I mentioned last week that nostalgia is back in a big way this season, and nothing is sweeter than the holiday family tradition of filling an advent calendar with little treats, coins, or activities. It makes the countdown to Christmas feel so special!
Chris Loves Julia 3-D Advent Calendar | Pinecone Taper Holders | Brass Display Box | Mini Table Lamp | Mirror | Reeded Cabinet
Holiday Advent Calendars
We created two holiday advent calendars for our Pottery Barn Kids collection, and both of them are based in that vintage collectible feeling. We wanted these to feel like heirloom pieces that have been passed down from family to family. The 3-D Advent Calendar was created with little drawers so you can add a little token, charm, piece of candy, manger pieces, ornament, or activity note. I could picture this on a mantle (if your kids are really little) or a side table that older kids can open each day.
Chris Loves Julia Advent Calendar | Kids Anywhere Chair | Vintage Toy Ornaments | Aged Oak Dresser
And then our wall-hanging Advent Calendar has pockets that are generous enough for larger gifts or activity notes that come with a present. When we were on set with Pottery Barn Kids to photograph the collection, we stuffed that one with candy canes and wrapped presents. This can hang anywhere, the side of the fridge, on the wall, on the back of the door...it's easy to fold up and store too after the season ends. I love that we took all of the different patterns that are present in our collection and made the pockets out of those. You can personalize both of them too for just $15 each! These make a really fun gift.
Start a Tradition of Christmas Activities
I just love the idea of writing down a bucket list of Christmas activities to do and adding them to the advent calendar. They don't have to be expensive or extravagant—one of ours last year was to do a Christmas puzzle together. A couple of years ago we made a faux gingerbread house that was a BIG hit with my sisters. And 11 years ago (!!!) I created a family holiday activity list that I put in my dressed-up handmade advent calendar.
Sometimes this season can be a LOT. Who has time to come up with a bunch of fun ideas in the midst of planning gatherings, attending kids' fall school events, and shopping for presents?? To give you a head start, we created a printable advent calendar of holiday family activities that you can cut out and tuck into your advent calendar on the days that you like!
Free Christmas Activity Printable
Download the Christmas activities advent calendar printable below!
Shop Advent Calendars
In case you are looking for an advent calendar for your family, I rounded up some more of my favorites over at the CLJ Shop.
What holiday traditions do you have with your family? Let me know what Christmas activities you love so we can add to our bucket list this year!!
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Picnic around the Christmas tree, Grinch day (slightly different every year. Day consists of Grinch pancake breakfast, making Grinch slime/playdoh with red hearts, writing something kind you did on a heart and taping
it up, Grinch board game, green food for dinner and ending with family movie night of watching the Grinch movie.) write a kind note to a neighbor and friend and drop it in their mailbox, sponsee a child and go shopping for the kid together.