Advent Calendars 2021

[expectantsteelerfan]

Oct 5, 2021 21:59:20 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Do most families do advent calendars? We have never done one in our 11 years as parents. I’m sure the kids would love them but it would just be another thing to remember, woops! Do you get one per kid or one to share if you have multiple kids?

We never did them growing up, but dh's family had one that was wooden, and it had a tree with hooks on top, and each day you open a box and pull out an ornament and put it on that day's hook on the tree.  I thought that was the cutest countdown and would have loved that as a kid.

I've looked since I've known him (so going on 20 years now) and never seen one in store.  2 years ago I did score a gingerbread house with drawers on each side from TJ Maxx in the after-Christmas clearance, so I fill that up for my kids.  I did chocolate the past 2 years (hersheys assortment), but I'm thinking about doing little fidgets this year, but I'm not sure if they will actually fit in the drawers.  We did the store bought matchbox car and lego ones one year each, but also thought it was a lot of little junk.  

[joy]

Oct 5, 2021 21:59:20 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Do most families do advent calendars? We have never done one in our 11 years as parents. I’m sure the kids would love them but it would just be another thing to remember, woops! Do you get one per kid or one to share if you have multiple kids?

I did them as a kid, but they were actually about Advent with bible pictures and stories for each Sunday in Advent. My Grandmom did get us some with chocolate a few years, but still Bible-oriented.

I’ve never done a secular one, I don’t think. My kid has never done one.

[BlondeSpiders]

I don't know if kids would be in jams and jellies, but Bonne Maman makes one that I got last year and it was amazing. 23 varieties of jams, and one honey. I started making scones and we initiated a teatime tradition at 4pm every day. Maybe it's a good one for Mom.

[Poppy]

We like the Lego ones. I get one for each kid. During the month, the little builds go in a Tupperware and then after Christmas they get dumped into our loose Lego bin. We have like 10 Santa minifigs in there now, lol. The kids love it and it extends the Christmas fun. I feel much more positive about those than about the clutter and candy in stockings.

My mom also usually gets the kids a chocolate one.

[scribellesam]

We have a wooden one shaped like a Christmas tree, I usually fill it with Hershey’s kisses. Last year we tried the Hot Wheels one for both; they enjoyed it but I agree with the previous posters, just added holiday junk. I’ll probably skip this year and just use our regular one.

[sent]

Oct 5, 2021 21:59:20 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Do most families do advent calendars? We have never done one in our 11 years as parents. I’m sure the kids would love them but it would just be another thing to remember, woops! Do you get one per kid or one to share if you have multiple kids?

We do secular calendars. We didn't have them growing up but I always kinda wanted one. DD usually remembers to do it herself and then last year, DS totally got into it at age 2. I'd bring them home for the night and they would run over to countertop where the calendars were and fight each other to get the chocolate. DS would try to rip whatever door open since he couldn't read while DD would be yelling at him to not rip random doors. I think there were 2 different calendars with chocolate, 1 pre-made and 1 my husband filled. After a few days of this, my husband would monitor them to keep DS under control. It was fun for me to watch their chaos. 

This year I think I will buy a few extra of the Trader Joes chocolate calendar so if DS does rip open the wrong ones, there will be a few backups. I also did a special one for DD last year with Disney pins, I may have to add in pins for DS this year also. 

[nicolewi]

I only do the toy ones bc I have 2 kids with December birthdays. Growing up, we did the traditional card stock ones with a pretty Christmas scene and little pictures behind each window. We loved those, too, even though they are very simple. Often they had religious imagery like Nativity scenes.
www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cheer-Advent-Calendar-Countdown/dp/B07BFJXW4Y/ref=asc_df_B07BFJXW4Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=295022822283&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9006083567340985660&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018723&hvtargid=pla-527673910466&psc=1

Is it time for my nearly annual plug for the Jacquie Lawson online Advent calendar? It is awesome and we really enjoy it every year. Includes carols, Nativity, and church imagery, FYI. Each year is a different type of village full of activities. It is usually really beautiful and fun.

