24 Days of Activities for Little Hands and Minds: An Addition or Alternative to the Advent Calendar

In the last couple of years, Advent Calendars have evolved from pictured doors, to crappy chocolate, to good chocolate, to toys, to beer... you get the idea.

I am not a huge fan of the crappy chocolate. Mostly because I have to expend way too much early morning energy just to keep *someone* from eating it, at least until they've downed a piece of toast for 24 whole days. That, and if it's good chocolate, it's likely supposed to be shared, which also presents a problem in this house.

This year, I go back to work on Dec 1. Our daycare is out of commission until January 1, so my mom is helping us out. This is a HUGE job, with my two kids for one person! To help keep them busy, I have been building some ideas to make an activity calendar for the month. I thought I would share 24 days of advent links and ideas because most of them came from my craft cupboard, Value Village, and the Dollar Store. I promise you, I spent 20$ max on this whole extravaganza. Some of these activities I know will be used again and again! I have them each in a bag (no fancy wrapping over here, though you could to up the *wow* factor).

December 1: A bag of used Hot Wheels, and a roll of masking tape. He will LOVE the new cars! Thanks VV.



http://3littlerascals.tumblr.com/post/13617648525/masking-tape-roads

December 2:  The Three Little Pigs, reenacted. 3 plastic pigs, a wolf, a bag of straw, some collected sticks, some lego bricks, and the book. 


http://thismummaslife.com/2013/11/05/three-little-pigs-playdough/

December 3: Book: Corduroy's First Christmas (a fav. from growing up)- Thanks Value Village for the 1$ brand new book!


December 4: Beads and Pipe cleaners: Christmas snowflakes for the tree. I love to have an ornament that the kids have made each year. 



http://kids.baristanet.com/2011/01/ask-holly-beaded-snowflakes/

December 5: DVD from Value Village: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer 



December 6: Glass jars, Modge Podge and food colouring. Candle Holders? Gift Jars?



http://handsonaswegrow.com/how-to-tint-mason-jars/

December 7: Sugar Cookies to decorate




December 8: DIY Farm scene for the train table: Felt roads, pond and green pasture plus dollar store animals. 




http://mommyknows.com/felt-play-mat-tutorial-sort-of/

Decmber 9: Book: Usborne pirate flap book (VV $1- I KNOW, I seriously hit the jackpot!)



December 10: Cotton ball Snowman finger puppets



http://handsonaswegrow.com/winter-craft-snowman-puppets/

December 11: Foam Decorated Gingerbread men




December 12: Train Tracks for the wooden set with embellishments
To give credit, here's the blog, but it's in Spanish! You get the idea from the picture. I also made grass ones. 



http://systraseidur.blogspot.ca/2011/09/innblastur-i-rigningunni.html

December 13: Graham Cracker Gingerbread houses



http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Gingerbread-Houses-Using-Graham-Crackers

December 14: DIY Construction site: A tote full of fish tank rocks, larger rocks, nuts, bolts and other odds and ends, and a set of small construction vehicles from Value Village. 



http://crabandfish.blogspot.ca/2012/09/minidiy-pint-sized-construction-site.html

December 15: Book: Twas the Night Before Christmas (VV)


December 16: Popsicle stick Christmas trees and other shapes



http://thewhoot.com.au/whoot-news/crafty-corner/popsicle-stick-art-ideas

December 17: Mini Marshmallow snowmen



http://happyhomefairy.com/2011/01/12/winter-craft-marshmallow-snowman/

December 18: (I will likely have to swap this for a day when it actually snows). Spray bottles full of coloured water, for snow paint. 

Please tell me that this one doesn't need instructions.

December 19: Salt Dough Ornaments



http://hivingout.blogspot.ca/2010/11/salt-dough-ornaments.html

December 20: Lace and Trace decorate stockings and blowing bubbles



http://rp010.k12.sd.us/Classroom%20Themes/christmas_around_the_world.htm

December 21: Plastic dinos to replace the farm animal scene. Pleistoscene to make props for the play table. 



http://www.creativeplayhouse.mumsinjersey.co.uk/2013/02/dinosaur-small-world.html

** Also, do a dino ice excavation !


If you have seen this one before, this link is worth a look. It explores different ways of extracting the dinos for little hands!!


http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/icy-dinosaur-excavation-sensory-play/


December 22: Painting and decorating Christmas trees with pompoms


http://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/pom-pom-painting-christmas-tree-craft-for-toddlers.html

December 23: DIY Fizzy bathtub paints



http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012/12/fizzing-bath-paint-recipe.html

December  24:  Supplies to write a special letter to Santa, and The Grinch DVD

http://www.aletter4santa.com/

Many of these sites out there; still have some time to look around and see what might be the best.

Lots of great activities for throughout the year; Hope there are some in there for everyone!