How do we make Christmas more meaningful for our children? On Christmas morning, as we tear through packages, eat our mandarin oranges, and sip eggnog, it may be a challenge to remember all those who are without such a joyous moment.
We participate in filling and donating Samaritan’s Purse shoe boxes but what else could we do to evoke a sense of giving to those less fortunate? This year I wanted to do something more.
Hence, I have started the Giving Advent Calendar, a meaningful Christmas countdown. Some of the scheduled activities are for sheer fun (building a snowman, going tobogganing) but there are some meaningful activities that reinforce the importance of giving to others.
Check out this meaningful Christmas countdown (an alternative to advent calendars)! Click To Tweet
I created the cards on the computer and I scheduled one special activity every day. You could always buy pre-cut tags and print your activities on them too!
Some of the activities I included were:
- buying and donating food to the food bank
- making cards for family members
- writing a letter to our foster child
- buying and donating animal treats to our local animal shelter
- buying and donating a toy to Santa’s Anonymous
- donating hats and gloves to our city’s homeless
Please overlook my “cheesy” poems. I wanted to make it fun for my daughter to read, and rhymes are fun!
My oldest daughter drew a picture on the back of each card, we punched a hole through the top and strung each with a festive ribbon. We placed all of the cards in a jar that she decorated.
Every time we complete an activity we will hang the applicable card on our Christmas tree. It is my hope that my daughters will see the value of giving to those less fortunate, starting with this season and onward throughout the year.
How do you instill a spirit of giving in your children? Do you have meaningful activities that you do with your children during the Christmas season?
Psst – If you need a list of 45 great ideas to place on your own cards, you can download them here! Simply click the download button to snag your list of prompts.
If you’re thinking of creating your own Meaningful Christmas Countdown, this printable gives you a list of 45 fabulous ideas!
If you like it, I invite you to pin it!
SHARE WITH OTHERS
That’s totally awesome!! Brilliant idea! :)
Thanks! I think my girls will enjoy this and it is my hope that it will help them have more empathy towards those less fortunate.
Oh my gosh I love this! What a fantastic idea. We participate in giving during the holidays, but having an advent for each day around giving is so wonderful. I love that you do this with your family.
And mandarin oranges huh? Interesting choice. I’m sure there’s a story there…. ;)
Have a wonderful afternoon my dear!
xoxo
you’ve inspired me! Still plenty of time to create some Christmas activities that have true worth and meaning behind them. I better get going on this. squeeeeee!!!
a beautiful idea-a whole month of giving! love it. look forward to hearing where it takes you and your family :) (and I can;t resist: Merry Christmas! I am so ready!)
So happy to inspire you! Please let me know how your Christmas countdown activity goes!
This is such a great idea! Just the type of thing I’d like to do with my children someday :)
I think my girls will like this a lot too! Have fun with your prep! Thanks for visiting.
So glad you enjoyed this post. I’m pretty excited about it.
I thought EVERYONE eats mandarin oranges on Christmas morning!?
Wishing you a lovely evening my friend.
xoxo
I think it will be a wonderful “advent-ure” for us! So excited to start! I’m so ready for Christmas too!
Thanks Tammy! I hope that they gain a lot from this experience and it’s something I would like to incorporate year-round.
What an awesome idea. I might just have to steal this idea from you. I try and instill in my kids that it’s better to give than to receive and while we give a lot, I still have selfish kids.
Thanks! I’m happy to inspire someone else to teach their children to focus on giving!
This is BRILLIANT. I love the idea of being intentional in planning to give/serve each day with our kids. Thank you for this amazing idea, and for your list! Gotta share. <3
I love the poems from your meaningful Christmas countdown. Do you share them anywhere?
Sorry Michelle, I don’t have the original set / poems. The original document was lost in a computer catastrophe.