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Smith-Magenis Syndrome Foundation UK

Connecting Families, Raising Awareness, Building Futures

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SMS Countdown to Christmas activity advent calendar

#SMSCountdowntoChristmas

Hang up your Christmas stocking, and put out a mince pie and carrot for Santa and Rudolph! 

December 24, 2020

Hang up your Christmas stocking, and put out a mince pie and carrot for Santa and Rudolph! 

Did you know… Christmas stockings are traditionally placed near a fireplace, although some people place them under their Christmas tree or hang them on the end of their bed.

ACTIVITY: Keep occupied tomorrow while waiting for your dinner with our Christmas activity placemat. Don’t forget to hang your stocking out and put out a carrot and mince pie for Santa and Rudolph!

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Spot the difference Christmas tree puzzle

December 23, 2020

Spot the difference Christmas tree puzzle

Did you know…Christmas trees were first used by ancient Egyptians and Romans

ACTIVITY: Spot the difference Christmas tree puzzle.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Colour in your own Santa!

December 22, 2020

Colour in your own Santa!

Did you know… Santa Claus was known as Sinterklaas in Dutch?

ACTIVITY: Colour in your own Santa.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Make a Santa Hat and Beard

December 21, 2020

Make a Santa Hat and Beard

Did you know… Santa Claus did not always dress up in red clothes? Santa Claus initially wore clothes that were in green, purple, or blue! However, Coca-Cola decided to dress him up in colours that match their brand and that stuck. So this is why he is always in red clothes now!

ACTIVITY: Make a Santa hat and beard (we like these instructions from Hands On as We Grow)

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Cut out your own Christmas snowflakes and display in your window!

December 20, 2020

Cut out your own Christmas snowflakes and display in your window!

Did you know…the largest snowflake to be measured on record was a whopping 15 inches wide!

ACTIVITY: Download the snowflake template and decorate.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Dress up as a snowman, an elf, or as Santa himself!

December 19, 2020

Dress up as a snowman, an elf, or as Santa himself!

Did you know…that even though it’s always cold at the North Pole and it is always covered with snow, the elves never get cold!  Their bodies are designed to be in cold weather, they also have elf clothing to keep them warm and cozy.

ACTIVITY: Wear your favourite Christmas costume, or here are some ideas from Just Crafting Around, if you want to get crafty and make something yourself.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Make your own Christmas paper chain!

December 18, 2020

Make your own Christmas paper chain!

Did you know…nobody knows where the first Christmas wreath came from? It is a mystery to this day!

ACTIVITY: Download SMS paperchain template.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Read your favourite Christmas story while drinking a yummy hot chocolate!

December 17, 2020

Read your favourite Christmas story while drinking a yummy hot chocolate!

Did you know… A Christmas Carol by world-famous English author Charles Dickens was first released in December of 1843

ACTIVITY: Go find your favourite Christmas story, and enjoy this yummy BBC Good Food Hot Chocolate recipe!

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Design and colour in your own Christmas tree!

December 16, 2020

Design and colour in your own Christmas tree!

Did you know… an angel or a star is often placed at the top of a Christmas tree.

ACTIVITY: Download and colour in your own Christmas tree.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Have a board game day and have lots of fun!

December 15, 2020

Have a board game day and have lots of fun!

Did you know…Monopoly is the most popular board game played by families in the UK at Christmas.

ACTIVITY: Play a board game, or you can download and play our SMS Christmas bingo game here!

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Bake some SMS Christmas moon and star cupcakes

December 14, 2020

Bake some SMS Christmas moon and star cupcakes

Did you know… a Christmas cake is a heavy cake containing lots of dried fruit and usually having a covering of icing. It is made to be eaten at Christmas.

ACTIVITY: Recipe card for SMS Christmas moon and star cupcakes

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Create your own Christmas song playlist!

December 13, 2020

Create your own Christmas song playlist!

Did you know… Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is the best-selling Christmas song with more than more than 50 million copies sold around the world.

