Here are some little activities you can do as a family to add to the meaning of this season.

Make a Helping Hands tree
Trace each family member’s hand on a piece of coloured paper.  Write on each paper hand something you can do to help someone else this Christmas – either as a family or individually.  Then stick all the hands to a cardboard Christmas tree shape to remind you of all the good you will do this Christmas

Orange pomander balls
Take a whole orange, and, using a toothpick cover it with little holes.  Fill each hole with a whole clove, leaving space for the orange to shrink.  Roll it in nutmeg or cinnamon and either hang them or display them in a bowl.  Your house will be filled with the lovely smell of Christmas.

Fill a treasure box
Decorate an old shoe box to make a treasure chest.  Have everyone in your family go through old photo albums or scrapbooks to remind them of past celebrations.  Select pictures of loved ones to place in the chest.  Then write on pieces of paper things you treasure about your family and friends.  As Christmas approaches draw them out and remind each other of the things you treasure.  You could even place them on your tree to remember people that are special to you.

Make special reindeer
Using brown paint get a foot print and 2 hand prints from each child (one each side).  Cut them out, close to the original print.  Stick the 2 hand prints to the top of the foot print.  You now have a reindeer head - paint in the face and you have a special reminder of the growth of each child that doubles as a Christmas decoration.

Advent calendar
2 methods we have tried -
1 is with small boxes - either matchboxes or other mixed shapes.  Glue them together and decorate.  Fill each box with a treat.
The other is with a large egg carton (24 egg).  Pop something in each hole, then cover the lot with paper and decorate.  Number over each hole with a number and on each day, break the paper over that number and find the little surprise.
For the fillings you can use lollies, bells, stickers, small toys, leaves, rocks - anything they would like.

If anyone else has any more crafty hints, please share them!