If your family is anything like mine, there is A LOT of excitement and anticipation in the air. The tree is up, lights hanging on the bushes, and the chocolate is popping out of the advent calendar. Everywhere we look we are bombarded with materialism. Commercials, sales, displays…BUY! SPEND! BUY! And I am so very guilty. Last night I spent $200 on football jerseys for my boys on Amazon. A simple click and their Christmas dreams come true. As exciting as this season is, especially from the eyes of a child, it is way too easy to get sucked up in the world and forget that we are in a season of welcoming Christ our King. I put together this list of ways to celebrate advent with your kids to keep Christ at the forefront of the Christmas season.
How To Celebrate Advent At Home:
1. Family Advent Devotions
Coming together as a family to spend time in the presence of God is the most important way to celebrate advent. You can find free advent devotional print outs on Pinterest, or even purchase a book on Amazon. Here is also a pretty comprehensive list of resources. If you want to make your own advent wreath at home, Focus On The Family has a great guide here.
2. Serving Others
A simple way to give back and joyfully spread Christmas cheer is through helping those in need with your family. There are so many ways to give back. You can pool your money and allowance and make a monetary donation to your church, or an organization like the Salvation Army. You can put together a gift box for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse, and bring Christmas joy to a child who wouldn’t normally get any gifts. Another way you can serve others is simply by baking cookies for your neighbors. An act so small (and relatively easy) can easily share Christ’s love.
3. Make Prayer Garland To Celebrate Advent
My kids and I have recently written down prayer requests and answered prayers to acknowledged God’s faithfulness. It is a tangible way for young children, who are still trying to grasp what a relationship with God really means, to understand that He is always with us. Here is a great guide for making your own prayer garland at home:
“Cut out 24 green and red construction paper strips. On each strip, write the name of a family member, friend, or ministry. Staple the strips as links into one long garland. Hang the garland in your apartment or house as a decoration.
Every day in December, have a family member remove one of the paper strips. As a family, pray for the person or ministry whose name is on that strip of paper.”
4. Reading & Watching The Story Of Christmas
During the pandemic, my kids and I have been watching a lot of Christian YouTube channels since we aren’t attending church in person. Saddleback Kids is a huge favorite on our house and they have Christmas videos as well. As children (and adults), it is hard to balance Santa, presents, and Jesus. But it is so important to lay the foundation now so they know – as corny as it sounds – that Jesus IS the reason for the season.