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0 October 9, 2016 blogging

Awesome classics for a Christmas book advent calendar

The Christmas book advent calendar is one of my favorite traditions. I haven’t always used 24 books because that gets expensive fast. Instead, I just did what I could until I finished out the collection last year. My plan moving forward is to replace some of the baby board books with story books, remove some of the lamer books, and just adjust each year as needed.

I created this Free Download of a Christmas Book Inventory. Now you can put your books away between January and November and still know what you own/want.

Recommendations for a Christmas Book Advent Calendar

If you’re looking to start or enhance your collection, here are some recommendations.

Oh, and in the spirit of giving here’s another free printable. It’s a tracking/planning thing for your book advent calendar. Why? Because I like to know what book I’m reading that night, and I think you will, too! (click on the image to download).

Please note: These links take you to Amazon.

Classic board books for the Christmas Advent Calendar

From personal experience, I say keep your supply of board books for the book advent calendar low. There are a ton out there and a post dedicated to just board books is coming soon. In the meantime, here are some classics that will make your kids happy year after year.

Baby Touch and Feel Christmas by DK. I don’t know about you, but to this day it takes great restraint to pass up touching a touch and feel book. And it really doesn’t get much better than a touch and feel Christmas. Right?

My First Christmas by Tomie dePaula. I always wondered what my kids thought of the holidays when they were babies. This book introduces them to the sites and sounds of the season, and, will be fun for them to look back on as they get older.

The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman. Nancy Tillman has a way with making things special. Personally, I want that feeling around in my Christmas season.

I Spy Little Christmas by Jean Marzollo. Normally for these types of things, I highly suggest sticking to a story. Something to read. But the I Spy series is just too fun and is another way to spend quality time before bed doing something fun.

A Christmas Carol: A BabyLit Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams. This may be the ultimate story for Christmas. Introduce it to them while they’re young and find ways to introduce them to different versions of this tale as they grow older.

Classic storybooks for the Christmas Advent Calendar

As kids grow, their focus grows and we can move away from the board books and into story books. These are my top picks.

The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson. This classic Little Golden Book tells the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The reason for the season.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Another classic that should always fill the 24th day slot in a Book-based Advent Calendar. The particular one I selected here is a recordable Advent Calendar. My husband’s grandfather recorded it for us several years ago. It is such a treasure to hear his voice every year.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. Can’t talk about Christmas without reading about Cindy-Lou of Whoville.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L May.We all know the song, now we get the illustrated story to go along with it.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Kids and adults are drawn to this story. Read the book before watching the movie or before heading out to your local Polar Express Experience.

Frosty the Snowman by Walter Rollins and Steve Nelson. This classic song in book form is a quick read for busy nights.

Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman. There are many versions of this story in different forms. This one was illustrated by Maurice Sendak (of Where the Wild Things are fame). The story has vast appeal to kids – whether they want to see the ballet performance or not.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Nothing compares to our first time experiencing snow. Do that with the little boy city-dweller main character in this classic.

The Christmas ABC by Florence Johnson. Use the alphabet to learn about the sites and sounds of the season.

The Littlest Christmas Elf by Nikki Shannon Smith. Kids love seeing a little elf working and parents love seeing his persistance. Such a heartwarming classic.

Christmas chapter books for the Christmas Advent Calendar

I’m keeping this selection of stories short because chapter books often mean more than one night of reading. These are just a sampling of classics, but you can change it up every year. My suggestion is to pick one chapter book, read it the first night, and read it along with one of the shorter options every night until it’s done.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Since they were introduced to this as a board book, might as well get the real version, too. This illustrated version is sure to captivate.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. We read this because the play is very popular in my city. It’s a fun book and helps parents appreciate what happens to put on a play.

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien. These letters, as the title explains, are letters from Father Christmas. Take time to read one or more a day and enjoy the beautiful illustrations.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I wasn’t introduced to Little Women until my 20s, but I swore I would make sure my kids knew about it earlier. I love this book. It’s one of the only books I’ll buy multiple versions of, but my favorite is from my old hometown favorite illustrator Rifle Paper Co.

New classics for the Christmas Advent Calendar

I don’t really have a rhyme or reason for the following selections. The classic options below are, I feel, books we could’ve come across in our own childhood. These books are just newer. I stayed away from books that feature popular characters or series (so no Mickey Mouse or Llama Llamas), but those will appear in a list soon. No worries. And now for the new classics.

The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert. Honestly, I really just love the photos.

A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe. This sweet tale of an old pine tree who wishes to be a Christmas tree, and the forest animals who try to make his dream come true.

Night Tree by Eve Bunting. A heartwarming peek into a family’s tradition of decorating a forest tree.

When Santa was a Baby by Linda Bailey. Imagining Santa as a baby is everything you thought it would be, while also remaining a complete surprise.

Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin Pingk. Graphic novel fans will love this story about a ninja who wants a snowball fight, but his ninja friends want to stay on Santa’s nice list.

0 October 5, 2016 blogging

Budgeting for a D.I.Y. Advent Calendar

Financially, it’s very easy for things to get out of hand when building a DIY Advent Calendar. With 24 containers to fill, even a budget of $1 per filling adds up fast.

There are many different ways to approach filling the Advent Calendar containers with a budget in mind. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

*For the purposes of this post we’re focusing on advent calendars that have fillings. For ideas on Flat Advent Calendars, come back soon.

