profile

Hands On As We Grow

A simple Christmas countdown your kids will love

Published 6 months ago • 3 min read
Hands On As We Grow®
​
Hey Reader!

Christmas is now right around the corner!!! -- and kids are probably asking "how many more days", right?

Create a Christmas Countdown to build on the anticipation, but also keep it at bay.

These are the days we long for as a parent, picturing ourselves sitting around as a family, doing crafts, listening to Christmas music and everyone is super happy and all is perfect.

Unfortunately, this time of year also brings out a bunch of stress, tension and utter chaos.

Our goal = BALANCE.

Let's not go overboard and expect it all to be perfect. But let's also create some wonderful memories -- but remember to not limit it to just this holiday season!

A proven way to achieve this balance is to reset your expectations -- expect there to be flops, mishaps and a little bit of chaos. Learn to look forward to those times and soak them up, and laugh about it all.

A proven way to simplify your holidays and still make the memories? What's your secret? We've seen time after time that saying no to the things we think we SHOULD be doing, and yes to the things we LOVE doing helps us stay on track.

Making memories comes out on top with a BIG YES -- so let's prepare for it now! So you can just soak up the memories each day.

I love a classic paper chain countdown myself. To add to the fun, write a daily activity on each link of the chain and as you remove it, do that activity each day!

Or print out this printable Christmas Countdown to check off each day!

Here are some ideas to include in your Christmas Countdown:

  1. Make a Countdown Chain
  2. Make a Homemade Ornament
  3. Make Christmas Cookies or Candies
  4. Write a Letter to Santa
  5. Decorate Your Child’s Room
  6. Make a Snow Globe
  7. Watch a Christmas Movie
  8. Make One Homemade Gift
  9. Color a Christmas Coloring Page
  10. Make Christmas Cards for Close Family
  11. Make a Snowman (Real or Crafty)
  12. Go on a Christmas Scavenger Hunt
  13. Make a Spiral Christmas Tree Craft
  14. Decorate a Gingerbread House
  15. Listen & Sing Along to Christmas Carols
  16. Make a Classic Stocking Craft
  17. Paint a Christmas Tree
  18. Hang the Stockings
  19. Read Holiday Books
  20. Create Your Own Wrapping Paper
  21. Drive Around and Look at Christmas Lights
  22. Drink Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows
  23. Cut Out Snowflakes
  24. Take a Family Holiday Photo
  25. Merry Christmas!

Oh -- and DON'T stress yourself out over doing every single activity! Shrug it off if it doesn't work out that day! Or set it aside! Stick the link in a mason jar to save for a day when you're less stressed, have the kids pick one out for those days! Keep the fun going!

CELEBRATE, our Christmas Activity Plans eBook, has 4 weekly plans for the holidays too which would be a great addition to your Christmas Countdown! You can order it through the holiday season.

Make this Christmas season your child’s very best ever!

Practical activity plans are perfect to embrace the holiday season with your kids! Simple enough that they fit in easily to your already hectic schedule. Details and photos of each activity.

~ Jamie
​Hands On As We Grow®​
​Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every day.

​
Doing crafts with my daughter is something I love doing but was pretty much doing it for holidays or one off days. Doing a craft every day really changed our relationship to be even better than it was. She loves looking at her work where we have it displayed. Thank you! -- Jessica Boulay

39 Edible Sensory Play Ideas for Little Kids

Little kids put everything into their mouths, and these edible sensory play ideas are perfect for their hands-on activities!
​

Plan the week with your Free Blank Weekly Activities Planner! DOWNLOAD HERE.

Make it easy on yourself and get our pre-planned activity plan eBooks done for your age of child. Or have activities planned for you, every single week! Enjoy!

This email is being sent to you because you subscribed to Hands On As We Grow's newsletter at handsonaswegrow.com.
​
If for any reason you do not want to receive any more activities to do with kids, or tips for doing activities, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Really, there will be no hard feelings!
​
Thanks again!

PO Box 128, Elkader, Iowa 52043
​Unsubscribe · Preferences ·

Hands On As We Grow

Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every day.

Hands On As We Grow has activities, crafts and art projects for kids up to school age, and even into their beginning years of school. You’ll find fun things to do with them, crafty ideas, and easy ways to make learning fun.

Read more from Hands On As We Grow
25 Fun Activities for Active Kids + This Week's Easy Activities

Hey Reader - This week’s activity plan includes a little bit of everything — active play, sensory fun, outdoor exploring, and a colorful science experiment kids will love checking on throughout the week. You’ll mostly use simple supplies you already have around the house, plus a few things you can gather outside. And if your kids have extra energy to burn, don’t miss the active activity ideas linked below too! ~ JamieHands On As We Grow®Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every...

19 days ago • 1 min read
Opposite Activities + Next Week's Activity Plan

Hey Reader - This week’s activities are a fun mix of indoor creativity and outdoor exploring. A little nature play, a little sensory play, and a couple simple activities that kids will probably want to do more than once. Here’s your plan for the week! ~ JamieHands On As We Grow®Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every day. Your Weekly Activity Plan: May 11-15 Monday: Nature Seek & Sort Tuesday: Pool Noodle Letter Match Hunt (plus 5 other activities to do with pool noodles)...

26 days ago • 1 min read
Sticker Activities + Next Week's Activity Plan

Hey Reader - You don’t need a complicated plan to keep your kids busy every week. Just a few simple ideas ready when you need them. Below is your activity plan for the week—everything laid out and the supply list below to make it easy. ~ JamieHands On As We Grow®Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every day. Your Weekly Activity Plan: April 20-24 Monday: Nature Suncatcher Tuesday: Block Tower Knock Down Wednesday: Wax Paper Water Drop Thursday: Move & Spell Your Name Friday:...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read