to craft (again, messily).

She does still like to see all the houses lit up, but as we're driving around anyway not to do a specific drive to see them.

And she does want to do a Christmas Eve swim again this year (we did it last year at the sailing club).

But does anyone have ideas for Christmas fun that is a bit more grown-up?

(and yes, I know it is only May, but I work FT and life is waaay too manic here always, so I have to plan (well) ahead or nothing happens).

Thanks all,
Biddy

[Annwithnoe]

Mine aren’t teens yet so these ideas might still be too naff ... and I have it in my head that you’re based in Ireland. If I’ve got my wires crossed you’ll have to ignore the local suggestions

Foraging walk for pine cones, larch cones, holly, etc. Perhaps choose a spot that would be a good hike or bike ride and do the foraging as an add-on

Grow hyacinths or paperwhites or try forcing a poinsettia to bloom

Make candles (different ways to do this - simplest is roll up beeswax sheets that smell gorgeous, or get a kit in Art n Hobby, or go whole hog with dedicated double burners etc)

Etching or painting glass as lanterns or candle holders (upgrade from colouring in a crib scene!)

Making fondant figures to decorate Christmas cake, or do a whole scene. If you get a cake board (the thin one, not the 1cm thick one, you can make a top for the Christmas cake and just pipe on a bit of icing to hide the join. Fondant is just play doh for grownups!

Take a drive up over the city to look at the lights, or take a walk to photograph some of the houses that are lit up.

Diy Christmas crackers (sort of an upgrade on thinking up a joke for dad )-

Cheesiest Christmas song competition- play a song and the winner is the family member who can bear it the longest without switching it off.

Baking Christmas cookies (especially the stained glass Mary Berry ones). Gingerbread men from scratch. Or if you want to work off a lot of energy any variation of a sweet bread will take lots (and lots) of kneading.

Make seed balls for birds or use cookie cutters to make edible outdoor decorations for a tree

Orange pomanders with cloves (use a flower nail to punch holes in the oranges)

Can she do anything to add magic for younger dcs?

Keep a stash of Christmas themed books and movies that only come out for December

I think RNLI organize a Reindeer Run (5k) in Marlay Park in November

And it might be a bit too ambitious yet but I think there’s a walk that follows Red Hugh’s escape from Dublin castle up the Wicklow mts. It’s not one for amateurs, especially in bad weather, but perhaps one she could aim to do in a couple of years?

There’s usually a performance of Handel’s Messiah (or a few) if she’s appreciate something like that. The concert hall is worth watching for events at Christmas.

One year I painted a (back) window in a chrissmassy scene with poster paints. I’m thinking of doing something like a stained glass design some day which will never really happen we also cut out snowflakes for the kitchen windows. With a bit of Pinterest inspiration a teen could make a really nice display.

No idea if any of that is vaguely helpful. Dreading the teenage years!!

[Allthepinkunicorns]

Go Christmas shopping together
Watch a Christmas film at the cinema
Go for a festive hot chocolate at Starbucks etc
Get Christmas themed nails
Go to the theatre together
Go for a walk somewhere festive
Get festive pamper treats such as bath bombs
Festive film marathon at home but with more adult films

[BiddyPop]

Thanks Ladies!

Ann you're right, we are ROI, and the RNLI run sounds just perfect (DD is a sailor and would do it with DH).

Pumpkins there are some great ideas on your list too.

DD is our only and there's no DCousins terribly close by so it's more about things that aren't too twee but still fun, for DH and/or I to do to have some family fun together.

[BlueJava]

Teenagers? I thought Fortnite was considered good for any time of year.

On a more constructive note we went to see A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic just before Xmas which was fantastic. We usually do a Christmas meal out as well (not on Xmas Day) when they break up from school. We sometimes have a drive round for Christmas lights viewing and we always put up lots of trashy ones ourselves which takes a few days. You can buy these cheaper in spring/summer although ppl look at you strangely.

[BlueJava]

@Annwithnoe teenage years are better than 0-12 IMHO!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DD is nearly 16yo last year I bought some clear bags and adhesive festive Advent numbers then did a Beauty Advent for her

Bathbombs, little shampoos, a mascara duo (given as two gifts) face packs, tiny perfume...............

Shot myself in the foot though, she wants another one this year and she'll up the stakes ..

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

That sounds fab, 70. I might do that for dd next year, last year I did socks (I still don't know what possessed me). They were nice socks (!) but she was struggling to give a toss by the end of week 2...

[BiddyPop]

They all sound great! Lots of new ideas there thanks all🤶🏻

[HoppingPavlova]

A Xmas LEGO set (one of those big sets) broken up Advent style. We started with the actual LEGO advent calendars but as they got older this became a bit ho hum but buying a big seasonal set and breaking it up into 24 causes excitement each morning as the build comes together. Just takes me ages beforehand organising/bagging up the set into 24 advent bags and making a copy of the instructions, breaking it down to match the 24 bags and blacking out the pictures of any finished parts so it keeps them guessing what they are building for as long as possible. When they have completely finished the build on day 24, I then hand over the box and original instructions.