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So anyway, I moved away from the candy for obvious reasons, and started going on these intense retail hunts looking for little toys that were tiny enough to fit behind those doors. This was no easy task, and to top it off that stuff really was just “junk” too since they were mainly little plastic items made in China that our children quickly forgot about or lost. So I no longer feel like racing around town and spending time/money on little knickknacks our kids honestly do not need. And I also don’t feel it’s necessary to fill this little house with organic less-junky candy (that is still candy by the way) during an already sugary time of year.
So inspired by This Lunch Rox, below is the official list for our newly renamed “Giving House.” And the criteria for these ideas were basically random acts of kindness that you could perform without having to go somewhere special (like a shelter or hospital). Of course going to such places on a regular basis would be fabulous in an ideal world, but I know how it is around the holidays so I personally did not want to over-commit during an already busy time! My girls seem to be okay with this change so far, and I am even including a free business card sized “printable” version of this list in case you want to follow suit and simply cut out these ideas for your own Advent calendar as well. I’d love to hear any other Advent ideas and suggestions in the comments below!
Our New Advent “Giving House” List
- Mail a card to a relative that you have not spoken to in a while.
- Do something especially nice and out of the ordinary for your sister or brother.
- Write a letter to your teacher telling them what you most like about his or her class.
- Give someone a nice compliment they wouldn’t normally expect.
- Pack your own school lunch so mommy can take the night off.
- Go out of your way to “help” another child or adult.
- Play with a friend at school that is alone at recess.
- Choose 2 or 3 non-perishable food items that you can set aside to donate to a local food bank.
- Write a thank you note to someone who has helped you recently.
- Cut some flowers out of your yard (or make flowers out of tissue paper) and give them to either a teacher at your school or a neighbor.
- Sit with someone different at lunch that you don’t know very well (and get to know them!).
- Decorate cards that you can mail to children who are sick and in some cases fighting cancer (cards can also be sent to their siblings).
- If you see a piece of trash on the ground (at home, school, or outside) pick it up and throw it away...be sure to wash your hands afterward!
- Choose at least one article of clothing to donate to Goodwill or a child in need.
- Email your congressman or the President asking them to consider an issue that you feel is important for your community.
- Make a small craft and mail it to one of your cousins.
- When you get to school ask your teacher if there is something you can do to help him or her in order to get the morning started.
- Tell each member of your immediate family what you love about them.
- Choose at least one toy or book to donate to Goodwill or a child in need.
- Offer to take one of your neighbor’s dogs (or your own dog) for a walk.
- Do a chore around the house that no one has asked you to do, but that needs to be done!
- Call one of your grandparents on the phone (or facetime/skype!).
- Write a letter to a soldier thanking him or her for serving our country.
- With your parents help research a charity you can either donate money to or support through a future event (like a “fun run” or soup kitchen). Put it on the calendar and commit to it.
- Give everyone in your family a big {squeeze} hug and kiss and tell them what you are thankful for.
Amber {Kingwood Drive} says
We have done an activity based advent calendar for two years now and our 5 year old loves it! I think it makes each day a little more special than if he was just getting a piece of candy. Please check ours out at kingwooddrive.com.
Kizzie says
Wow, I LOVE this! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!
Agnes Martell says
When my kids were younger we always did an "Advent Chain" (which was just a construction paper chain -- in the pink and purple advent colors -- that had an item written on the inside) that was similar. The kids would take turn pulling one link off the chain every day and reading the family activity for that day.
I used an actual calendar when planning, and laid out actual events that took place on specific days (school concerts, Christmas parties, set out shoes for St. Nicholas Day, etc.)first, then I added in other things that needed to get done (bake Christmas cookies, set up crib/crèche, buy/decorate tree, wrap presents, etc.) and finally filled it out with "fun stuff" (in-house Christmas movie night, ice skating, movie-theater movie night, etc.)
Started doing this when my kids were in grade school and did it all the way up until they got too busy in high school. :-(
They still talk about it.
Amanda says
This is jus what was thinking of doing, thanks for the info.
Susan Rowe-Jones says
This is great. Do you have a similar idea for my three teens+ please?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there. Lisa has young girls and has not tailored it to other age groups. This mom blogger has: http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/11/clutterfreeadventcalendar/. ~Amy
Amber says
WONDERFUL!!!
