Waste Free Advent Calendars
We love the countdown to Christmas almost more than the big day itself. And it doesn’t have to mean oodles of plastic tat or cheap chocolate (hello Palm Oil). Although, there’s always a place for quality chocolate…
There are so many wonderful advents out there, so much better than the cheap palm-oil filled plastic-ness designed to play on parental guilt at the supermarket checkout! Here are our top tips:
We have friends who do a reverse advent: they encourage the kids to gift something every day of advent. A great way to declutter ahead of the Christmas gift influx! Some do a similar version with a foodbank basket in the kitchen
Or there’s the Kindness Advent via the Red Cross, It’s a brilliant way to remind us and those around us about just how brilliant it feels to be kind, to give, even when it costs nothing. The Red Cross has one with teaching resources for a whole class, or this one for families.
Then there are the more traditional versions, which you can still do without plastic tat. At its simplest, buy some Chocolate Tree chocolate buttons and fill toilet roll bon-bons or wee envelopes.
You can also hide notes around the house with kindness elves, brown paper bags - come get some! - or adapt your own soft toys with a well placed hat or sprig of holly. Stuck for ideas on notes? See Lou’s list below.
Or you can have a mason’s jar full of ideas. The pot luck of this appeals, except for scheduling the family movie for the day after that very fun Christmas party…
There needn’t be gifts or sweets or tasks or anything. You can just appreciate the countdown with a row of dated pebbles or try a traditional Danish advent candle - I love these ones from our friend Helle at Beech and Birch, they are handmade with vegetable wax.
There are some great decorative advent calendars where you reveal a Christmas decoration or part of a scene every day. Make this your own by doing parts of a puzzle each day; adding decorations to the tree; using small toys to create your own Nativity.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em… Gift yourself 5 minutes each Advent day with these lovely Clipper advent teas. 12 dfferent teas, the chance to enjoy each one twice. A break from juggling all the family’s Christmas baubles.
Here’s what some of the Lil team do.
Lou:
In our family, we have a felt Christmas tree with pockets that we fill with notes, where we do something Christmassy each day. One day we give a gift to the Foodbank, another it might be a wintry woodland walk. A full list of ideas is below, but we make gifts/ decorations, Christmas parties get allocated in, and day by day uncover the Christmas toys that are only allowed out in December. Some days it might just be a family movie (strategically placed after the Christmas party) or a sweet treat. It makes every day a new adventure.
We try to keep the cards each year too - it saves me time and reduces that waste just a teeny Lil bit more.
Sarah’s family’s gorgeous advent train
Sarah:
My mum gave us an advent train when the firstborn’s first Christmas came round. We have used it ever since. It has become a family tradition and is extracted from the loft and set up with great excitement every year. The bank canvas of empty little cupboards mean we can mix it up a bit. Some days it will contain a message, a tasty chocolate button, a task, a puzzle or just a hug. The kids take it in turns to open the door and share whatever is inside. You can do a similar thing with little envelopes or boxes or build a tree from ex-loo rolls.
More advent ideas? Or check out the Lil Pinterest page, we have gone a Lil Advent nuts… Love the calendar you can make (and give) from toilet roll!
