Our Advent Calendar Family Tradition

The advent calendar has become one of our most cherished December traditions. It's a simple way to create daily moments of joy and anticipation throughout the holiday season.

Creating Our Calendar

We make our own advent calendar each year. The kids love helping to create it, and it becomes a special project we work on together in November.

What Goes Inside

Each day contains a small surprise or activity:

• Small treats or candies
• Notes with kind messages
• Activity suggestions for the day
• Small toys or trinkets
• Special family time ideas

Daily Ritual

Opening the advent calendar has become a morning ritual. The kids take turns opening each day's surprise, and we all gather to see what's inside.

Building Anticipation

The calendar helps build excitement for the holidays while teaching patience. Waiting for each day teaches valuable lessons about delayed gratification.

Meaningful Activities

Some days contain activity suggestions rather than treats. These might include:

• Baking cookies together
• Writing thank you notes
• Doing a kind deed for someone
• Reading a holiday story
• Making decorations

Creating Memories

Each year, we look back on our advent calendar experiences. The kids remember their favorite surprises and activities, and these become part of our family story.

The Joy of Giving

We also include days that focus on giving to others. Whether it's donating to a food drive or making cards for neighbors, these activities teach the importance of generosity.

A Simple Tradition

What makes this tradition special isn't the size of the surprises, but the daily moment of connection and anticipation it creates for our family.

Do you have an advent calendar tradition? We'd love to hear about it!