Rochelle says
Does anyone have a newer site for sending cards to sick kids? It looks like the one you linked to is outdated. Thanks!
Lea says
DeviantArt.com has a current project right now, at http://madizzlee.deviantart.com/journal/Holiday-Card-Project-2013-412206609
You don't need to sign up or be a member, they will still get the card(s) to someone in need :)
"All cards should be received by December 16, 2013.
Where do I send a card? Please use the following address:
deviantART, Inc.
Holiday Card Project
7095 Hollywood Blvd., #788
Hollywood, CA 90028
U.S.A."
Lea says
I forgot to mention that the cards in this project go to all ages, not just kids, and some cards will be sent internationally. :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Rochelle. I just checked the link and it worked for me: http://www.hugsandhope.org/kidslist.htm. ~Amy
Jennie says
Thank you!
Amy @ A Journey of Purpose says
This is great! I just printed the activities of kindness and will start this tomorrow. thanks for the great idea! We are also doing Truth in the Tinsel with my kiddos, see my link below to get 20% off.
http://ajourneyofpurpose.com/wordpress/an-advent-experience-for-little-hands/
Georganna says
Thank you!! I have been trying to come up with something just like this to encourage GIVING and help my little ones realize what joy that can bring!! I am printing and cutting now for tomorrow!!
Melissa S. says
What a sweet idea! We also have an advent calendar with little drawers. In each drawer is a mini-ornament for a mini-tree. The ornaments are stars, bells, and the nativity set. Each night we read a part of the Christmas story and place the ornament in the corresponding box on the tree. I tried to match the ornaments with the part of the story we were reading, but that was when we read only a sentence or two a night (when my boys were younger). They are older now, but still get excited about putting the ornaments on the tree during December.
Trisha Y. says
What a great idea! Thanks! :)
Kristine says
Hi,
I love the printable but not all of them suit my needs, or are age-appropriate for my two kids (3 and 5). Having two versions, one with and one without the numbering, would be very helpful. Thank you for your consideration!
Christina Street says
Anyone looking for a similar item...the craft stores ( ACMoore, Micheals) often have a wooden tree with drawers that you paint however you'd like.
Sheila says
I was a child of the 1950's and attended Catholic school so this has an obviously religious slant. The nuns had an empty cradle which would hold Baby Jesus on December 25th at Christmas Mass.
There was a large basket of straw and we were told that for each kind deed we did, we were allowed to put one piece of straw in the crib, but we couldn't let anyone see us do it. The nuns also explained that we could "build a bed" for Jesus in our hearts and with childish immagination it could be as elaborate as one could make it. Each kind act or good deed translated into stiches for a soft warm blanket or fluffy bedding. I remember the wonderful feelings all these years later. An Advent Calendar of the heart and mind.
Amanda says
Very neat! Thank you for sharing!
Kristin says
We had a similar cradle idea in the 1980's from Catholic religion class. We were given a little wooden crib, a small plastic baby Jesus and cut up yellow yarn to take home. During advent we could add a piece of yarn in the crib for each day we were good. I like the GOOD DEED idea much better then good behavior.
Vicki says
We have a similar box. I have four daughters and what they want most is more of me. The girls take turns opening the doors. I put notes in there that are spending individual time with me. For example, "Stay up 30 minutes past bed time to read with mommy", "Mommy will sing to you and rock you", Go on a walk with just mommy, etc. With four girls (5, 8, 8, and 10) getting time with just mommy is a real treat. This year I will add some just Daddy things too.
Sandra says
This is such a good Idea last year I was able to find a play dough one that each day they got a little tub of play dough or a mould to make Christmas stuff , a lot more expensive but I wouldn't feed my children that chocolate even if they liked it this year indeed to try and find one of those houses
Sara M says
I love this! Thank you for sharing!
Cheril says
I do an Advent Ribbon with my 2. I use recycled toilet paper tubes and cover them with cheap, often recycled gift wrap and ribbon from the year before. Each little package is tied to a big main ribbon. In the packages are small things the girls can use thru out the year, school supplies, personal care items, and craft items to make. Felt ornaments, string and bead bracelets, things to decorate a picture frame with, pencils, crayons, erasers, stickers to put on cards and letters, stamps to mail the cards with. Some of these items the kids have put together and given to friends. Some times it's a recipe for some thing we can make together to have as a family or give away like cookies to neighbors. It becomes easy to find things to put in when you get over the "visions of sugar plumbs".
