This year we decided to get away from the normal advent calendar idea and try something new.  We have a pretty wooden calendar that my mother painted with doors that you can put treats in, but with us going to disneyland I thought that might be difficult to bring along.  For the past two weeks I have been racking my brain for ideas.  We are going to go ahead and fill it with treats to use in conjunction with our new advent calendar.

  Last year Ezra had a Playmobil advent calendar that he really liked.  Every day you opened the door to a new Playmobil animal to create a pretty woodland scene.  I contemplated taking one of those along, but it would take up alot of his suitcase, so I decided no.  He did, however, enjoy setting up his winter scene in the playroom this year.  Isn’t it cute!

Here is what we did decide on for our calendar this year.  25 cards with discussion topics on them.  Each day at dinner we can open a card and discuss the topic as a family. 

Here they are!

1.  Discuss as a family a charity to donate to.

2. Go through the house as a family and pick out items to donate to the Salvation Army that would be more useful to someone in need.

3. Talk about your favorite Christmas ornaments.

4. Drink hot cocoa by the fire for dessert.

5. Read a favorite Christmas book as a family.

6. Discuss what you love about each member of your family…don’t forget Grandmas and Grandpas

7. Act out a favorite Christmas story as a play.

8. What are some fun things to do in the snow?

9.  Why do you think Christmas is so important to so many people.

10. What are some things we are lucky to have that others may not?

11. Talk about how we can share and bring out Christmas spirit in others.

12. Think of one Christmas word for each letter of the alphabet.

13. Discuss your favorite Christmas memories.

14. Make sure you hug each member of your family.  Maybe have a group hug.

15. Talk about what Christmas means to you.

16. Sing three Christmas carols as a family.

17. How do you think Christmas celebrations impact the earth?  What can we do to help the earth at Christmas time?

18. Read a portion of the Bible that discusses Jesus’ teachings.

19. Practice the “Present” game as a family.

20. What do you think Jesus would think about how Christmas is celebrated?

21. What makes Santa Claus so special?  Why do you think he gives gifts to children of the world?

22. Discuss why you love your siblings.

23.  How do you think other chidren of the world celebrate Christmas?

24. If you could give a gift to anyone in the world (except family members) who would it be and what would you give?

25.  Tell each member of your family why you are happy to share Christmas with them.

These topics are just to instigate conversation and open up the Christmas spirit in our family.  I am pretty excited about it!