I've been making an activity advent calendar for my kids for over a decade – it's our favourite family Christmas tradition, even now they're teens

Advent scene with pale green wall and wall-hung activity advent calendar, string of wire fairy lights and a tabletop display of ceramic houses and advent trees.

Since my twins were tiny (they're now the grand old age of 16), I have always made them a handmade Advent calendar. Rather than fill it full of gifts or sweets, I decided to give each day of December its own special activity or treat. And I promise this alternative advent calendar idea is not as much hard-work as it sounds!

The first activities that I plan in are those that are fixed in the diary already. These might be pre-booked events such as the pantomime or tickets to ice-skating or a festive lights display, but I also include key calendar events like the school nativity play, or school Christmas dinner day.