I did an advent with my then-2.5-year-old last year and she loved it! I think there was something about getting a present every day that was really fun for her obviously, and I liked that we were spending time together every day on a focused activity-I'm really type A like that. So here’s my advent for this year. Some of these are ideas I saw around on the internet, some are things I do every year, and some are just fun little crafts I want to try. It’s a hodge podge. Also, don’t sue me if I stole an idea from you. This was one of my favorite lists: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/253468285251491028/
If your kids are older, or you’re just not feelin’ it the way I am, pick
a few favorite activities and start with a 12 days of Christmas advent, or 4 or
5. Whatever floats your boat or finds your lost remote. You can just print out
these ideas and use the slips of paper to stick in your calendar, or you can include
a little “clue” for what the activity will be.
Deuteronomy 6:7-9 tells us to talk about the things of God with our
children while we go about our everyday lives. Some of these things on this
list are things that I would do during the Christmas season anyway, but I will
hope to make them fun for Audrey and use them to teach her more about the
things of God.
Another reason I’m doing this advent is that I want to show Audrey how
fun Jesus is. I haven't ever really been a fan of Santa, and I read blog here
that really put it into I words for me:
“Because honestly? For a five-year-old, how can Jesus compete
with Santa? Our children don't have spiritual perspective; when faced with the
choice of allegiance, they have a baby in a manger, or they can get a jolly,
twinkling, flying character who will bring them presents. This is going to be
an easy choice for them.” http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/29/the-christmas-conundrum
I want to make learning about Jesus just as much fun as Santa. This
advent may be pretty cheesy, and the clip art DEFINETLY is (email me for the pdf), but hopefully our
Advent activities, getting to open a little present/clue every day, spending
family time together, and the conversations that will be tied to the activities
will do that for her. I want to help Audrey to be in love with Jesus because:
y'all, Jesus is awesome.
Merry Christmas!
Christmas Parade
Read the story of Palm Sunday and talk about how excited everyone was when Jesus was in the parade. We won't see Jesus at this parade, but we can be excited just like the Jewish people were to have him as their king. Talk about the difference between the king of a country and Jesus being the king of our hearts and lives. List of local Chattanooga Parades- They sure do look like fun!! I can’t wait!
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/23963905/christmas-2013-parades-and-festivals
Clue: Small piece of candy
Clue: Small piece of candy
Bethlehem Dinner
Serve a Greek
or Mediterranean style menu with roasted fish, Greek salad, and hummus and talk
about Jesus' daily life. I have a neat little section in the back of my “The
Picture Bible” (GET ONE FOR YOUR KID! It’s the bible in comic book form. I owe
my love of scripture to my early years of being obsessed with that bible.) You
might have to google some factoids.
Clue: dinner napkin or menorah candle
Clue: dinner napkin or menorah candle
Decorate a Door
Use colored paper to make a snowman on a white door or on your refrigerator. This one really doesn’t have much to do with Jesus, but I always thought they were cute. It’s a stretch, but you can talk about how Jesus is always knocking on the door of our hearts, and always seeking us out. He’s always after our hearts. Christmas was just part of his plan to get to us. I just love that Divine obsession. Clue: Black paper cut into circles for those two eyes made out of coal
Nativity Servants
Matt 20:28
Talk about how Jesus came to serve and how he humbled himself and taught
us to put others first. A lot of times Jesus would tell people to keep
quiet about the miracles he performed for them. Have your family take turns doing an act of service in
secret for another family member and leaving the baby Jesus from the nativity
behind. Ex: make a bed, leave baby Jesus on the pillow; put away dishes, leave
baby Jesus in the silverware drawer. When one member finds the figurine, it is
their turn to do an act of service for someone else.
Clue: baby Jesus printable or the figurine from your nativity scene.
Clue: baby Jesus printable or the figurine from your nativity scene.
Gingerbread Nativity
Luke 2:9-14
Make a "gingerbread" nativity instead of a gingerbread house.
Use graham crackers for the stable, coconut flakes for hay, marshmallows and
licorice sticks to make sheep, sour patch kids and various colored icing for
Mary, Joseph, etc. talk about each character's part in the story, why they had
to stay in a stable, how that was humble of God to come down to us. Clue: one
of the decorating candies
Treat Someone
Make a treat for someone you don't know: the cashier at the grocery
store or the gas station, someone at the next table in a restaurant, in line in
front of you, etc. Ask your child to find a toy from their own toys to
include (you can lead by example and include something from your stash or
wallet too) and talk about sacrificing our extras to help others know that they
are valued and loved. God gives us our blessings so that we can bless others.
clue: small pack of chocolates or another gift to include.
clue: small pack of chocolates or another gift to include.
Dad’s Gift
Make a gift for dad. Handmade gifts are always fun, meaningful and precious-I can't tell you what
we're doing here, because I'm afraid I'll ruin his surprise, but browse the internet or Pinterest for handmade card or
keepsake ideas or a new recipe that has bacon in it.
Grandparent Gifts
Make grandparent gifts
Same idea...
Same idea...
