A Stocking Countdown Calendar

Total Time Needed:: 2-3 Hours

We gave the traditional Advent calendar a creative kick, turning it into a festive garland that reuses your kids' colorful socks. Tucked inside are notes, games, and goodies for kids to receive -- one sock for each day leading up to the Jolly Old Elf's visit.

Materials

25 socks
Marker
25 mini clothespins (available at craft supply stores)
Stocking hangers, painter's tape, or pushpins
6-foot length of cord, string, or ribbon
SUGGESTIONS FOR SPECIAL SOCK STUFFERS:
"Get Out of Chores Free" or "Pick a Movie Rental" cards -- each good for one use!
A puzzle distributed in pieces among the socks; kids can put it together over the course of the month

Trading or sports cards
Special coins such as foreign currency or a silver dollar -- chocolate coins are always a hit too!
Music or other gift cards
Jokes or riddles (stick the punch line in the next day's sock; see AZKIDSNET.COM for ideas)
A game (a Mad Libs or Sudoku a day)
Art supplies, such as a mini paint kit and pad
A special ornament to add to the tree
A new pair of socks!

Instructions

To make your "calendar," fill the 25 socks with small treats, using our list of suggestions or your own ideas.
Use a marker to number the mini clothespins with 1 through 25.
To assemble the calendar, use stocking hangers, painter's tape, or pushpins to temporarily hang a 6-foot length of cord, string, or ribbon within easy reach of a child. Clip the treat-filled socks to the cord in numerical order, then each day have kids remove one to discover their surprises.