Free Printable Countdown-In-A-Box Advent Calendar

Yesterday morning on Instagram, I posted a quick peek at the holiday care package I'm sending to my son who is away at college all the way in Montana.

When he was home for Thanksgiving last week, he told me something he missed the most about being home during the month of December was our advent calendar. The joy and suspense of counting down to Christmas, with little treats along the way.

So I whipped up a quick DIY countdown-in-a-box to send his way.

I decorated a white shoe box, wrote one encouraging note per day (including favorite Christmas memories), and sprinkled a few quirky coordinating goodies to open on certain specific numbered days.

OH wow did my Insta pals love that! So I thought I'd share a printable to help ya'll make your own Christmas Countdown Box, either for kids away at school, or for your family at home.

This download includes:

• 24 countdown labels that can be printed and attached to notes or small gifts. You can use sticker paper, or just cut and paste. 
• 1 full countdown sheet, where they can cross off each day that passes
• 2 pages of note cards (8) with cheerful phrases with room for notes on the back.

Download Printable Countdown in a Box Advent Calendar

PS. It's totally okay if you mail it and it gets there after Dec 1. That just means they get to open a few notes on the day it arrives... which is not the worst thing in the world. Or, a great idea from my friend Beth, make it the 12 Days of Christmas!

Best Toys to Buy on Black Friday 2017

I took a trip around the country this morning on another satellite media tour for local news stations, sharing some of the best toys and games to buy this Black Friday. Not all of these are on sale for Black Friday, but are definitely some of the best sellers of the season that you'll want to grab fast before they're gone.

Project Mc2 Smart Pixel Purse

Ages 6+, $59.99

The Netflix series Project Mc2 has become a big favorite for young girls interested in STEAM. This Smart Pixel Purse is featured on the show and can even be customized using a free app. Think Lite Brite for today's generation.

Smooshins Surprise Maker Kit

Ages 6+, $39.99

The Smooshins Surprise Maker Kit is a unique craft kit that gives kids the opportunity to use their creativity to make adorable characters. The kit is simple to use, and totally grabs onto the suspense kids love in the "unboxing" trend.

Playfusion Lightseekers

Ages 8+, $19.99–$69.99

Lightseekers is an epic mobile and tablet role playing game that connects with smart action figures, trading cards, and accessories. The figures are fun with or without the game, and can be mixed-and-matched to customize gameplay.

Colorific Build-A-Bot

Ages 5+, $29.99

With three special characters (a fox, a bunny, and a dino), each pack comes with over 20 pieces to create a functional robot. Using a simple click'n'create system, kids get to build their own new best friend. Once built, they interact and move with their own accessories.

Tonka Tinys Rescue Response Station Playset

Ages 3+, $24.99 (Tonka Tinys are $3.99)

Tonka Tinys are micro-sized vehicles built Tonka tough, with the same great styling as the classic Tonka vehicles. This playset brings three levels of action and stores eight Tinys vehicles (includes three). All Tonka Tinys playsets can be connected to build a whole Tonka world.

Collector's Edition Star Wars Battle Drones

Ages 14+, $149.99

The Collector's Edition of these Star Wars Battle Drones come in a wax sealed box that lights up and plays clips from the original soundtrack. They also feature a special training mode for new pilots, and new technology that creates cool laser battles.

Using the Power of Play on Thanksgiving

My number one goal at family gatherings, especially around the holidays, is to get all ages to ditch their devices and PLAY together. Whether you're cooking, reminiscing, or playing a new game together, the together part is the most important, and I wanted to share a few ideas and toys that can help you get started.

Here are a few pops of playfulness to place around your house this Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving to give people that kickstart they need to ignite the spirit of play.

Turkey on the Table

This little gobbler is not only a super cute addition to your Thanksgiving table, he helps teach the younger members of your family about being thankful for what they have, especially as all the new toys and games are popping up around this time of the year. This is a great centerpiece and conversation starter that's reusable year after year.

Utter Nonsense: Family Edition

The more something doesn't make sense in this game, the better. I love how Utter Nonsense can let you see a silly side of a family member that may have been hiding before, and really get the belly laughs going.

Chronology

My family absolutely loves this game, and it really never gets old. It's great to play with all ages, and spins a little history into family time as well.

Colorforms

This is a great game to place on your kitchen island or kids table while everyone is cooking. Grown ups will have fond memories, and kids will love it for the first time. This is a family favorite of ours.

Arts and Crafts

A little DIY is a great way to get kids involved in Thanksgiving traditions and contributing to the holiday table, without having a bunch of extra hands in the kitchen. I love the adorable Fall Foxes Placecard Kit and DIY Turkey Centerpiece as two ideas for family projects from PaperSource.

Also check out these FREE Thanskgiving game printables from last week.

Cheers to a Thanksgiving filled with playful family memories and new traditions!

Thanksgiving Printable Games

Hosting Thanksgiving this year? Want that perfect dream of everyone spending time together, and not just while stuffing your faces with stuffing?

One of my favorite things to do during family gatherings is to play simple games that work for all ages. In the past, I've shared a few free printable games, like Bingo! and Thanksgiving Charades, that were a big hit. This year, I wanted to switch things up a bit.

Which brings us to Thanksgiving Scattergories!

Thanksgiving Scattergories

Did you know there is an 'r' in the middle of Scattergories? I've totally been saying "Scatt-a-gories" my whole life but feel like I've finally discovered the truth.

There are TWO parts to this printable, but I promise I did that for a good reason. Part 1 is your topic cards. You'll want to print these on card stock, and cut them along the lines, so you have cards similar to those found in the traditional Scattergories box.

