Thanks to our current budgetary constraints, there's no risk of our four-year-old being spoiled. And, lucky for us, she's admirably modest in her wishes — and has never once even asked me for a toy she's seen in Target or whatever, which is kind of amazing. But (BUT!) I find that on the days she gets the most, she can be the most ungrateful.
So in addition to her cheap Target-brand chocolate advent calendar, I made her a toilet paper roll cabin calendar, an idea I stole from this much better version I first saw on Pinterest — originally from Morning Creativity:
My version looks much more DIY thanks to the fact we were out of printer ink (are we not always out of printer ink?).
But instead of treats or small gifts, I stuffed each tube with Christmas jokes only a four-year-old would love (e.g.: What do you get if you cross mistletoe and a duck? A Christmas quacker!"), good deeds and "Christmas dares" (a concept I totally made up but don't tell my kid, OK?).
Of course she was much more excited to open the window on her cheap chocolate calendar yesterday, but she was also game for her first Christmas Dare, which was "Give someone (other than mama or daddy) a nice compliment." She made me email my friend Briony, who was visiting from Toronto and we had seen earlier in the day, to tell her she looked pretty in her furry coat. I hope a little bit each day, I can help her see that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is not only singing loudly for all to hear, but also to make someone's day in some small way.
A few more examples of the Christmas Dares and good deeds I hid behind each brown paper number:
• Chose one grandparent to call and sing a Christmas carol to.
• Here's $5. Now go buy a small gift for someone else.
• Here are two lollipops, one for you and one for someone in our neighborhood. It's your choice, now go deliver it!
• Here's some paper and an envelope. Write a short letter to anyone you like, and then ask mama to mail it for you.
Do you have any good deeds or Christmas Dares that would be appropriate for a small child?
you are such an amazing parent! wowza! thanks for sharing your amazingness with us.
ReplyDeleteand printer ink is over-rated. you've got what it really takes.
aw, thanks!!
DeleteYour creativity and awesome mothering skills astound me, Suzanne, and your blog photos are always so great. Big lollipop fan over here... ;)
ReplyDeleteHave I told you how Lucy loves the video of you singing with the parrot puppet? She would happily bring you a lollipop in exchange to see a live performance ;)
DeleteThat's a great idea! Once it gets going I'm sure it will be a great christmas tradition.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Such a creative idea. And yes, I am always out of printer ink over here, too.
ReplyDeleteIts a great idea and I think your good deeds and Christmas dare ideas are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely brilliant. way better than chippy the elf keeping an eye on toddlers in the "good behavior for gifts" exchange (which, for the toddler i'm thinking of, didn't work anyway).
ReplyDeleteWe don't do the whole "be good for santa" business, but it's impossible to quash in grandparents and assorted old people who seem to love asking your kid whether she's been good for Santa. Lucy just looks at them like they're nuts.
Deleteaww, that sounds so cute! i love the little dare ideas. what about doing a chore that someone else usually does? obviously a small child can't do the dishes but maybe there's something she can do, ya know, to show that you do chores to benefit the whole family and also that mommy works really hard all day. or maybe going to the food bank donating some cans (i think going to the real place rather than dumping can in a cardboard box at the grocery store might be more eye opening, she can see where they really go. in any case i think that sounds like the start to a great yearly tradition!
ReplyDeleteGood idea. Kids actually love chores. Well, four-year-old ones do anyway.
Deletegreat idea, i really love this!
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet idea! and your little one is looking so grown up!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! I love that you're teaching Lucy that Christmas isn't just a gift grab! I bet Briony was tickled pink to receive such a nice compliment, too. :)
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