Nutcracker Night
Jer 31:13, Ex 35:31-32
Take your children to see the Nutcracker or another Christmas play. Our
local community college has a free or very cheap Christmas play every year.
Talk about dancing before the Lord, how Jesus gives us all different
talents and skills and enables us to do them. Jesus himself was a skilled
carpenter and craftsman.
Clue: a small nut
Clue: a small nut
Bubbles and Water
Bundle up and head outside. Play with bubbles, they'll freeze as you blow them if it's under 32. Fill balloons with water and food coloring, leave outside to freeze, and in the morning cut the balloon off to see some big colored "marbles" in your yard. This might be another stretch, but that’s ok! Remember, it’s the everyday things that we’re supposed to be using to talk about God with our kids. Talk about how God has control over all the seasons and how He gives us winter so the earth can rest and to remind us to rest too. His grace allows us to rest and not have to work for our salvation by "being a good person" Ah, that just gets me excited! How great is that?!
Clue: balloons
Reading Time
Reading Fun
Give Thanks
Make Christmas cards for family and thank you notes for after Christmas.
We draw names in our family for gifts, but this year we'll be giving everyone
in our family a little note of encouragement and appreciation. Clue:
crayon to get yo art on.
Donate Toys/Write to Linda
Sort through toys and pick some to donate. Most kids will enjoy helping
with this process if you tell them that they are giving to kids who don't have
any toys. Talk about how Jesus only gives us things so that we can share them
and that everything we have is given to us. This also makes room for all those
Christmas presents that you know the grandparents will be loading up your
children with! This is one of those things that will get easier the more you do
it and talk about it. I hope it keeps getting easier for our family! This is
also a good time to pick out a child to be sponsored through Compassion International
or World Vision, it’s only $38/month and it provides so many good things and
basic needs for kids who are just like your kids! Or if you already sponsor, to
write to your child.
Clue: small toy
Clue: small toy
Paper Snowflakes
Talk about how much care Jesus took in creating us and made us as
special and different as snowflakes! Encourage your family by naming one special
thing God created in them. Clue: A paper snowflake
Winter Walk
After dark, take a short family walk, looking at the stars. Tell the story of the Wise men and how they followed the special star a long way to see Jesus. Talk about how beautiful the star was and how far the wise men traveled and how badly they must have wanted to see Jesus.
Candlelight Service
Attend a church's candlelight service, or have one of your own: light some candles and sing Christmas carols together. Take time to ask your kids if they understand the words and be ready to explain their meaning.
Burning Bright
Clue: Christmas light bulb
Bake a Blessing
Get in the kitchen and bake
some goodies as a family! Deliver them to your neighbors, take them to a cookie
exchange, let your kids take them to their friends at school, or all of the
above. Jesus said that loving your neighbor as yourself was one of the most
important commandments. When you give unexpected gifts to others, you show the
love of Jesus, who always made people feel loved and thought of others above
Himself.
Ornament Making
We’ve been making an ornament every year with our family picture. This
year, I got a little paintable wooden one in the craft section at wal-mart, but
you can do pretty much any ornament craft and still have a good conversation
about it. After painting your ornament, talk about how much work you put in to
them. Look at your hands and consider how much God put thought, care and
intentionality God put into making you.
Chocolate
Pajamas
After the kids have pjs on and go through their bedtime routine,
surprise them with a trip to Starbucks or to the kitchen for a hot chocolate.
Talk about how God gives us joy and gifts and has good plans for us that
sometimes we can't see until the end. He always comes through. He is always
faithful. Take this opportunity to share with your kids about how much joy you
get from them. Clue: $10 bill or a pack of hot choc mix
Christmas Camping
Have a family “camping” trip in the living room. Eat finger foods on
blankets for a “picnic,” watch a movie, make shadow puppets, light a fire in
the fireplace. Talk about how the early church had everything in common and
shared everything they had with each other. You could even eat goldfish crackers or fish sticks like they would have eaten together. Clue: small flashlight
Birthday Bash
Make a red velvet cake (symbolizing Jesus's blood )with white icing (symbolizing our righteousness though salvation) and light candles, have a few simple decorations. You don’t have to go all out: just pull out a different tablecloth and let the kids tape up some streamer. Talk about why we celebrate Christmas and how it was important that God became a man so that he could pay the penalty that man owed for sin. If your kids are little, they might not fully understand, but the more you talk about it, the easier it will be for you to explain and for them to wrap their brains around-and don’t worry, it’s really the holy spirit’s job to help them understand it and get it in their hearts. Clue: strands of streamer
Lights, Camera,
Christmas
Dollar Tree Shopping
Spree
Take your kids to the dollar tree toy section and leave $1 bills and little notes that say "Merry Christmas! Treat yourself to an extra toy and enjoy this random act of kindness! Jesus loves you!" Talk about how even inexpensive things can bless others. Remind your kids that Jesus wants us to be like the widow and give all that we can give, not just our money, but our whole lives.
Clue: dollar bills with notes
The Best Present
Alrighty, those are all my cheesy ideas. Let me know if you guys have any new ideas I can use next year or in any following years-I'd love to hear them! Hope you guys have a very Merry Christmas no matter how you celebrate the season!
