Activity/task advent calendar

[Natsku]

We have a family advent calendar that has little elf hats for each day that can fit in a treat and I was thinking this year, as well as a little treat in each hat, I could write an activity/task on a bit of paper to be done that day. So more fun things for the children like make christmas cards, put the decorations up, do some baking, and then more necessary tasks for the adults like send out the christmas cards (less likely to forget then!) and deep clean the kitchen.

So I'm looking for ideas of what tasks to write for an 8 year old girl and a young toddler (so not much into crafts yet beyond smearing paint on things), and some good jobs to put in my bloke's days (we take turns opening, so 6 days each)

We loved these ideas

babyccinokids.com/blog/2016/11/25/our-activity-advent-calendar-redesigned-and-ready-to-print/

The activities can be printed - there's a link to them :)

Some nice ideas there, thanks - DD will love pizza night with a christmas film for sure!

Make a gingerbread house.
Walk/drive to go and see all the lights in your neighbourhood.
Go and visit Father Christmas.
Make up a plate with the things to be left for FC/the reindeer.
Make reindeer dust.
Choose something for the food bank at your supermarket.

These are some of our December list that we’ve been doing for years. The dc are a bit more competent and independent than they were at 3 but it hasn’t changed all that much.

Donate toys we don’t play with
decorate gingerbread men
Bake cookies
Decorate bags/boxes for baked gifts
Pick out some cans from cupboard for food drive
Buy a present for a child who doesn't get much at christmas and leave under wishing tree at supermarket
Assemble shoebox presents for homeless people
Deliver shoeboxes to drop off
Make thank you cards for after Christmas
Make Christmas ornaments
decorate a tree in garden for the birds
feed the ducks in the park
feed birds in garden
Write cards for school friends
Make christmas crackers
Make a video singing Christmas carols, send to nana, etc (nowadays it is more likely to be stop motion lego animation)
Have a bubble bath with extra bubbles and wear Santa bubble beards
Assemble craft box for hospital
Deliver box to hospital
Build an igloo from sofa cushions and pretend that you live in North Pole
Take a night time drive to see the Christmas lights
Make thank you cards for extra curricular teachers
Star gazing
Write cards for school teachers
Make snowflakes and paper chains

My getting ready list would be things like

Clean oven
Clean fridge
Clean windows
Check tinfoil/toilet roll etc
Check spices, flour etc
Check cat food, litter
Make and freeze various foods
Buy wine, chocolates
Wrapping
Write cards
Post cards
Wash glasses, cutlery, dishes
Check Napkins, table cloths,
Make centrepiece
Make wreath

I actually don’t know what would be on dh’s list. He takes care of outdoors stuff, the cars, fuel, any big diy jobs, electrical stuff and I just take all that a bit for granted. I hadn’t realised how traditional our division of labour is but it works for us.

Our division of labour tends to be that way too, but think I'll get him to do the vacuuming and mopping at least on the day before Christmas so I can focus on the cooking.

Lots of good ideas, thanks! We've been the recipient of charity gifts for a few years now so will be especially good to give back for one of our tasks.