[gastro]

Oct 8, 2021 22:37:07 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

I only do the toy ones bc I have 2 kids with December birthdays. Growing up, we did the traditional card stock ones with a pretty Christmas scene and little pictures behind each window. We loved those, too, even though they are very simple. Often they had religious imagery like Nativity scenes.
www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cheer-Advent-Calendar-Countdown/dp/B07BFJXW4Y/ref=asc_df_B07BFJXW4Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=295022822283&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9006083567340985660&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018723&hvtargid=pla-527673910466&psc=1

Is it time for my nearly annual plug for the Jacqui Lawson online Advent calendar? It is awesome and we really enjoy it every year. Includes carols, Nativity, and church imagery, FYI. Each year is a different type of village full of activities. It is usually really beautiful and fun.

My kids love the Jacquie Lawson online advent. Last year was their favorite with the Norwegian gnomes.

[gardengal]

Oct 5, 2021 21:59:20 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Do most families do advent calendars? We have never done one in our 11 years as parents. I’m sure the kids would love them but it would just be another thing to remember, woops! Do you get one per kid or one to share if you have multiple kids?

I grew up with it because my mom did. I can’t remember if my peers had one or not. 

if interested, you don’t need to go Full Pinterest or buy something $40 per kid. Trader Joe’s has .99 chocolate ones. We have, and I grew up, with a reusable one that just fits a small piece(or 2 bc I have 2 kids) of candy daily. Often I reserve Halloween candy for this. Some years I do go full Pinterest & plan activities vs candy (hot chocolate night, make cookies that day, read a holiday book, watch a holiday movie, etc). 

It’s something that can be super low key & inexpensive or really over the top

[quesyrah]

Oct 5, 2021 13:44:13 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Man, I wanted to love these, but I think we're going to pass this year and go with a regular chocolate one from Trader Joe's.

Last year I bought DS a Lego advent calendar and I feel like it just added clutter to our home. The pieces were all super tiny, so when thrown into his Lego bin, likely never to be used again.

I wish there were consumable calendars that would be more appealing to him. I received a bath and body calendar from a friend last year and still use some of the products that I received. It was fantastic! But even the Crayola calendar for kids comes with the most random single markers and crayons that are certain to clutter his desk

Are there any candy calendars out there that aren't chocolate?

Jelly belly! My kids loved that one

[hermione]

Resurrecting this thread because I just ordered this one and think my 8yo DD will enjoy it.

www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/christmas-village-advent-calendar-project-kit/3899

[nicolewi]

hermione, that is so cute!!

I broke down and got the Playmobil JUMBO one for St. Nick to bring on Dec. 6. We have a lot of Playmobil and I think my little girls, especially, will enjoy this and can redecorate to use for other seasons. We have other flower boxes, etc. And, I really wanted the Christmas tree!

[loira]

Oct 5, 2021 21:59:20 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Do most families do advent calendars? We have never done one in our 11 years as parents. I’m sure the kids would love them but it would just be another thing to remember, woops! Do you get one per kid or one to share if you have multiple kids?

We have always done advent calendars, but we are old school and just do the picture ones. DD loves opening the little window to see the picture, and I worry that if I started doing more involved calendars I wouldn't be able to keep it up haha. #lazy

[ilikedonuts]

Oct 29, 2021 10:05:26 GMT -5 hermione said:

Resurrecting this thread because I just ordered this one and think my 8yo DD will enjoy it.

www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/christmas-village-advent-calendar-project-kit/3899

Ooooh I love that one so much! I already bought one for each kid but I might send them back and get this instead or (more likely) I’ll just buy it and have it as another 😂

[dochas]

Oct 6, 2021 17:34:45 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

I don't know if kids would be in jams and jellies, but Bonne Maman makes one that I got last year and it was amazing. 23 varieties of jams, and one honey. I started making scones and we initiated a teatime tradition at 4pm every day. Maybe it's a good one for Mom.

I missed this earlier. I got these for my sisters last year and they loved them. They do use that jam a lot normally, but the flavors are so different than what you normally stick with. I love your tea time tradition. I did that a few times - broke out the good china for tea and made muffins on a chilly day. I am going to do it again! Thanks for the idea. 

