If you have children, chances are that December is a month of anticipation for you. Christmas is coming, Hanukkah started last night; school is wrapping up for the (calendar) year and vacation looms on the horizon. The regular television shows are giving way to all sorts of holiday specials.
There is excitement in the air. Once you’re an adult, perhaps you’ve learned to savor it. But children? They are not so much with the savoring. No, kids are apt to be just a wee bit impatient.
I’m pretty sure Advent was invented by someone with kids. (”Darn it, Junior, I told you there’s still 24 days until Christmas! Eat this piece of chocolate and leave me alone!”)
Not everyone celebrates Christmas, of course, but I do think the anticipatory nature of Advent is something most everyone can appreciate. If your family isn’t counting down until Christmas, maybe you’re counting down until vacation. Or until New Year’s. It doesn’t matter; kids are not particular when it comes to turning the regular days into something special.
I’ve been reading a lot about others’ Advent season traditions, and I’m wishing I had time to do them all. But I’ll share some of my favorites here; maybe you’ll find some inspiration, and a way (or two or three) to stave off the “Is it time yet isitisithuh”s of the season.
Being a bookworm, I love how Chris’ family wraps up their seasonal books so that they not only get to unwrap a book each night, the family then reads together.
This post contains instructions on how to make a beautiful string of tiny envelopes for an advent season of special activities, and not only does she illustrate her project, she points to many others. Like a traditional felt calendar, and cute little felt pockets, and a version with little magnetic tins.
My favorite one is eminently kid-friendly as well as a great “green” activity: Make a recycled paper tree advent calendar!
Whatever you do this month, take the time to relax and have fun with your kids. Sometimes we get so busy “getting ready” for the fun part, we forget to, well, have fun. And the nice thing about an Advent calendar (or something like it) is that it reminds us that every single day is a little gift. (Please remind me that I said that, the next time the kids are aggravating me.)