Amanda says
Love the suggestions
Nancy says
I love all of it except the part about donating to Goodwill. See list of organizations below.
THINK BEFORE YOU DONATE!
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS: As you open your pockets to do a good thing and make yourself feel good, please keep the following facts in mind:
The American Red Cross
President and CEO Marsha J. Evans'
salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
MARCH OF DIMES
It is called the March of Dimes because
only a dime for every 1 dollar is given to the needy.
The United Way
President Brian Gallagher
receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
UNICEF
CEO Caryl M. Stern receives
$1,200,000 per year (100k per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE.
Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
GOODWILL
CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.
Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business.
You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT.
He pays nothing for his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy.
$0.00 goes to help anyone!
Stop giving to this man.
Instead, give it to ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
GO "GREEN" AND PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE IT WILL DO SOME GOOD:
The Salvation Army
Commissioner, Todd Bassett receives a small salary of only
$13,000 per year(plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.
96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.
The American Legion
National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Disabled American Veterans
National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Military Order of PurpleHearts
National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Vietnam Veterans Association
National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
Make a Wish: For children's last wishes.
100% goes to funding trips or special wishes for a dying child.
St. Jude Research Hospital
100% goes towards funding and helping Children with Cancer who have no insurance and cannot afford to pay.
Ronald McDonald Houses
All monies go to running the houses for parents who have critically ill Children in the hospital.
100% goes to housing, and feeding the families.
Kristin says
Thanks for the great info, I knew to avoid donating to the Red Cross, but hadn't heard about the others. We make it a point to only donate to organizations with low overheard and NEVER donate over the phone as most callers are paid professional fundraisers.
Our personal favorite charity is Food For The Poor. My kids go on-line with my husband and choose what our donation will be used for, such as a cow, chickens, pigs, seeds, tools, a water pump, etc. Many hand-up not hand-out choices.
Kimberlee says
Love this idea and will totally use some of the cards. Several years ago when we cut out the "garbage food" I began putting tiny ornaments in most days and interspersing them with candy canes and other candies that I get online which are made from 100% decent ingredients. That way I feel like they still get a treat but it's less than it used to be and they get to add to the tree as the season progresses. Thanks for the great tips!
Alison says
I loved your list of ideas for the "Giving House" and decided to do it with my 3 kids. We had an absolute blast with it. I cut out the cards, folded them & deposited them in a mason jar with a gold ribbon... and the "Giving Jar" was born. My kids took turns drawing one out each day. I have to say it was one of my favorite things about the Christmas season, and it was a joy to see how they were transformed by these little acts of kindness. Thank you so much for sharing your idea & for doing such a phenomenal job with this blog.
Lauryn Keeler says
This year I have taken to leaving notes that direct them where to go to find a special ornament or craft project. Not nearly as noble as yours, but I too, just don't want the whole candy thing going on. Sometimes, in order to find the card with the instructions, they have to say a prayer or their memory verse first. This is the first year for this and they love it, but I am afraid I may run out of rhymes and creativity. Your list gives me more ideas...Thanks!
RobinsView says
Thank you so much for posting this! We have been doing this the last four days and my 9 year old (who hates to write anything) has been excited to do the tasks. He even found his own card and had the first one done within minutes of opening it. He happily wrote a letter to his teacher after school yesterday and is excited to not only compliment one person today, he has decided to make it a challenge to see how many people he can compliment. I can't thank you enough for posting this easy to put together list!
Alex Green says
This is such an awesome idea! There are always so many sweets around the holiday season. My mom always gives me bags of candy at Christmas, and I asked her not to this year. I don't want all that refined sugar (and knowing me, I'd have it all eaten in like two days).
I love that so many of these involve doing nice things for others. That's what people should focus on this season anyway, not getting short-lived gratification through gifts.
Kristi says
I make a big santa face with his beard being a calander, then hang it up. Each night before bed we fill in a number by gluing in cotton balls, and by christmas santa has a full cotton ball beard! My mom did this for me when I was a kid, and now I do it with my kids. I never even heard of an advent calander until I married my husband and my german mother-in-law gave us one.
Shannon says
Thank you for this idea! Simple, yet fun!!
Cathy Donovan says
Why do you refer to "junk toys from China". Junk toys are junk toys. Just as junk food is junk food, whether it's from China or Indiana junk is junk.
