Advent activity jar: twenty-four cosy ideas for the countdown

The two ways to do it

The slip method: write twenty-four activities on small strips of paper, fold them into a real jar and draw one each morning. The shelf method: choose twelve activities, put each in a jar on the chart, and fill them from 0 to 5 as you do them or as you look forward to them. The shelf method is better for busy households, because you can see what is left and pick by mood.

Twenty-four ideas to start with

• At home: hot chocolate night, bake cookies, a film under blankets, a board game evening, build a fort, write cards, wrap presents with music on, make a paper-chain, decorate the tree, read a story aloud.
• Out and about: a lantern walk, look at the lights, visit a market, feed the ducks, skate or sledge if the weather allows, a carol singalong, a long café stop.
• Kind and thoughtful: donate something, bake for a neighbour, write a thank-you note, call a relative, tidy the toy shelf for someone else.
• Quiet moments: candlelit supper, a star-gazing evening, a favourite photo album, a pyjama morning, a family recipe.

Mix big and small. A short list of five-minute activities is what saves you on the busiest days.

Plan it on the shelf

Open the advent preset in the maker. It starts with twelve cosy activities. Tap each jar to say how much you want to do it: a full jar is a must-do, an empty one can be skipped. Add your own jars, such as a family tradition, and put your name on the shelf. Everyone in the house can fill their own copy, then you compare and pick the full jars first.

Print the blank sheet if you would like it on the fridge. Each time you finish an activity, colour the level to the top, and December ends with a shelf full of memories.

Advent jars for different households

• Families with small children: short activities and picture labels, with the child choosing from two jars each morning.
• Couples: one cosy activity a week, one outing, one kind gesture. The couples jar chart ideas have more.
• Friend groups: a December shelf shared in the chat, with each person claiming a jar to organise.
• Solo and quiet: a small shelf of self-care jars, because the countdown is for you too.

Make the countdown last

Do not try to complete the whole shelf. The point is that the days have something to look forward to, not that every jar ends up full. Take a photo of your shelf on 24 December and keep it with the tree decorations; next year you can start from the jars that rose highest. If you want a gentler start to the season, begin with the November gratitude jars.