Ideas for Advent Calendars

It's that time of year again, only a few weeks until the start of Advent.  

We have a wooden calendar that I fill each year with small gifts and treats. I am always on the look out for sustainable gifts so thought I would put together this list of small items that won't break the bank either!

1. Lanka Kade Advent

If you would like the easy option, I have put toegther a Lanka Kade Advent. You can chose from 12 or 24 days. If you go for 24 days I can also bag them all up for you and put the date on each one. Pick your theme and let me know what you have already so I can avoid duplicates.   

2. Christmas Crayons

A Set of 3 crayons in a small canvas bag

3. Wooden Mini Beasts

A perfect option for bug lovers, buy the complete set of 33 or you can also buy individually. You could chose a few of these along with the mini beast flash cards and pop one of those in each day too. 

4. Flash Cards

Put a flashcard in each day, whether you go for wildflowers, landmarks, planets, moon phases or a combination of a few options. 

5. Spinning Tops

We have a range of these available and are small enough too, a few themes to chose from:  

- World Animals

- Adventure

- Christmas

6. Forest Friends Pencil Tube

7. Loose Parts Selection

Loose Parts can be purchased individually or in bundles. Why not by a bowl or basket for day 1 and fill it with 23 loose part items during Advent. 

 These Sensory Reflective Sound Buttons make a great option to add variety to loose parts play. 

8. Paint your own Wooden Christmas Tree Decorations

9. Playdough

So many different flavours available, could easily go in the advent with a few wooden tools too. 

10. Sensory Bubble - Small 

11 Wooden Bracelet

12. Stones

I love the Yellow Door stones, they could easily be split to put into advent calendars. Maybe a Footprints set, or Bugs with the Wooden Mini Beast blocks. There are lots of difference combinations to go for. 

13. Christmas Finger Puppets

14. Flexi Christmas Characters

If you are still looking for ideas, you can browse our stocking filler section which has all of our pocket money toys included,  

Walks with kids

Next week the Wildlife Trust are hosting the #bigwildwalk to raise much needed funds towards their mission to restore at least 30% of the land and sea for nature by 2030. 

Your challenge if you choose to accept is to walk 30km over the Big Wild Walk Week. Monday 25th October - Sunday 31st October. 

We love walking as a family, and my two, now age 6 and 8 enjoy walking up hills, in forests and generally enjoy being outdoors. 

Gift Ideas for Childrens' Parties 

Since September things have certainly got much busier in our house. The school activities have started again, the clubs and sports are happening at the weekends and the children's party invitations have started to roll in. It can be difficult buying for children you don't know very well and I am concious that I want to buy things that will be used and played with. 

I thought I would share my top 10 ideas that me and my team have come up with recently. 

Wonderful World of Books

Books are and absolute gift to parents, they offer your children magical worlds, learning opportunities, connection to the world around them, quiet time, answers to inevitable curiosities, and a wonderful opportunity to bond and relax together.

The Wooden Play Den has a plethora of books, fiction and non-fiction which will guarantee to inspire and enthuse both your children and yourself, because let’s face it, if you’ve got to read you child’s favourite book on repeat you want it to be a good one!

Family Games

During the School Holidays I love to find activities which are enjoyable for both my 8 year old son and my 5 year old Daughter, whether its exactly the same activity or the same toys with some adjustments to suit one of them. Its so much easier if we can all play with the same equipment rather than having two sets of toys out all the time. I picked out my top 3 games get you started, which work great for us across the age range.