Craft + Party

Toddler Advent Activities

holiday traditions, chritsmas traditions, family traditions, family heritage, christmas activities, christmas paper chain, christmas craft, advent calendanr, holiday charity

Do you remember making these paper advent calendars at school? I do… and I loved them! After searching around for a simple and fun to make an advent calendar, I decided that I would stick to what I know and incorporate the paper chain advent calendar into our family holiday traditions. This easy Christmas craft is also a great addition to your advent activities too!

 

Toddler Advent Activities

toddler advent activities

Paper Chain

Nothing fancy; just strips of paper stapled together to create a chain perfect for little fingers to tear, one for each day closer to Christmas. Alina pretty much has no clue why a paper chain is hanging on the wall  in between her and Sebastian’s room, but she likes the idea of being able to rip paper. And it being Christmas.

There are many advent calendars out there with little slots that hold daily treats for the kids. I’ve seen treats such as little chocolates, other food goodies, even big ol’ gifts. But. Here’s the thing. In raising my kids, and building our family heritage, I want this season to be about more than treats and gifts. Alina and Sebastian will be ridiculously spoiled come Christmas day, make no doubt about it. And, in general, these kids lead a very charmed life on a daily basis. So, offering an unearned daily treat just didn’t seem right to me. The holiday season should be about more than just self, and if even still a toddler, laying the foundation of generosity, appreciation of family and recognition of friendship is important to do. This is the time to establish meaningful holiday traditions.

On the inside of each ring that makes up our paper chain advent calendar, I’ve written an activity for us to complete that day. Some are simple, but some are family sized excursions that Alina will especially enjoy. Here are some ideas…

Christmas Traditions – Toddler Sized Charity

We’ve been using the words “generous” and “charity” much more these days. In a purposed, yet age appropriate way, I prompt Alina to visualize herself giving to others. It was shocking how resistance she was to it at first. But through simple analogies, she has gotten much better in just thinking about donating toys. On our advent calendar, we have two days that I foresee being a challenge. Alina wants a toy (pink) horse for Christmas; she has seen and asked Santa twice for it. So, we will be purchasing a toy horse to donate to “a little girl who doesn’t have as much”. Also, I have been preparing Alina for the day when we donate the largest toy she owns. It’s actually a hand me down from a friend, and in its place Alina is getting a sparkly new kitchen on December 25th, but since she doesn’t know that, the thought of donating this toy has been rough. I’m not even sure it will happen before Christmas, but at least we are discussing it. A few other charitable activities include: thanking our favorite Librarians with thoughtful cards and gifts, being sure to wish strangers a cheerful “Happy Holidays!” and showing gratitude.  What toddler sized charitable activities do you incorporate?

Appreciating our Friends and Family – Holiday Traditions

This season we want to make sure our friends know how much they are loved. For those that live in other states, Alina and I are making cards while talking about our special friendships. We’ll be sending love notes all over the country – from Atlanta to South Carolina to Northern California. We also planned advent activities and invited our Vegas friends to enjoy those moments. Activities include: building gingerbread houses, writing letters to Santa, going shopping for Daddies and Christmas crafts. It is also my sister’s birthday in December, so focusing on her is also on our advent calendar to remind Alina that the holidays are a time to celebrate her Auntie, too.

A few advent activities that we are cherishing as a family of four include: making snowflakes to hang in her bedroom, reading “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (Alina is a huge Dr Seuss fan – check our her Dr Seuss Party!), have a picnic dinner under our Christmas tree, make homemade hot coco, go ice skating and a few other fun local activities.

holiday traditions, paper chain advent calendar, advent calendar, family heritage, family traditions, latino family, positive parenting

 Cheers to a splendid holiday season!

  • Stephanie Chavez
    December 3, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    We really are feeling the same about what lessons we want to teach our kiddos during the holidays ha! We’re doing the same thing with a note a day, only the notes are inside a small wooden advent calendar house. So much better than a candy or toy for sure because like you said, they will be showered with gifts come Christmas day. You want to hear something funny too?! My daughter has requested a pink pony toy for Christmas (along with a few other things of course), lol.

  • Stephanie Chavez
    December 3, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    P.s. I LOVE the “have a picnic under the Christmas tree” note! I’m gonna have to switch one out for that one :D.

  • Vegas Lights: Ethel M Chocolate's Holiday Cactus Garden - De Su Mama
    December 4, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    […] If for no other reason at all, spending the evening at Ethel M Chocolate Factory Holiday Cactus Garden. It was low stress, low budget, focused on holiday cheer and family bonding. It was also day two of my Advent Activities Calendar. […]

  • Mexican Hot Chocolate: A Simple, Festive Recipe - De Su Mama
    December 7, 2012 at 11:04 am

    […] weather cools, out come the recipes to warm your body and your heart. It was already planned on our advent activities for toddlers calendar, but after Alina tried her first Mexican Hot Chocolate on our visit to the Holiday Cactus […]

  • Carrie Potter
    December 10, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    Vanessa, I am enjoying your blog and the Toddler sized activities, Thank you! I also though you would appreciate this… When putting out Tree up we had to rearrange toy and of course we decided it was also a good time to give some away (we have explained that there are children who don’t have toys). So our largest toy and a favorite, was a pink castle tent. The girls loved playing hide and seek in it and pilling their favorite toys in it. The castle took up the spot where we put our tree each year so as we were taking it down and Taylor started asking questions about if we would put it back after Christmas, etc. by the end of the conversation she said, “Maybe we should give it to the kids who don’t have any toys?” Our hearts melted and we took it to Goodwill! Tomorrow we are going to my husband’s office to give two new toys to “kids who don’t have toys” and I can’t wait to see Taylor’s reaction-Morgan (18 month) is still a little young to understand but she will be giving one of the toys too!

  • Holiday Traditions: The Gingerbread House - De Su Mama
    December 11, 2012 at 9:40 am

    […] to enjoy the toddler activities from our Advent calendar, which for sure will become one of the holiday traditions we do for many years to come. On the 8th day of Christmas, while Dad was away playing a round of […]

  • Thanksgiving Turkey Gratitude Craft for Little Ones - De Su Mama
    November 4, 2013 at 2:08 am

    […] overwhelmed with life and forget your blessings. This Thanksgiving gratitude craft, much like our Toddler Advent Calendar last year, is meant to instruct Alina about the power of gratitude, while reminding me to practice […]

  • Advent Calendar Activities: Family Holiday Traditions - De Su Mama
    December 24, 2014 at 7:57 am

    […] year, Alina and I started our 25 Toddler Advent Activities that focused on charity, family and friends. She doesn’t remember every detail, but after […]