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Well 2020 certainly is winding down in a different way than expected when it began, isn't it?
Some mama friends and I were brainstorming ways to add a little spark within our own families and spread cheer to family and friends. One of the ideas I shared is the countdown that my little family has done every December for years.
We string numbered baby socks (but it could be anything...envelopes, a single stocking, a small basket, a stuffed animal's lap, etc.) along a strand of fairy lights for the entire month of December, through January 1 (not just through December 24/Advent, so this works for everyone, not just celebrants of Christmas, and prevents so much holiday letdown).
Each night, I put a slip of paper into the sock for the next day. Each paper slip has a message on it with an activity, craft, food, treat, outing, service, etc. for that day. Tucking the slip in the night before allows me to decide what will work for our plans and moods the following day (rather than trying to plan the entire month in advance). My kids take turns pulling out the slip.
Here are links to what we did the previous few of years; 2019, 2018, 2017.
Below is a list of ideas of things you could do for your own countdown. My own list is more specific to where we live, so I tried to generalize some of our activities for the list below. Add your own! We are coastal, so I don't have things like "build a snow creature" on our list, but you could add anything like this and skip the things below that don't apply to your family. We clearly celebrate Christmas, a little Hanukkah, and Solstice, but you could add Kwanzaa or another celebration. Also, I haven't deleted anything from my own list, so there are things that should apply for a range of ages, since my own kids are middle and high school now! (That also explains any repeats that might be on the list below!)
Get a Christmas tree today!
Go shopping for our ‘adopted’ family.
Make a Christmas gift or card.
Celebrate Christmas Eve. Open a present.
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
Bake cookies.
Decorate a gingerbread house.
Read a new holiday book together.
Winter Solstice! Have a lantern walk.
Winter Solstice! Celebrate light together.
Winter Solstice! Celebrate the light by keeping the power off after sun down. After sunset, use only candlelight, firelight, natural light.
Practice recorder, singing, piano, or flute. Play a Christmas carol.
Go on an outing with Grandparent(s).
Go to kid’s art studio.
Wrap a present.
Choose a toy or book we no longer need and donate it to a person in need.
Go to a Christmas party.
You deserve a treat! Ask Mamma for one!
Have a party!
Make a Christmas gift.
Care for our bird friends. Make a treat garland, clean out the chicken coop, and fill the feeders.
Go to the aquarium.
Choose a candy cane from the tree.
Draw a picture that shows what you are thankful for.
Craft with Dada.
Celebrate the season at a winter festival.
Give something to charity.
Craft today!
Have dinner in a restaurant.
Take out Christmas decorations!
Have an adventure or play date with friends.
Decorate the tree!
Merry Christmas! Buon Natale! Feliz Navidad!
Go to the winterland carousel.
Go to a holiday concert!
Change the nature table to celebrate the season.
Help a friend today!
Get out in nature!
Take a ferry ride today!
Hanukkah begins today. Light the menorah.
Go to a museum today.
Let’s do some holiday cooking or baking today!
Celebrate New Year’s Eve today.
Today is Boxing Day!
Make clove oranges today.
Pull out holiday books!
Write holiday cards for a stranger (elderly or military) to appreciate.
Write some thank you notes!
Enjoy a winter celebration from another culture and/or country.
Enjoy the lights on “Christmas Tree Lane.”
See the hillside manger scene.
Send special mail to friends or family.
Make wool lambs.
Make corn husk angels.
Make papier mache bowls.
Make Swedish hearts.
String a popcorn garland
Make a pinecone garland.
Make paper snowflakes.
Make a lantern!
Make salt dough ornaments
Think of others today. What can you do for or say to someone else that would be especially kind?
Take care of our community. Do something kind and healthy, such as collect garbage, donate food, or volunteer.
Make walnut shell candles.
Winter crafting with our community today!
Make candles!
Make latkes and serve with applesauce.
Play dreidel!
Go get a doughnut treat!
It is time for Sparkle Stories’ audio Advent calendars!
Choose three (3) of your books to pass on to someone else. Now visit the library book store! Look for a new book for yourself and one to give as a gift.
Take a walk to a nearby store and pick out a holiday treat!
Make holiday cards!
Make a holiday gift!
Today is for the birds! Bird watch, make a bird treat, and fill the bird feeder.
Merry Making!
Treasure hunt! The first clue is:
See a holiday show today!
Practice recorder, singing, piano, drums, guitar, ukulele, or flute. Play a Christmas carol.
Decorate the exterior of the house!
Make kite paper stars.
Today is a neighborhood day! Deliver cards or treats to neighbors, pick up garbage, add (a) book(s) to the Little Library.
Bunny day! Scrub the hutch tray, brush her fur, clip her nails, give her fresh greens, and let her hop about!
Care for the garden. As needed; rake, weed, sweep, plant seeds, water, tend compost, and explore!
Have a carpet picnic and enjoy some bubbly to ring in the New Year!
Winter spiral walk tonight!
Winter candle light New Year’s wishing and star gazing tonight.
Light a candle tonight and make a wish or intention for the New Year.
Enjoy the winter sky tonight.
Buy a toy for Toys for Tots or another organization that helps children in need.
Go shopping for a child in need.
Read a favorite holiday book together.
Make “blessing bags” to hand out to those in need.
Make a collage (or vision board or dream garden) for the new year.
Decorate a little tree for your room!
Do a little holiday shopping today!
Head to the recycle/repurpose store. Can you find a gift or something to make into a gift?
Visit the lake today. What does it look like this winter? Nature study!
Happy New Year! How can you challenge yourself this year?
Make some bookmarks, then anonymously leave a stack at the library or in a ‘Little Library.’
It is time for Sparkle Stories’ 12 Days of Christmas stories!
Make some surprise goodies for friends today.
Treat-making day; toffee, hot chocolate spoons, and cookies?!
Movie day! Watch a holiday film and have a hearth fire (or candles in the fireplace).
Participate in the Christmas Bird Count (eBird) today!
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