What is a reverse advent calendar? Why you should make one this year with your family

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It's a bit different to your normal advent calendar...

 

If you’re looking for a brand new Christmas tradition for you and your family, we’ve got an idea that is not only fun to do, but will teach your little ones some special lessons over the festive season.

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Everyone loves advent calendars to count them down to Christmas Day. Most children adore receiving one at the beginning of December because it gets them excited for Santa coming, and every surprise that they open on the way is a promise of what’s to come.

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But if you want to try something a little different this year, you can create an advent calendar that you and your children put something into every day instead of taking something out. Read on to find out more about reverse advent calendars, and how to make one yourself!

 

 

What is a reverse advent calendar?

Reverse advent calendars work by you filling them every day with with items of food that can then be taken to a food bank in order to help those less fortunate that are struggling at Christmas time.

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After gathering helpful items all month, you can take everything you’ve saved to St Theodore's Church and know that you’ve given a Christmas present to someone that really needed it.

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Not only is this a fun thing for the whole family to do together, from creating the advent calendar structure itself to picking the goodies to go in it, it more importantly teaches your kids the importance of helping others and seeing the bigger picture at Christmas.

 

 

How to make your own reverse advent calendar

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Follow these five simple steps to start this sweet tradition with your children.

 

Step 1:

Start either 24 or 12 days before Christmas and decide whether you’re going to collect food, clothes or presents.

 

Step 2:

Pick something to collect your advent calendar gifts in. This can be something really easy like a basket or cardboard box, or alternatively you could make individual pockets for each day using strips of cardboard and even add some paint and glitter to jazz it up.

 

Step 3:

Every day choose something from your own supplies or from a store with your family to donate to your reverse advent calendar.

 

Step 4:

A few days before Christmas when you can make some time, take your offerings down to your local food bank or St Theodore's Church and donate them.

 

Step 5:

Spend some time with your little ones imagining who you might have helped by starting this special tradition and ask everyone to pick a reason why they are lucky this Christmas.