Part 2 is your player sheets. You'll want to print these double sided, then cut them in half. This way each player has a small sheet that they'll keep for six rounds. (You'll need as many of these as there are players, but only one of Part 1. I divided these for your printing sanity.)

You'll also need a timer and an alphabet die. I grabbed mine from our normal Scattergories box. If you don't have an alphabet die, you could write all the letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper, cut them up, and have someone choose randomly from a basket. Or, use the letters of your family's last name.

Thanksgiving Scattergories Free Printable

Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo

I've also updated my Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo cards to fit what we'll see in the parade this year. If we're going to be around the TV, we might as well make it a game for our families as well.

There are so many types of clowns in the parade this year! And some awesome new floats and balloons I can't wait to see. There are seven different cards in this PDF so everyone isn't shouting BINGO! at the same time, and there's a chance for everyone to point out all the new stuff in the parade line-up.

I love the tradition of watching the parade together, and how this simple game we all know can make it an activity for all generations.

Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo Free Printable

Click here to download

If you print and use these games, post a photo and make sure to tag me on Instagram @meredithplays!

Top Toys for 2017 Holiday Gifts

I swear it was just March, and now the holidays are right around the corner. Which means we’re all about to get real busy. Decorating, planning, visiting family, making a list and checking it twice, and of course, figuring out the best gifts to give.

No matter how old my boys get, I still find it challenging to figure out what they want, but also what they will actually use long after the holidays are over. That’s why play value is so important in choosing toys. We also want to find toys that encourage imaginative play, because it helps develop social, thinking, and language skills, while also increasing creativity.

This holiday season I’m excited to share my favorite trending toys that will help get the shopping out of the way, which means you can go back to 100% family time, while inspiring imagination throughout the new year. 

Real Workin' Buddies’ Mr. Dusty by Jakks Pacific 

Ages 3+, $39.99

We know that our kids love to make messes, and those toys with 40 tiny pieces are a special kind of mess. Having them help with cleanup can be quite a challenge. Enter Mr. Dusty! With over 50 fun sounds and phrases, and a BIG personality, this toy is the spoonful of sugar that makes cleaning up fun. Kids can gather up their toys on carpet or hardwood by driving Mr. Dusty over top of them and use his motorized mouth to help eat up the larger toys. I love this toy because he has multiple play modes: he’s a Garbage Truck, a Street Sweeper, and a Dump Truck, so he’s sure to be a top hit in the toybox for a long time. 

Robotics U

Ages 8+, $199

It’s always a huge win for parents when we can extend learning into playtime. When children are really enjoying what they’re doing, they absorb the material more and start to form passions and hobbies. Robotics U is a robot that allows children (and adults too!) to explore the world of robotics and STEM through builds, games, and activities. Use the free app to build your robot, program it, and play with it. Robotics U is designed to demystify technology by using elements that we use everyday in our world. And the best part is, your kids can play with it over and over again by building new robots with step-by-step instructions in the app or building something out of their own imagination. 

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Green Ninja Mech Dragon

Ages 8+, $49.99

When my boys were young they were obsessed with LEGO. I can remember always picking up a new set for any occasion–birthdays, Christmas, etc. To this day, I still catch them reminiscing and pulling out their favorite sets from when they were younger. If you have young kids I’m sure you know about LEGO’s latest movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie. This set is a perfect way for your kinds to extend the Ninjago world into their play and recreate scenes right at home. The set features a highly detailed Green Ninja Mech Dragon with a minifigure cockpit and snapping jaws, and favorite characters The Green Ninja, Master Wu, Garmadon, and Charlie–all represented in LEGO minifigure form to really let imaginations run wild in storytelling.

Hamsters In A House Ham’s Burger Diner Playset by Zuru

Ages 3+, $19.99

The play value in collectibles is like no other. Not only are they toys, but they are crucial parts of a child’s treasured collection. Children take care of their collectibles and take great pride in them. Hamsters in a House has become a huge hit lately, and if you saw these adorable little motorized hamsters buzzing and scurrying around, you would completely understand. This year, Hamsters in a House has taken part of the big food-theme trend and released Series 2: Food Frenzy. The key piece is Ham’s Burger Diner Playset which includes adorable details like a real-working turntable for food orders and a cash register.

VTech GearZooz Roll & Roar Animal Train

Ages 18 months - 4 years, $29.99

As a toy expert I try to find toys that will grow with your child, and this is especially true for younger kids who blow through milestones and change before your eyes. VTech is a brand that has really mastered creating toys that grow with kids from infants to toddlers and beyond.  VTech’s GearZooz Roll & Roar Animal Train is customizable, with 15 included gears that they can mix and match with, while also strengthening their fine motor skills. There’s so much to do with it, it can be pushed, pulled, plays fun songs, phrases, and animal sounds, and even has kid-friendly quiz questions! This one is definitely a toy that kids will truly treasure and pass on to younger siblings and cousins, making it a great investment.

Disney Junior Vampirina Scare B&B Playset by Just Play

Ages 3+, $59.99

When we’re able to bring the familiarities of a child’s favorite show into their toys, we can really capitalize on the love for their favorite characters, and KNOW they’re getting a toy that they’ll keep going back to. From the creator of Doc McStuffins comes Vampirina, a show that since it’s release in October is already receiving rave reviews from both children and parents. The Vampirina Scare B&B Playset is based on the home in the show, and includes Vampirina and her best friend Poppy. It’s three floors of spook-tacular surprises and exciting features that recreate the fun from the show, and includes fun little details like a spot for Vampirina to hang (and glow!) upside down, magically rising food in the kitchen, a record player that moves and shakes when Vampirina dances, and a 360° spinning TV!

For more holiday gift ideas, be sure to follow my Pinterest board for the top toys of 2017.