[hermione]

Oct 31, 2021 7:27:24 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Oct 29, 2021 10:05:26 GMT -5 hermione said:

Resurrecting this thread because I just ordered this one and think my 8yo DD will enjoy it.

www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/christmas-village-advent-calendar-project-kit/3899

Ooooh I love that one so much! I already bought one for each kid but I might send them back and get this instead or (more likely) I’ll just buy it and have it as another 😂

I returned the Lego Marvel one.

[Becca]

Thanks for this thread!

We’ve done Lego advent calendars for years. My kids always save all the pieces in a ziploc baggie with the doors of the calendar, so they can reassemble every Christmas. It’s always a Christmas highlight when we get our decorations, to reassemble the legos of Christmases past.

But we are at the point of SO MANY LEGOS. I’ve been thinking of changing it up this year, and love all these ideas!

[sdlaura]

I did toy and Lego ones last year but then yesterday I just bought Trader Joe’s chocolate ones. I like that they’re cheap and we don’t end up with more little plastic stuff.

[keyslover]

We have done the cheap chocolate ones, one per kid.

Last year I had a DIY family one with activities, some were low key like drink hot cocoa and others were more planned events - holiday light drive thru event. It was fun. I may do some variation of that again.

[BlondeSpiders]

Oct 31, 2021 10:13:11 GMT -5 dochas said:

Oct 6, 2021 17:34:45 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

I don't know if kids would be in jams and jellies, but Bonne Maman makes one that I got last year and it was amazing. 23 varieties of jams, and one honey. I started making scones and we initiated a teatime tradition at 4pm every day. Maybe it's a good one for Mom.

I missed this earlier. I got these for my sisters last year and they loved them. They do use that jam a lot normally, but the flavors are so different than what you normally stick with. I love your tea time tradition. I did that a few times - broke out the good china for tea and made muffins on a chilly day. I am going to do it again! Thanks for the idea. 

After talking about the calendar here, I realized how much I missed our teatime! So I ordered another one for this year. 

[lishie]

I got my son this fidget calendar. I'm hoping he likes it.

jane.com/deal/1500353/christmas-advent-25-piece-fidget-toy-calendar

[dochas]

Oct 8, 2021 22:37:07 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

I only do the toy ones bc I have 2 kids with December birthdays. Growing up, we did the traditional card stock ones with a pretty Christmas scene and little pictures behind each window. We loved those, too, even though they are very simple. Often they had religious imagery like Nativity scenes.
www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cheer-Advent-Calendar-Countdown/dp/B07BFJXW4Y/ref=asc_df_B07BFJXW4Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=295022822283&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9006083567340985660&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018723&hvtargid=pla-527673910466&psc=1

Is it time for my nearly annual plug for the Jacquie Lawson online Advent calendar? It is awesome and we really enjoy it every year. Includes carols, Nativity, and church imagery, FYI. Each year is a different type of village full of activities. It is usually really beautiful and fun.

I got this one when my son was younger. We did HP Lego last year and none of the ones this year had anything new in it. My son seemed a little disappointed that I just got a plain chocolate one, so I just went back online and got this one. I had forgotten how lovely it is so thank you for the reminder. I sent one to my 2 great-nephews as well. 

[vmars]

We do Lego advent calendar but hard pass on the elf lol. I wanted to do one for DS2 but can’t find any good ones for an almost 2 yr old.

[mbcdefg]

I just got DD a 99 cent chocolate one the last time I was at Trader Joe’s.

I saw a Paw Patrol calendar at Aldi but didn’t get it - she would’ve liked that.

We didn’t do them when I was young so maybe that’s why I didn’t put a lot of thought into it.

[hermione]

Oct 29, 2021 10:05:26 GMT -5 hermione said:

Resurrecting this thread because I just ordered this one and think my 8yo DD will enjoy it.

www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/christmas-village-advent-calendar-project-kit/3899

Reporting back on this: C loves this thing. She enjoys rearranging her village and the daily projects require little adult intervention. And when they do, they are super easy for us. Highly recommend.

[pooh8402]

We get Lego advent calendars every year. E1 has Avengers theme this year, and E2 has Mandalorian theme.

We probably never would have started these, except that BIL and his wife bought E1 Lego Advent calendars 2 years in a row starting when he was 3, so he was old enough to remember getting them and thinks it's a tradition. So now it is, lol.