The Advent Calendar Diaries - Dec 16

Cullen's ABCs have got a video blog series for kids on youtube where they countdown to Christmas by opening doors on 2 advent calendars each day. It's a bit out of date but if your kids haven't quite worked out youtube (yet) you can just wing it and show them one clip a day.

-Stef

Make your own Advent Calendar for Kids (2)

Now that we are well and truly in the pre Christmas season here's some more instructions on making your own Advent Calendar for kids. This one is just as simple as the "Icicle Advent Calendar".

What you need:

• a piece of cloth / fabric (you can reuse an old table cloth or similar) approx. 80cm x 30cm (25 x 9 inches)
• two wooden sticks (need to be longer than your fabric is wide)
• piece of cord
• little pieces of colourful fabric (anything will work)
• stick on numbers (1 - 25) or you can simply cut them out yourself (made out of paper or fabric)
• glue

How to make your own advent calendar for kids

Well it's that time of the year again isn't it - only 4 weeks left till Christmas, which means Advent starts on Sunday. In many countries around the globe Advent signifies the start of the Christmas season (or "Advent" which begins four Sundays before Christmas). On Dec 1st some lucky children can start the count down to Christmas by opening a little "door" on their advent calendar each day to get a treat. Advent calendars are a fun way to help children realise how each day they are getting closer to a big event. It can also be used to help with understanding numbers, counting and to build patience.

Most commercial Advent calendars use two layers of cardboard (on on top of each other) with twenty-four small doors cut in the top layer. Each door conceals a picture or little piece of chocolate and has a number on it that corresponds to the days in December.

Make your own advent Calendar 2010

A couple of years ago we wrote a very popular article about making your own advent calendar (see "How to make your own advent calendar for kids") ... judging by the number of hits this article receives there's still a lot of interest in the topic. So I thought I'll have another look around to see what creative ideas have sprung over the last two years.

1. Online advent calendars are the latest social networking phenomenon (if you believe the guys at one224) - check out their "create your own online advent calendar site www.one224.com.

2. A variation of the advent calendar we wrote about - comes with a nice little video on youtube and foolproof instructions. Halelujah!

iPhone Dads - check out the "Appvent Calendar"

Seasonal greetings to all iPhone Dads! Last year we reviewed 25 online advent calendars in the run up to Christmas. This year it's all gone a bit iPhone and some creative gaming company has come up with the "APPVENT CALENDAR". The website reveals a free iPhone game every day till Christmas. Download the game of the day at work and try it out with the kids when you get home.

Enjoy!

-Stef

The Advent Calendar Diaries - Dec 24

Well tomorrow is the big day and we managed to get through 24 days of Christmas anticipation in December. It was nice to see that quite a few sites featured online advent calendars for kids (and adults who still feel like kids round about this time of the year) with ideas, inspiration and entertainment. So the last post in this series is about a calendar that posts vintage comic book covers each day. Enjoy!

-Stefan

The Advent Calendar Diaries - Dec 23

Two days to go - if your children are getting itchy to finally get their presents try this calendar for a bit of distraction. Great games and video clips by Dickinson Dees.

-Stefan

The Advent Calendar Diaries - Dec 22

If you own a Kindle eReader and are planning to do some reading over the festive season check out today's Advent calendar - a new eBook each day! YAY.

-Stefan

The Advent Calendar Diaries - Dec 21

Check out Jamie Oliver's online advent calendar if you are stuck for recipe ideas this Christmas.

-Stef

The Advent Calendar Diaries - Dec 20

Check out a nicely animated calendar by "The DFC" group (if you are into comics).

-Stefan