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Advent Calendar Kindness
Rated by 2 members
"How about, 'Don't fart on your brothers?'" said 5-year-old Nolan.
"Well, it's definitely kind to not fart on your brothers, but I want you guys to take this seriously," I said over my three sons' laughter. "I'd like you to come up with 12 ways you can be kind to each other for the Advent calendar we're making."
I'd already explained what an Advent calendar is — a countdown until the celebration of Christmas. Advent calendars began in 19th century Germany, with simple chalk marks on the door each evening leading up to Christmas Eve. Later, families would light a candle or display a small religious picture each night. Modern Advent calendars feature both secular and religious Christmas themes with chocolate treats tucked inside little numbered compartments.
Excited about daily doses of chocolate, the boys were anxious to make the Advent calendar. But I had other plans for the project. While I'm not against candy on special occasions, I wanted the boys to enjoy an even sweeter treat — daily messages of kindness and caring. On the final day, Christmas Eve, they'd find a little key and a clue hinting at a hidden cache of treats. Grateful that chocolate would still be involved, the boys signed on.
We made a green felt Christmas tree background onto which I glued 24 red felt circular pockets numbered from 1 to 24 with glittery fabric paint. I'm no crafty goddess, so the final result was, shall we say, "rustic," but it did the trick. Next, I cut out red paper rectangles and asked the boys to each write down 12 kind things they would do. Each day, the boys would remove one of the notes and follow its instructions, such as "Say one nice thing about each of your brothers."
Eight-year-old Jackson broke the ice by suggesting, "Hug your brothers." After the laughter from Nolan's no-farting-on-your-brothers proposal died down, he came up with "clean your brother's room" — a Christmas miracle in its own right.
Member Comments On…
Advent Calendar Kindness
Wow, thank you to Mom4Tots and DreamTeamShannonR for your helpful comments and book recommendations. Your generosity is definitely evocative of the holiday spirit. :)
Quiverfullof5, thank you for adding the definition of Advent; this piece wasn't intended to define that, but rather the tradition of the Advent calendar, but I think adding extra information and knowledge is helpful, too. :)
EverybodysAuntLisa - Thank you! :)
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Me again, I wanted to share a book I found. It is called the Advent Storybook - 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas. By Antonie Schneider Illustraed by Maja Dusikova. It is a book of very short stories told by a mother bear to her baby bear. Each story helps children understand the true meaning of Christmas - very sweetly, and innocently told.
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I just read Quiverfullof5's post. If you're looking for some good Advent-related fun for your children, check out the activity book by Jennifer Galvin, My Catholic Advent and Christmas Book. There are mazes, color-by-number, word finds, and activies like that--all about advent.
http://www.amazon.com/My-Catholic-Advent-Christmas-Book/dp/0809167204
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I absolutely adore this idea! Thanks for the belly laugh, too! :o)
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I would like to give the correct definition for "Advent" as used in relation to Christmas, the word means "To come", "the coming of Christ our Saviour". The season of Advent is particular to the Christian church, which includes the 4 Sundays prior too Christmas Eve. There are lots of Christian Advent realated materials available to assist families in appropriate celebrations of the season.
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My kids are too young yet for this idea, but in my sisters family, the kids are in their early teens. To keep the family close, each member in the family gives the rest of the family a "gift" of an activitiy to do during the Christmas break - it could be a trip sledding and back home for hot chocolate - but the "gift" would contain small items that hinted at the final activitiy. A small sled, a pack of hot chocolate...They have done everything from make your sunday bars to trips to an indoor amuzement center. The point is to give the gift of a family activity to each other. It has really helped the older kids stay involved in Christmas, and has brought back some of the lost magic!
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I love the idea of kids choosing what kindness means to them!
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