Another Advent calendar one.

[unexpectedthird]

For the past few years we have had a 'doing' advent calendar rather than a getting things one which my eldest two DC have really loved. I've done it so that they open an envelope every morning which tells them which activity etc they are doing that day. Things like making Christmas tree shaped pizzas, various crafts etc.

They are 13 and 9 so it was already becoming harder to think of things to do that were new and the 13yr old is a bit past a lot of the craft type things that the 9 yr old loves.

My youngest will have just turned 2 in December and this year will be the first time he's really aware of Christmas happening and it will also be the first year he needs to be included in the advent things.

Trying to think of 24 things that work for a toddler, a very enthusiastic 9 year old and a very grumpy teenager is making my head hurt lots. I had originally thought that we'd just have a year off and go for chocolate Advent calendars but there is no way the toddler will understand the one a day aspect of that.

I'm also not keen on buying big advent calendars - we've done Lego, Playmobil etc in the past and I am very much over the endless amount of plastic they bring into the house. We moved to the doing one to get away from that and we've all really enjoyed it to date.

We usually make our own wrapping paper as one activity and they could all do that, the pizza would also work and I thought it might be nice for them to make some sort of handprint clay/salt dough decoration together but after that I'm stumped.

So, does anyone have any ideas of things I could include this year that would suit all three of them? The eldest two will be most put out if the toddler isn't included in everything equally.

Get the teenager involved in finding ideas for the toddler?

Making paper chain decorations. Toddler could colour in.

Food bank donation.

Watching Christmas film. One which the oldest loved when they were younger.

Baking works for all ages.

Decorations pitched at different levels, eg christmas stars - yellow handprints cut out and drizzled with glue/glitter for the littlie, sequin & decorating bonanza for the 9 yr old, origami for the 13yr old?

Driving round to see people’s christmas lights? (As long as it’s nowhere near anyone the 13yr old knows).

Making table decorations with a candle at the centre - eldest two can internet for fancy ideas, youngest can glue some greenery to a paper plate - they can choose whose is used for christmas eve, christmas day and boxing day between them.

Get the eldest trawling pinterest for xmassy things they WANT to do, and find the youngest something lowkey related to do at the same time?

Decorating a (ready made) gingerbread house

Going for a walk to look at the Christmas lights

We used to do advent activities like go to the park, make hot chocolate and watch a film, go out for a drink and cake, bake, family game night, make ice cream sundaes, put on Christmas music and dance, etc. Some were Christmas themed and others not, but my children always enjoyed them. I think some of these would work for all ages.

Decorate a bauble-buy at Aldi. Make a Garland. Paper chains. Collect toys to donate to charity. Write a story.

🎄Christmas lights walk
🎄Gingerbread decorating
🎄Home Alone movie & popcorn
🎄Christmas card making/writing
🎄paperchains
🎄mince pie making
🎄hot chocolate station
🎄buy a decoration for the tree
🎄ice skating?
🎄make hot chocolate bombs - my older ones liked that, we did the kinder surprise version.

I'd try and have a special trip out with the older ones on their own if possible - maybe the teen might like to go out for a Costa with you and do a bit of Christmas shopping for her friends?

Does it have to fit everyone? You could do a movie at the afternoon for the younger ones and then one for the older one (after homework and dinner) with a bit more grown up setting.

Also, better baking with the two older and a messy one with the toddler during school time.

A shopping trip out with the older one to buy new decoration or presents with a special lunch or breakfast?

Or get the older one a more interesting one, good chocolate or anything interest wise and just let him/her join if he/she wants.

Oh, one other thing, I found these things stressful the older DD got. She wants to relax, talk to friends, has events with school or hobbies and not just do things every day.

We are sticking to chocolate and the odd expensive one and do a couple of trips or special things during the run up but not every day.

I'd give your eldest their own chocolate calendar and do activities for the younger two. Then the 13yo can join in when they want, or give it a miss.

Thanks all, some great ideas and things to think about there!

The eldest (DS) is usually Mr Christmas despite his grumpiness. He is at the funny wanting to be as fully involved as ever yet feeling that he's not quite as in to it all as he used to be stage. He's also autistic so is having an inward battle with tradition and routine vs being older and things changing naturally.

I think he's going to feel a bit out of sorts for the next couple of Christmases until he works out whether he is going to fully embrace it like he used to, or gives himself permission to do things a bit differently. My thinking is to plan to involve him as much as usual but give him the space to do his own thing a little more if he'd like to.

I had forgotten that we always do a food bank day - that can definitely be included this year too. As can the movie and hot chocolate/popcorn. And we have made fat balls for the birds in the past which would work for all three too.

We live very, very, very rurally in the Highlands so Christmas light viewing and the like isn't something we can do without a LOT of driving.

I'm not so fussed about them all doing exactly the same thing every day - I foresee the toddler wanting to be part of opening the envelope etc in the morning and promptly forgetting all about it by the time we actually do whatever the activity is. However, the two big ones will be outraged if he's not included equally - he is doted on and spoiled by them both.

Thanks again!