Okay, so you picked a calendar and maybe even made it (or you're going to soon!! I know, I know :) oh boy do I know!). Now you've got to tackle 24 days of small prizes or activities (or both). Chances are you've got a pretty good idea where you want to go with this, and don't feel like you have to do them all in one day (maybe 3-4 a day), whether it be shopping for treasures or brainstorming activities, do whatever you need to have that calendar ready and raring to go December 1st (sans the November 30 midnight meltdown).
If you're going to activity route, pull out the calendar and think of the things you know you'll be doing for sure. Things like meeting Santa, local parades or festivals, Christmas parties, and school concerts probably already have a set date, which makes it easy. Next think of the things that are more flexible datewise, but again you're certain to do. Things like mailing letters to Santa, ice skating or sledding, making Christmas Cookies, going Christmas lighting, etc. By this point you should be at least half-way full of activities, now brainstorm things to fill in like easy age-appropriate craft projects, fun holiday themed recipes, service activities. Be sure to have some real easy days, don't make them all super involved, and it might be a good idea to not necessarily number your activities (in case you need to do some rearranging!).
Here's a big list of inspiration if you're coming up short! I would love to hear your ideas too!
- Letters to Santa (drop off at big red mailbox @ Macy's for a sweet photo op)
- Pictures with Santa
- Christmas Parade
- Sledding
- Ice Skating
- Snowman Pizza
- Decorate Christmas Cookies
- Gingerbread Houses
- Make Bear Candy Sleds
- Make these cute "squeeze my cheeks and i'll give you a kiss" ornaments
- Make Clove Orange Pomander Balls
- DIY Snowglobes
- Pine Cone Christmas Trees
- Candy Cane Reindeer
- Paper Strip Christmas Tree
- Peppermint Candy Wreath
- Get and Decorate Your Christmas Tree
- Christmas Family Movie Night (although I suggest keeping these separate because you should totally have much more than one!! Click here for last years series on Holiday Must Watch movies)
- Fill a Operation Christmas Child shoebox
- Make and leave gift for the mailman/delivery man/etc.
- Christmas theme manicures (snowman, candy cane stripes, Santa Hats, reindeer)
- Make Angelina's Hot Chocolate (famous in Paris!)
- Assemble teacher gifts
- Have a random act of kindness day :)
- Make snow ice cream
- Make Christmas treats for local firemen
- Make Christmas Cards for Service Men & Women
- Candy Cane Mice
- Go Christmas Caroling (maybe at a local nursing home)
- Visit A Living Nativity
- Christmas Concert
- Premade Christmas Craft Kits (find at joann's or other craft store, look near the front in the dollar section)
- Handprint Angels
- Make & Hang Snowflakes
- Christmas Scavenger Hunt
- Read the Story of Jesus's Birth in the Bible
- hang an easy backdrop and have a Christmas "photo booth"
- If you're lucky enough to live by a zoo, chances are they have some sort of Christmas lights to go see.
- Christmas train ride (if you live near one, they might have a Santa train or Polar express event, check it out!)
- Shopping trip for sibling gifts
- Have a Christmas pajama brunch with a few friends
- Make popcorn or cranberry garland
- Family living room camp out under the Christmas tree
- Christmas music Dance Party :)
- Take Christmas Photo of Pets :P
- Have a Family Minute to Win It Tournament
- Act out the Nativity Story
- Pick a recipe and tweak it to be your signature recipe (i.e. toffee, fudge, caramels, etc.)
- Decorate Gingerbread Boys/Girls
- Paper Christmas Wreaths
And then if you are going to small trinket/gift or candy route, here are some fun ideas:
- Mini Harmonica
- Miniature Hand-Crank music box
- Lip balm (EOS is a fun sphere-shaped brand)
- expanding wash cloths (at most dollar stores)
- Bouncy Balls
- Silly Putty
- Stick-on mustaches
- hand puppet tattoos
- miniature camera flashlight
- miniature babies (there are disney princess baby dolls at the checkout of Walmart, they're overpriced if you ask me, but size wise they'd be perfect!!)
- matchbox cars
- Christmas Pez
- Cell-phone dust plugs (for the older kiddos)
- punching ball balloons
- miniature erasers
- glow in the dark star stickers
- Certificates for ice cream treat to Dairy Queen (remember the tokens?? I don't know if they still do that)
- $2 bill or silver dollar coin or 50 cent piece (ask bank, maybe?)
- Christmas Socks
- Barrettes or hair bows
- Ear Buds
- guitar pics
- bath and body works mini hand sanitizers
- Gloves
- Chocolate Gold Coins
Are you following along with my 31 days to get a jump start on Christmas? Click to image below to see other posts in this series
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