ACTIVITY: Take a look at Smooth Radio’s Top 30 Christmas Songs to give you some inspiration for your own Christmas song playlist

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Sing your heart out with some festive Christmas Carols!

December 12, 2020

Sing your heart out with some festive Christmas Carols!

Did you know… the songs sung during Christmas are called Christmas Carols.  One of the most famous carols of all time is “Silent Night”.

ACTIVITY: Download your Christmas lyrics for a festive sing-a-long!

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Christmas Jumper Day! Wear your best Christmas jumper – the sparklier the better!

December 11, 2020

Christmas Jumper Day!  Wear your best Christmas jumper – the sparklier the better!

Did you know… holly and ivy have been used to decorate homes since the 9th century because they symbolise everlasting life.

ACTIVITY: Don’t worry if you don’t have a Christmas jumper, here are some ideas and inspiration from Country Living to create your own DIY Christmas jumper!

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Decorate a festive Genny Bear

December 10, 2020

Decorate a festive Genny Bear

Did you know… a one-of-a-kind Christmas bauble hit headlines in 2009 as the world’s most expensive Christmas bauble. It cost £130,000!

ACTIVITY: Download and decorate a festive Genny Bear

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Host a Christmas movie marathon and get cosy on the sofa!

December 9, 2020

Host a Christmas movie marathon and get cosy on the sofa!

Did you know… the film ‘Elf’ has been voted the favourite Christmas movie of all time?

ACTIVITY: Snuggle on the sofa for your Christmas movie marathon. Need some inspiration for a good movie? Timeout recently published ‘The best kids’ Christmas movies‘ guide to help you choose.

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Complete our Christmas word search

December 8, 2020

Complete our Christmas word search

Did you know… sometime during the 18th century, candles were used for the first time to decorate the trees for Christmas.

ACTIVITY: Download Christmas themed word search

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Take part in festive Christmas quiz with your family!

December 7, 2020

Take part in festive Christmas quiz with your family!

Did you know… it is believed that the three kings took 12 days to reach Jesus Christ’s birth place, and that is why we say “12 days of Christmas”

ACTIVITY: Play SMS Christmas Quiz

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Hang your SMS Christmas bunting!

December 6, 2020

Hang your SMS Christmas bunting!

Did you know… the traditional colors of Christmas decorations are red, green and gold.

ACTIVITY: Download SMS Christmas bunting

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Decorate an SMS origami angel

December 5, 2020

Decorate an SMS origami angel

Did you know…Baby Jesus’ birth was announced to Mary by the Angel Gabriel

ACTIVITY: Make an SMS origami tree angel

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Pin the nose on Rudolph!

December 4, 2020

Pin the nose on Rudolph!

Did you know… Rudolph, the ‘Red-Nosed Reindeer’ has helpers too! Rudolph is in fact, Santa’s ninth reindeer. And there are eight other reindeers who help him. These are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen

ACTIVITY: Pin the nose of Rudolph (print out)

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Decorate a Christmas bauble!

December 3, 2020

Decorate a Christmas bauble!

Did you know… fir trees are decorated with lights and baubles at Christmas. Fir trees are evergreen and at Christmas they represent everlasting life.

ACTIVITY: SMS Christmas Bauble template to print

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Change your social media frame to an SMS Christmas selfie!

December 2, 2020

Change your social media frame to an SMS Christmas selfie!

Did you know…a Christmas elf is known to be Santa Claus’ helper and live with him at the North Pole throughout the year.

ACTIVITY: Frame my Facebook Profile Picture

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

Write a letter to Santa!

December 1, 2020

Write a letter to Santa!

Did you know… Santa Claus was born in 270 AD.  That means he is over 1,000 years old.  It’s the magic of Christmas that keeps him alive and well.

ACTIVITY: Printable letter to Santa template

Support families living with SMS this Christmas. Text ‘DONATE SMS 2020’ to 88802 or donate via our online donations platform CAF.
Donate

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