Advent calendars are such a delight for children says Lucy Corkhill
Opening the little windows to discover a new picture inside is always exciting, the prospect of doing so each day until Christmas builds up to the big event in a magical way.
However some of the simplicity of advent calendars has been lost along the way. One way to make sure your advent calendar is really special is to make it yourself. That way you’re in charge of what goes in it.
The choices we make at this time of year set a precedent for our children. By starting a unique family tradition, we can hopefully create something our youngsters will go on to share with the next generation.
We don’t need to buy treasures for our children – they are there in abundance all around us. I remember having a little box of treasures as a child which included special stones, crystals, bones and feathers.
What about an advent calendar that celebrates the natural world and all its miniature wonders? Each treasure holds a story and invites further play, research or discovery.
A seed can be planted, a leaf stuck in a scrapbook, a piece of chalk used to draw on the ground, sheep’s wool made into an elf’s beard, wood whittled into a figure.
Another approach to a natural advent calendar is to add items that can then be placed on a seasonal table, used to create a nativity scene, or made into something such as a fairy or elf.
Below, in the list of suggested natural items, I have made number 24 a spotter’s guide as older children might be inspired to either put names to the things in their calendar or go off and find more for their natural collection! Younger children will simply enjoy the excitement of discovering something hidden in a little pocket, and exploring the item with all their senses.
Finding items for your calendar can be an adventure in itself. I hope that creating a natural advent calendar will help us appreciate all the many wonders and treasures around us.
Here are some ideas for your own natural advent calendar:
Acorn
Conker
Crystal
Shell
Leaf
Coloured stone
Apple seed
Pumpkin seed
Sunflower seed
Piece of chalk
Feather
Piece of wood
Rosehips
Piece of sheep’s wool
Flint
Snail’s shell
Bird’s egg shell (if you’ve saved one back from springtime!)
Dried flower or seed head
Fossil
Dried herbs
Hazelnut
Animal tooth or bone
Apple
A spotter’s guide
