Christmas Jar

I found this idea on Mom Advice and what was funny is I thought of doing the same thing 2 weeks ago. So I wanted to share the idea.

Creating memories for Christmas can be an amazing experience for your child. Buying presents is easy, but creating a memory that will last a lifetime is more difficult and more rewarding for parents.

This year we are creating a Christmas Jar and we are filling it with twenty-four activities to do with them starting on December 1st. Each day we will draw an activity and complete it. Not only will the activity be fun, but it will also be a great way to mark down the days until Christmas.

Find any Mason jar and decorate it any way that you would like. On pieces of wrapping paper, create an activity to do each day and tuck it inside of the jar. On December 1st, begin the ritual of drawing from the jar and completing the activity for the day.

1.Get a Christmas movie to watch together. (Try Redbox for only $1/ea!)

2.Before bed read the true story of Christmas from Luke 2:1-20.

3.Make some hot chocolate and sit under the Christmas tree to read a Christmas book.

4.Make cookies to take to a friend or teacher.

5.Go to the library to checkout Christmas books.

6.Play a game while eating popcorn and listening to Christmas tunes.

7.Print out a holiday coloring page and color it.

8.Pick out a few toys to donate, and take them to a local shelter.

9.Make a Christmas ornament for each child to hang on the tree. (Cut out Christmas shapes like trees, snowflakes or stars and have them decorate them with stickers, glitter and markers. Then punch a hole, slide ribbon through it and put on the tree!)

10.Make pancakes for breakfast and decorate them like a Christmas tree.

11.Go see the Christmas lights! Have the kids put on their pj’s, pack a snack and listen to Christmas music while driving around.

12.Put on some peppy Christmas music and dance around together. (We love to do this, the kids get so excited…and wound up!)

13.Give the kids a bath while Christmas carols blare into the bathroom. See who can sing the loudest.

14.Make cookies for you to eat!

15.Make a homemade gift of any kind for a family member.

16.Sing your favorite Christmas carols that your kids know the words to. (A few good ones are Silent Night, Away In a Manger or Jingle Bells)

17.Make grandparents handmade artwork for a present. (Get their handprints framed and date it!)

18.Start a Jesse tree. (A tree that captures the geneaology of Christ.)

19.Go Christmas Caroling around your neighborhood or to an home for the elderly.

20.Hand make a few Christmas cards and put the kids picture inside.

21.Act out the birth of Christ. (Dress up and use fun props like stuffed animals.)

22.Tell your child exactly how much and why you love them so much!

23.Make Christmas cards for teachers or those that serve you in the community( Mail delivery person, Newspaper delivery person, Sunday school teacher, etc.)

24.Make a stocking stuffer for a family member.

I hope that these ideas are a good start towards your Christmas Jar. Remember that these are the types of things that your child will remember and nothing in your jar necessarily has to cost you any money at all. Your child will long remember these times together and you will have created a memorable Christmas for the entire family. Happy Holidays!