12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BOXES: PK 3

​12 Days of Christmas Boxes Activity- Jessica

One of the holiday activities we started last year and have decided to continue annually is our 12 days of Christmas boxes. While some boxes were set to be opened on a particular day (to coordinate with family activities we had purchased tickets to) many were also spontaneous and could be opened on any mostly free day in December. Here is the list of our days with what we did and items that we stuffed in each box (you can probably guess which is which). Some themes/activities will change from year to year but there are lots that can be repeated without losing their magic too! I didn’t have time to prep as much as I’d like (next year I hope to include more school style learning activities) but I think I need to print/pack the boxes for next year before putting them away this January. Then next season will be easy peasy! Pinterest any of these “theme titles” and you’ll find way more activities than I could ever list.

Rudolph Day: This year we went to a local Christmas festival that had live Reindeer for T to interact with on this day
(Elf shelf puts faces and Rudolph noses on a family photo)
-red clown nose
- reindeer headband
-reindeer races (hurdles, sled pull)
-dance to run run Rudolph 
-watch Rudolph DVD 
- reindeer craft
-make reindeer food
-Pin nose on Rudolph 
-decorated reindeer crackers for snack
-play operation Rudolph game

Grinch Day
(Elf traps grinch stuffie in a jar)
-green bath
-attack with green silly string
-green candy grinch pills (m&ms or tic tacs)
-melt grinches red heart ice cubes with green salt
-style mommys hair like Cindy Lou
- dance w green boa to grinch songs
-pin the heart on grinch
-read grinch book
-watch grinch DVD 
-take “max” our dog for a walk
-green crepe paper doorway curtain
-Taegan Lou who are you? Printable

Polar express day:
This year we went to Carnegie Science Center for a pj party with nitrogen marshmallow making, and a Christmas train village with craft activities. After playing for a couple hours we got to watch the film in iMax. 
(Elf rides polar train w ticket in hand)
Pajamas all day
Hot cocoa in crockpot 
Color your name train 
Play with train set 
Polar express book 
Watch movie in iMax 
Bell 
Conductors hat 
Diy snow globes in baby food jar
Tickets (numbered for counting)
Make Cardboard life size train car from box

Candy cane day:
(Elf sleds down banister on candy canes)
Candy cane family craft
Read legend of the candy cane
Candy cane egg style hunt
J is for Jesus card with small canes to place on parking lot cars
Make Peppermint foaming hand soap
Thread candy cane pipe cleaner ornaments
Bake candy cane dog treats
Nativity Day: this year we went to a local church to watch children perform a live nativity.
(Elf kneels by baby Jesus)
Hide and seek each member of the little people nativity
Eat shepherds food for supper
Make a Cupcake and sing happy birthday Jesus 
Sing away in a manger, holy night, Noel, silent night, it came upon a midnight clear, 
Dress up act out nativity
Magi gifts explored with senses (small frankincense incense to burn, myrrh oil to rub on, gold chocolate coins)
Nativity silly bands
Nativity window clings to design your own scene

Elf Day: this is one we always do on Black Friday. Elf on the shelf arrives with a special breakfast and letter from Santa
Elf shelf hide seek/matching game from Target
Dress up like elf
Watch Elf with Will Ferrell movie
Watch Elf shelf DVD 
Make elf doughnuts from Cheerios 
Elf brought Christmas pjs
Elf shelf chocolate advent calendar
Elf shelf coloring book and stamps

Snow Day:
(Elf has snowball fight w toy story character)
Paper snowball fight
Sensory bin snow
Watch read frosty
Snow cones 
Painted snowflakes

Gingerbread day:
(Elf plays drums in a gingerbread cookie band)
Coloring book
Gingerbread house decorating
Cookie making
Read can’t catch me gingerbread boy book
Play in life size gingerbread house
Decorate Ts room (all her bedroom decorations are candy themed)
Gingerbread man number hop

Christmas kindness day:
(Elf feeds dog treats w backhoe)
Take flowers to a nurses station for any random patient who needs them most
Set up a free wrapping station at local mall
Leave time/money in a parking meter
Leave money in a vending machine
Put up a your beautiful sticker on a public bathroom mirror
Take treats to an animal shelter
Fill out a positive comment card
Return someone’s shopping cart
Let someone go ahead of you in a busy checkout line
Leave Christmas book w note in public place
Hide dollar bills in a dollar store
Do yard work for a neighbor
Pick up litter
Leave coupons in grocery store
Tape popcorn and treats to redbox machine
Tape pennies to horse ride machines
Quarters in Walmart kids vending
Leave wishing pennies near a fountain
Call a relative or send card just to say hi, thinking of you
Put something on Craigslist for free
Treat for mailman and garbage collector
Jingle a neighbor
Thank someone w awesome Christmas lights
Drop poinsettias w Christmas cards at nursing home
Drop good luck pennies
Homeless blessing bags
Leave healthy snacks at a low income area playground

Peace and Joy day:
(Elf does yoga)
Give massages
Take baths
Go look at lights in pjs
Celebrate advent season
Go to church
Yoga
Fruit of the spirit salad for dinner
​
Santa day: we always do this on Christmas Eve just because 😊 
(Elf selfie w Santa beard)
North Pole play mat for cars/figures
Rooftop drop game from Hallmark
North Pole explorer map from Hallmark
Bake cookies for Santa
NORAD tracker on iPad

Christmas in Nature day
This year we went to a local park which had horse sleigh rides on this day but next year Id like to check out the Phipps Conservatory Christmas. Also went to a local farm and chopped down our family tree.
(Elf mountain climbs the Christmas tree)
-Decorate outside tree somewhere random
-Collect Christmas in nature items for a craft example twig stars, styrofoam wreath, pine cones, snow, berries, holly, nuts, pine clippings)
-Christmas stove potpourri 
-put out treats for local wildlife
-go on a hike
-plant a small evergreen tree or seeds