Nature Advent Calendar: Encourage Active & Meaningful Traditions!

I’d finally succumbed to peer pressure and started Advent Calendars for my kids.

Everyone was doing it and I was worried my kids were missing out. I know I was weak.

At first, I loved seeing the girls faces as they squealed with delight each time they collected their goodies from their Advent.

This year I was dreading it though. Really dreading it.

Why I wanted to ditch the Advent Calendar

I was struggling because:

• finding items to fill the mini stockings was nearly impossible
• it was costing me a small fortune, and
• it was teaching my kids the opposite of what I was trying to teach them, that sweets are a sometimes food.

Plus, the only toys that would fit their Advent stocking were cheap and nasty. I knew they were destined to end up in landfill within months.

Not cool!

I’d officially decided that I was done. I wanted none of it.

But my kids loved it, really loved it.

That’s when it hit me. I don’t need to break my kids hearts by ditching it completely. I’ll just change it.

Introducing the Nature Play Advent Calendar

So I made one that worked with our family values and I thought many of you might love this idea too.

Our advent calendar:

• reduces the stress
• encourages your kids outside
• promotes experiences over things

Did I mention that all the nature play activity prompts are Christmas themed?

Who loves Advent Calendars?

Me!

Now our Nature Play Advent Calendar will build memories, not give them cheap thrills each day and I’m so much happier. I only wish I started this tradition sooner.

Check out the video below.

Nature ADVENT Calendar

ONLY 1.99US
28 Christmas themed nature activities
(extras just in case some don’t suit your environment)
12 make-your-own cards (for mixing it up each year).
2  different sets of envelopes.

You’ll need:

• Nature advent Cards
• Nature Advent Envelopes (or just use leaves!)
• Scissors
• Glue,
• String or ribbon
• Wooden pegs
• Stapler (optional)

Make your Nature Advent Calendar:

1. Print your Nature Advent Cards.
2. Print your Advent envelopes or collect a whole bunch of big beautiful leaves.
3. Cut out your Nature Advent Cards and envelopes (optional).
4. ENVELOPES: Fold the paper on the lines and glue together to form the envelope. Don’t glue the top just yet.
   Add an Nature Advent Cards to each envelope and glue the top on the envelope down. Write the days of
   December 1 to 25 on the front of the envelope.
   LEAVES: Lay your Nature Advent Card on the back of a big leaf and fold the leaf over from tip to stem. Tie, or
   staple the leaf edges together. This makes it super easy for you to thread onto a piece of string.
5. Hang a pretty piece of string or ribbon up in your home and use wooden pegs to attach them to the string.
6. Let children open their leaves or envelopes on the correct day of December.

Eco tips:

• Print your Nature Advent Cards and envelopes on sustainably sourced or 100% recycled paper.
• Please do not laminate your Nature Advent Cards.
• If you no longer need your Nature Advent Cards, please put it in your compost bin.

Advent Calendars don’t have to be filled with a heap of treats and plastic toys. Add life-long memories of your child’s Christmas traditions by encouraging them to connect with nature.

All the activities in the Advent card below relate to nature and are themed for the festive season.

Nature ADVENT Calendar

ONLY 1.99US
28 Christmas themed nature activities
(extras just in case some don’t suit your environment)
14 DIY cards (for mixing it up each year)
2  different sets of envelopes

I hope your little wildlings enjoy this Nature Advent Calendar as much as mine did.

Want to see more wonderful ways to get your kids connecting with nature? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

You may also like our
Christmas Nature Craft Pack
8 nature craft character and shape printables
(Santa, elf, Christmas tree, Snowman,
Reindeer Candy cane, star and bell)
6  Christmas Card templates
Make your own Christmas tag template