The cheapest way to fill an Advent Calendar

Search the internet for cute, free printables for Advent Calendars. These can range from things like scripture, holiday quotes, the nativity, jokes, songs to sings, and more. Print them out and create a chain link display that acts as a vessel. Easy and decorative!

Here are a few to get you started:

Add a Pinch’s Advent Calendar Printable has 30 different activities to give you some options. Best of all? It’s free!
Activities for Kids uses bible verses in their awesome printable chain link Advent Calendar.
Mum in the Madness suggests 50 Acts of Kindness for kids which, if you ask me, is probably one of the most thoughtful ways to celebrate the holidays.
Red Bird Blue’s adorable Christmas story with illustration download is a winner.
Ellie Petrov has plenty of suggestions to go along with her cute blank printables. Pick the items that fit your family and fill it in.

Other cheap options for filling an Advent Calendar

Candy from a larger bag of candy
Toys that are meant to be given as party favors
Crayons with printed coloring sheets, I love these from Pink Stripey Socks which can be turned into ornaments.
Stickers!

My favorite way to approach filling an Advent Calendar

As you know, I love my calendars and I can easily find reasons why I should have several different ones going on throughout the season. However, combining a few of the ideas above to create ONE Advent Calendar helps keep costs low while keeping fun high.

HOT TIP:

Make activities you were planning on doing anyway part of your advent calendar fillers. Keep a calendar next to you and use an index card or fancier to write the activity. Or just include the tickets to the event if you have them.

Free DIY Advent Calendar Planner

If you aren’t doing the same filler for every day, this planner can help you figure out what to put when. I also like to keep it handy in case I have any last minute changes I need to make for some of the activities. Because, yes, a last minute change to visiting Santa sometimes happens.

Download it today and get started on planning your December!

0 October 5, 2016 blogging

Planning an activity-based Advent Calendars kids will love

Activity-based advent calendars are so fun. And kids especially love them. This is a cool way to plan things to highlight the magic of the holidays.

As a mom I love them because it forces me to plan things in advance that highlight the magic of the season.

Thinking of what activities you could possibly add to the activity-based advent calendar? The answer’s simple: All of them!!!

Step 1: Plan the bigger activities for your advent calendar

First, think of some of the bigger activities that you know you’re already going to do. Here are some to help get you thinking:

Get the tree! Whether it’s a trip to the tree farm, the tree store, or the storage unit – make getting the tree an activity.
Decorate the tree!
Decorate the interior of the house!
Decorate the exterior of the house!
Drive around and look at lights!
Make some cookies!
Go to a Christmas Party!
Drink some hot chocolate!
Watch a Christmas movie!
Go to a Christmas event nearby!
Sing some holiday tunes!
Visit Santa!
Write a letter to Santa!

To help sort those items, download the advent calendar planner by clicking on the image below (no sign up needed!)

Step 2: Fill in the calendar with smaller activities

Keep your schedule and time in mind, and start filling in the calendar with smaller activities.

Find a Christmas craft or two you want to do and get to work. When in doubt, make a card using red and green markers.
Try a new hot chocolate or cookie recipe.
Take photos in front of the tree or the house.
Build a snowman if weather allows.
Read a holiday book.
Go see a performance by the local community theater group.
Get tickets to a musical performance.
See the nutcracker.
Attend an Afternoon Tea, or make your own at home.
Buy and wear a Christmas Sweater.
Wear matching PJs.
Donate to your favorite organization.
Volunteer for your favorite organization.
Practice a random act of kindness (or more), this list from We Be Wiebes is an awesome way to start.
Check your local community events for new or old traditions to practice.

Step 3: Get what you need to make it happen

Some of the items on the list above, like “sing a Christmas Carol” can be done on the spot with little planning.

Other items, like going to see a production of the Nutcracker, need some advance planning. You need to find out when it’s showing and buy tickets for the show.

And, still, other activities may need even MORE work. Finding a local charity that is seeking volunteers may require advance registration and/or training. Christmas crafts need to be found, purchased, and planned.

Your second download for this post is something to help make sure you’re have everything in place to make each container activity go off without a hitch.

Step 4: Commit to your plan

You’re ready to go! Commit to your advent calendar activities (use the calendar above to fill in your final activities).

Hot tip!

Keep your D.I.Y Advent Calendar planner ready so you know what to expect each day. If there’s an unforeseen circumstance, you can be ready to make last minute changes. Have an easy back-up ready to go and you’re all set. Crisis averted.

Step 5: Prepare the display

Fill in some kind of card for each activity for the actual advent calendars. Here are some of my favorite ways to do that:

This coffee filter advent calendar is a (somewhat) easy and fun way to display the advent calendar. By scrumdillydilly.
This adorable paper bag with black stencil numbers advent calendar is perfect. The blog is in another language, but the photo makes it easy to figure out how to do it yourself. By gotlandsliv.
This tutorial for a Valentine’s Day countdown can be easily transformed into an Advent Calendar with red and green envelopes shaped into a Christmas tree. By Brit + Co.
This toilet paper roll and felt creation takes a little more work, but the cute elf at the end makes it worth it. By Canadian Living.
And finally this Slovakian blog has a ton of ideas. The site is, of course, in Slovak, but you can use their images for inspiration. By sDetmi.

That’s it! Five steps to a fun-filled, activity-based, unique-to-your-family advent calendar. If you end up making anything, let me know in the comments.