Critical Reader says
I am not exactly sure what the definition of "junk toy" is. But maybe Lisa referred to all those little poorly made "junky" things you collect over the course of time, preferably with goodie bags (hint to Lisa: please write a post about goodie bags at birthday parties; my experience is, that those bags contain the worst-of-the-worst of all toys and candies you can find on our earth).
However, there are "non-junkie" little plastic thingies out, for instance Playmobil (German company) has wonderful little figurines or Schleich (German company also) animals and so on.
Nancy says
Probably because the toys from china have been known to contain lead and they truly are junk. Most of those little toys and trinkets are made in China. That's just a fact.
Lori Griffith says
Love this idea! THANKS so much for sharing! I just printed the cards! Thanks again and Merry Christmas! :)
Keeley says
I have also heard of putting in just a nice activity to do together, like read a story together, sing a Christmas carol together, make tonight's bath a bubble bath instead of a regular bath, color with chalk outside together, etc.
Kristin says
I love that you shared your creative idea for advent calendar. In case someone doesn't feel they have the time to even do these things, I'll share what we did when our kids were little.
We had wooden cut-out of a Christmas tree shape with teeny little nails all over it. Someone made this for a craft fair so there were dough mini ornaments with a loop of wire glued to the back. You could easily find little items that would work as ornaments. The tree was about 8" and glued to a backer board that had more teeny nails numbered for the day. So each day the children got a turn to place an ornament on that little tree.
Have fun!
Tracy Darrow says
Love your idea of giving to others. We've done something similar giving to others, but kept it in the family. I write up things that I appreciate in each of my children (2, so 12 different things for each of them) on a small piece of paper and stuff one in each little compartment and would add a Hershey's Kiss or Reeses' Peanut Butter Cup to remind them to stay sweet. They really look forward to the words of praise and walk a little taller each day.
Wishing everyone a holiday season full of blessings! Keep up the great website!
Shoes says
What a wonderful idea! Not only are you avoiding candy and junky toys but you are teaching your kids some great lessons about giving and kindness.
Shrazzi says
Those are such great ideas! It makes the countdown so much more meaningful.
KJ says
When we were little, we had a felt calendar that had a tree on top. Each day, we got to transfer a velcro ornament from the calendar to the tree.
Another idea would be to play a Christmas song each day. If the kids are old enough, they could sing the song or make up a dance to it.
LeMira says
Thanks! I have that house (except a different paint job) from Target, and I was wondering what I could do instead of candy this year. I wanted to do something similar, and you've helped me out!
Rachael says
I love this! We have done a paper chain, and each day you tore one off to count down for Christmas. One year, I was going to write one detil of the Christmas story on each link of the chain, but decided I wasn't that organized. This year, my MIL bought a candy advent calendar. I was not thrilled, but of course she presented it to my daughter first, who is do excited, I think we are stuck for this year. But I love this idea, maybe I can track down a "giving house" and inform my MIL of it in advance next year!
Jennifer Kindle says
I love this and am printing it out now. We have a unique advent stocking thing my friend made for us and I haven't wanted to stick candy in it but wasn't sure what else I could do...thanks for the printable! We are using starting TODAY!!!
Annie says
I love this! I don't have kids yet, but heck I might just do this myself (without the cute house). I think we all could use reminding of how small actions can make a big difference in someone else's life.
Angela says
My 8 year old doesn't know that the Advent Box is for gum, candy, treats at all. She never did. We bought a tiny tree (12") and a lot of the mini ornaments at a craft store after Christmas a few years back, and as the days go by an ornament is added. Baby Jesus goes on the tree on Christmas Day. Shh... don't tell us what goodies your kids get - she might hear!
PS Love the idea of something nice to do each day as you count down the days. May have to start that on this year's advent tree :)
Denise says
Man, I wish I had seen this before I stuffed our advent house last night...definitely will be looking for this post before next year. I have had the same dilemma. Have moved away from junk food and now it is junk toys from china that I really don't want the kids to have.
Robin Jingjit says
I love your advent calendar and also many of the great ideas in the comments.
We're have the boys open a christmas book to read as a family every night (THey aren't new gifts... a bunch I got from the library plus the ones we already had - i just wrapped them up like presents - great idea from pinterest)
I also have a set of tiny ornaments that we bought years ago. I think I'll drop one in each pocket and let them add it to the tree.