Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Help me think of 24 Christmassy things to do ...

122 replies

Smithagain · 02/11/2008 18:52

As a result of various gifts, our two girls now have three refillable cloth advent calendars between them. And I'd quite like to use them all, but don't want to fill them all with tat/chocolate/money!

So I'm thinking that one of them will have 24 little cards in the pockets, with a "thing to do today" written on them. Some of them will be useful (like "remind Mummy that today is the last day for posting cards ") Some of them will be just for fun (e.g. "snuggle up in a duvet and watch The Snowman") and some of them might be a bit serious.

Any ideas? Will this work or is it too cheesy?!

OP posts:
ja9 · 02/11/2008 19:55

such a lovely idea... can i come and live in your house for advent?

i am going to have to copy you btw.

MiaWallace · 02/11/2008 20:07

Going to pinch idea too.

Make gingerbread house. (GLTC do a good kit)

Collect pinecones, leaves and twigs to paint and turn into a centrepiece.

Go shopping for a tree decoration each.

Will think of some more.

Original poster
Smithagain · 02/11/2008 20:09

choosyfloosy Tell me more about the Christmas card thing - DD1 is very concerned about the number of homeless people in our town and that sounds like something she'd love to do. How does it work?

(They did a fund-raising thing in her class for the local night hostel. She came home and announced "It's OK mummy, me and my friends have raised lots of money and we are going to make sure they have somewhere to sleep." Made me cry. If only the world were so simple.)

OP posts:
MiaWallace · 02/11/2008 20:18

Ice skating

Track Santa (for Christmas Eve)

Read a Christmas book (How the Grinch stole Christmas)

Go door to door and sing Carols

Bewilderbeast · 02/11/2008 20:23

Smithagain does your church have a toy service to donate new/as new toys to families who can't afford xmas presents? Your local council probably do something like this, find out if they do and have a 'choose one of your toys to make another child's christmas' day.

Make a christingle

bake stained glass biscuits to decorate the tree with

put baby jesus in the nativity scene if you have a nativity scene

make mince pies for santa

write a christmas letter/email to a soldier who won't get home for xmas and will be missing his/her family

have a fashion show and pick the outfits that everyone should wear on christmas day

MiaWallace · 02/11/2008 20:25

Make salt dough decorations

Original poster
Smithagain · 02/11/2008 20:30

Yes we do - have a longstanding arrangement to donate toys to a Methodist Mission in the city. Will put that in for a couple of days before our toy service. I think DD1 will enjoy choosing something.

OP posts:
choosyfloosy · 02/11/2008 20:32

OK smithagain I confess - I didn't know of a specific scheme at the time! - here's Amnesty and Christian Solidarity's joint scheme. I mentioned Campsfield because they do say that correspondence is really welcome on various websites, and i would bet they could give you a contact, that's all.

Ah! I think the Salvation Army do this as well - certainly I have signed a card that was in the Big Issue before. Try their website.

Original poster
Smithagain · 02/11/2008 20:35

Sorry choosy - didn't mean to put you on the spot

Will do some googling.

OP posts:
kalo12 · 02/11/2008 20:38

put out some bird food / hedgehog food

PavlovGuyFawkesCat · 02/11/2008 20:39

Go ice skating

WTSS · 02/11/2008 20:44

gosh this is the lovliest MN thread at the moment...
thanks for all these ideas, have nicked them all for my dd
trying hard to think of something to add but this is a pretty comprehensive list.
thanks!

frasersmummy · 02/11/2008 20:49

this is a fantastic thread

has put a big smile on my face...

and yes I am going to steal all your wonderful festive ideas

morningpaper · 02/11/2008 22:12

thought of another one

did anyone come up with this:

Chose/iron/hang out a special outfit for christmas day
Buy some tights/pants/shoes/outfit for christmas day
Buy some special christmas eve pyjamas

morningpaper · 02/11/2008 22:13

ooh nativity scnee yes

"The three kings are on their way to bethlanehem - hide them in teh house so they can continue the journye"

good as you have 3 kids

mouseman · 02/11/2008 22:23

We do this - we have 24 christmassy pegs on a string and I write a little card with something on for each day and dd can open it each morning. The things don't have to be big - remember that you will be busy anyway and make sure you will actually be able to fulfil the activity! It is a super thing to do though.

Weegle · 03/11/2008 07:12

am loving this thread and bumping it back up - I'm compiling my own list from this and need a few more ideas

others I've got which I don't think have been mentioned:
make daddy a present
make mince pies
read the Christmas Story

Fillyjonk · 03/11/2008 08:00

we do this every year, it is great!

Ours is slightly different. We write the activities on paper stars with numbers on the other side. The stars are on the kids' door for them to find in the morning, and they then do on a branch thingy in the middle of the dining room table so it doubles as an advent calender.

here is a tip though-only put stuff in the night before. This way you can chance plans at the last minute.

So if it snows...you can put in, "build a snowman". If you are shattered, you can put in "snuggle up in a duvet and watch the Snowman".

My kids were only 4 and 2 last christmas so it was quite basic stuff-sing "Jingle Bells", "make cookies", that sort of thing. Kids love ANYTHING christmassy, IMO...

cmotdibbler · 03/11/2008 08:32

My mum had a cloth pocket Advent calendar when she used to teach. She made a little felt tree decoration to go in each pocket, and wrote a little prayer/reflection to go in each one today "We're thinking of all the people in the world who won't have somewhere nice to sleep on Christmas day like Mary and Joseph" kind of thing.

We have the calendar now, but as DS is only 2, we are still just putting the ornaments out, and the nativity set bits are in there too.

Original poster
Smithagain · 03/11/2008 12:23

Good point about changing plans, Fillyjonk. Think I'll start compiling a list but put each day's in the night before. It will also stop DD1 from reading them all in advance and spoiling the suprise!

A prayer to say on some of them sounds good, too. I definitely don't want it to turn into one of those "a million things you must do before 25 Dec" lists - some quiet and reflective bits would be good.

OP posts:
ja9 · 03/11/2008 12:43

lovely lovely lovely ideas.

just reading this thread makes me feel all warm inside!

Buda · 03/11/2008 12:58

What a fab thread!

May have to try and steal this idea. It's a brilliant way to enjoy the build up to Xmas which in some ways is the best bit anyway!

If your DC's write a letter to Santa that could be one of them although maybe a bit late!

TooFoggy · 03/11/2008 13:39

Make a Christmas crown to wear
Decorate a tree outside with nuts an d fat and toast for the birds, plus a star on top

lovely thread

purpleturtle · 03/11/2008 13:43

This is a great idea. Shall be making good use of it, myself. And if I ever think of an original idea I promise to come back and post it!

trixymalixy · 03/11/2008 16:54

Oh I love this idea!!!

I wish my DS (21 months) was old enough to be able to do this with him.

I might do one just for myself and mix them up so I get a surprise each day!!!! [sad xmas lover emoticon]