Advent Activities - Create a “My Favourite Things” List

I have to admit that when I came up with this activity, it was a bit of a selfish idea. They grow up so fast, and there are so many little things we forget about them. It’s always heart-warming when I stumble upon souvenirs from when they were smaller.

So I thought of creating a “These Are My Favourite Things” list that I can keep and look back on in years to come. Children grow up so fast, and it’s incredible how quickly we forget the little details that once felt so important. Every time I rediscover old drawings or notes from when my girls were younger, my heart melts. That’s exactly why I wanted to capture a snapshot of who they are right now.

Why a Favourite List Is Such a Beautiful Keepsake

The idea was simple - create a favourite things list that we can look back on in years to come. Their favourite food, film, song and book — a small but precious glimpse into their world at this moment in time. To be honest, this activity wasn’t as exciting for the girls as some of our other Advent ideas. But I’m convinced it’s something future-them (and future-me!) will deeply cherish.

What surprised me most was how hard it actually is to choose favourites. They asked me to make my own list — and suddenly I couldn’t remember my favourite book or film of the year! Oddly enough, it was easier to pick their favourites than my own.

Their Favourite Things (December 2025)

Here’s what they chose:

Zoe, 10 years old

Food: Cordon bleu with mashed potatoes

Film: K-Pop Demons

Song: Je te donne by Génération Goldman

Toy: Kookyloos

Book: Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne

Olivia, 8 years old

Food: Steak with French fries

Film: K-Pop Demons

Song: Je te donne by Génération Goldman

Book: Les Sisters

Toy: Polly Pocket, Sylvanian Families

How the Activity Really Went

Getting them to actually sit down and write the list wasn’t as easy as I had imagined. After school, they decided to invent a dance together and were completely absorbed in that instead. So I wrote out the categories for them and let them fill in the answers.

Once they finally started, though, it was almost impossible to make them stop: “I’ll write the date!”, “I want to sign the paper!” Every excuse possible to keep going.

In the end, it turned into a genuinely fun Advent family activity, and I’ll be using this idea in another way soon — but more on that later.

A Simple Advent Tradition With a Big Emotional Impact

If you’re looking for Advent calendar activity ideas, Christmas family traditions, or memory-keeping activities with children, this one is incredibly easy to set up:

Paper and pens
A few simple categories
10 quiet minutes together

And the reward? A priceless keepsake you’ll treasure for years.

Your Turn

Now I’m curious — what would be on your favourite list this year? Favourite food, film, song and book? Leave a comment below, I’d love to know.

Blogmas December 4th