Advent calendars-what types of things to put in the pockets

[Cali]

I've been thinking of advent calendars lately even though I'm pretty sure my DD is still too young to understand one (almost 22 mo). I'm seeing a lot of calendars that have pockets or boxes that you put goodies in. Growing up we had a cardstock-type where you opened "doors" to reveal little pictures inside. No goodies/trinkets were involved. So, for the type with pockets or boxes that you put stuff in.....what type of things do you put in these?

[minerleague]

Last year I just did one of the cardstock calendars like you grew up with. I got it from Hallmark and it was the story of the birth of Jesus. Even though DDs didn't get it, 15 months at the time, they still liked opening the windows and looking at the pictures.

This year I looked on etsy.com and The Crafty Crow, which is a children's craft collective blog (she has a whole section on Advent calendars) for ideas for the type of calendar to make.

I'm short on ideas too. I plan on doing a combination of trinkets, candy, activities, etc. Here's what I have so far (my girls are 22 mos too, so some of these will wait till next year):

watch a Disney DVD (sounds silly, but would be a big deal for them)
make pine cone feeders for the birds (pine cones, peanut butter, roll in bird seed)
make cocoa
indoor swimming at local family activity center
peppermints
chocolates
quarters
go ice skating
make/decorate cookies with Mom
take food/toy to a shelter
paint toe nails Christmas colors (will wait until next yr on this for sure)
visit Santa Claus
make/send cards to grandparents
decorate Christmas tree for their room
drive around looking at Christmas lights

I can't wait to see what other people come up with! Have fun.

[CarrieW]

We are in the process of making one right now. I found it in my Family Fun magazine.

A Cone-iferous Advent | Homemade Advent Calendars | FamilyFun

DD has just started collecting Squinkies so most of them will have 1 squinkie underneath. I also bought a little bracelet from the dollar spot at Target. The rest may just have a Tootsie Roll under them. I may have to do the cookie baking thing also. She would like that.

[smileygirl]

I kind of do the same thing as minerleague. We call it the Advent fairy around here. Every day, the "Advent fairy" (aka- me) leaves a slip of paper behind the door of the day that has some sort of craft activity or other fun thing to do as a family. Most of my kids are older so our ideas might be a little to advanced for your little one. Here's what I had on the list last year:

Make a construction paper Christmas countdown chain
Write letters to Santa
Learn about other Christmas customs and traditions celebrated around the world
See Nutcracker ballet (me and dd)
Decorate the house for Christmas while listening to Christmas music
Read Christmas message from our church leader, have a Christmas treat
Go pick out and purchase live Christmas tree
Decorate the tree
Make paper snowflakes decorated with glitter and hang from ceiling
Read Christmas books (Grinch, other fun characters) before bedtime
Visit nearby LDS temple and walk ground to look at Christmas light display
Breakfast with Santa (at church)
Gather 'round the piano and learn a Christmas hymn
Help get Christmas cards ready to go out in the mail!
Bake and decorate gingerbread men cookies
Cozy in jammies and watch Christmas movie (animated or not)
Christmas shop and wrap gifts for a family in need
Bake goodies and deliver to neighbors
Visit Santa Clause
Nativity with extended family
Drive around to look at Christmas lights, get hot chocolate
Make picture magnets for grandparents

[BC-lisa in venice]

We had two kinds. One that had small wooden Christmas ornaments inside. The other has milk chocolate.

[smileygirl]

We also have this one from Constructive Playthings - http://www.cptoy.com/cgi-bin/pf.sh/2...8-001b2166becc

And I've already picked up 3 of the kind with chocolate behind the doors at Trader Joe's for 99c each!

[Cali]

Thank you all so much for sharing ideas! I love them! I love how it's not all material things but notes to do things as a family!

I LOVE that Crafty Crow blog!!! Thank you so much for sharing that site! I happened to find this advent calendar made out of wooden spools that become ornaments. Spool Advent Calendar Kits | Just Something I Made
I think I may do this one (mom has lots of old wooden spools)

[ClaireNola]

I'm glad I opened this! Last year I put small candies in every other day and then trinkets in the alternate days (chinese erasers, pens, small toys etc.) After reading this I will throw in a few activity ones on days I know I can accomplish-- maybe ice skating, movie, me doing their nailes etc. Fun!!

[Mrs.H]

We use an Advent calendar that has Bible passages that tell the Christmas story.

Here's how we celebrate. We turn off all of the lights and turn on the Christmas tree. Then we light the appropriate candle/s on the Advent wreath. We sing a special Advent song and then sing a Christmas hymn or two. Then we have a devotion and open the Advent calendar. It sounds like a lot, but only takes about 5 minutes each night. I love Advent.

[Mrs.H]

We use an Advent calendar that has Bible passages that tell the Christmas story.

Here's how we celebrate. We turn off all of the lights and turn on the Christmas tree. Then we light the appropriate candle/s on the Advent wreath. We sing a special Advent song and then sing a Christmas hymn or two. Then we have a devotion and open the Advent calendar. It sounds like a lot, but only takes about 5 minutes each night. I love Advent.