DIY Advent Calendar

Today’s advent activity was making our advent calendar together. As I mentioned in the original post, my goal is functional and simple, so this is just an easy paper calendar, nothing fancy. Last night I typed up our list, printed it out and cut the activities into strips of paper. On the back of each strip I wrote the day of the month, because many of our activities are specific to a certain date.

Last year we did a very simple paper chain countdown that Lovey’s former preschool teacher sent home with all of the kids. At the top there was this wonderful poem. We enjoyed reading it as we removed a link each night, so I wanted to include it in this year’s activities as well. The poem is below, but I am not sure where it originated from.

One Christmas night, so long ago
A star shone down so all would know
That in a manger, on that night
A Savior was born, our guiding light.

Now Christmas time is almost here
A very special time of year,
When everyone will anticipate
The night that we can celebrate.

As we remove a link each night,
Remember the star that shined so bright
And told the world of Jesus’ birth,
The son of God, here on Earth.

We added a few very simple, pinterest-inspired decorations to Lovey’s room, so I made the advent pieces in those same colors. I originally planned to set up the calendar in another spot of her room, but she wanted it to go in her window. I am glad I listened. It turned out to be very cute and functional.

We put all the pieces on the floor, and everyone had a part in the project. Lovey found the strip with the number we needed to add next. Tinker gave us a paper clip each time, and I put them up on the window.

I hadn’t really decided whether I would read the papers to them yet, so I asked Lovey if she wanted to read them or if she wanted it to be a surprise. As she gave me each paper she told me whether to read it or keep it as a surprise. She probably only had me read about five, and she kept the rest as a surprise.

This is a full view of the window with the decorations and the calendar. It adds a nice little touch to her room, and we are excited to start doing more activities throughout the month.