Top 3 Simple Advent Activities for Families This Christmas

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Looking for meaningful Advent family activities? These are my favorite resources to help you teach your kids the true meaning of Christmas and prepare your hearts for celebrating Jesus.

I just love Christmas music. The day after Thanksgiving, our local Christian radio station begins broadcasting Christmas songs exclusively all the way up until December 25th. Despite all of the local stores being decked out weeks in advance, this is the point when it really begins to feel like the Christmas season for me.

I was thinking the other day about how we, as a family, prepare to celebrate Christmas. I became a little convicted because, although we know the true meaning of the season, I can’t claim that our holiday prep looks much unlike that of the world.

This year, however, is going to be different.

What Do I Mean By This?

Some of our Christmas traditions include putting up Christmas decorations, making Christmas cookies, decorating a gingerbread house, writing Christmas cards, and completing our annual Christmas lights scavenger hunt. I love spoiling each family member with gifts, enjoying candy canes and hot chocolate, and spending quality time with loved ones.

And when my kids were little, I was intentional about teaching them the meaning of the season. We spent days throughout the month reading Scripture and doing Christmas Advent activities to keep our focus in the right place.

But as they have gotten older, I’ve taken for granted the fact that they “get it”. Mistakenly thinking that I didn’t need to teach them about why we celebrate Christmas, I’ve lost out on opportunities to truly teach them how to prepare their hearts for Christmas during the weeks of Advent.

What is Advent?

“Advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus,” and means “coming”. So Advent is supposed to be a season of anticipation, reflection, and preparation leading up to Christmas Day.

It’s the perfect time to slow down and focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Why Do We Celebrate Advent?

One of the primary reasons Advent is celebrated is to embrace the anticipation of Jesus’s arrival. Just as the Israelites awaited the promised Messiah for generations, Advent allows us to enter into that same sense of waiting.

It reminds us of the hope that Christ’s birth brought to the world—a hope for salvation, redemption, and a new beginning. It’s a time to remind ourselves of the prophecy, promise, and preparation that led to the miraculous birth in Bethlehem.

Advent is also a great time to focus on the values that Jesus embodied—love, peace, joy, and hope. Amidst the busyness of the holiday season, it provides a counter-cultural opportunity to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

By engaging in family traditions such as daily Advent activities, scripture readings, and acts of kindness, we can intentionally cultivate these virtues in our families’ lives.

How Long is the Advent Season?

The Advent season can vary in duration depending on cultural and religious traditions.

But generally, Advent spans the four Sundays and weeks leading up to Christmas Day (which is always celebrated on December 25th), making it a season of approximately 22 to 28 days.

My Favorite Family Advent Activities

When I was little, we had an Advent calendar hanging up in our kitchen throughout the month of December. From December 1st through Christmas Eve, my brother and I would move a little “mouse” each day to a new pocket, and find a couple of coins in each one we could keep.

While I loved this as a kid (and think there are so many fun Advent calendar options available these days!), now I’m looking for Christmas activities that go a bit deeper for my kids, rather than just simply counting down the days.

I’m going to share three products with you that I think are a wonderful way to disciple your kids during Advent.

The first two I am using this year; the last one is an old favorite I used a couple of times when my kids were younger. I hope you love them!

Advent Idea #1: Sonlight’s Advent Unit Studies

Earlier this year, we enjoyed celebrating Lent while using one of Sonlight’s Lenten Unit Studies…and we absolutely loved it!  

So I was excited to learn that in addition to their All-Subject Homeschool Curriculum Packages, Sonlight offers not only one, but three Advent Unit Study options based on the well-loved books by Arnold Ytreeide.   

My kids loved these books more than I thought they would (and to be honest, so did I).

The author has done an amazing job of creating engaging storylines that weave into the Biblical timeline. During Lent, we read about Jesus’s death and resurrection alongside the main character’s struggle in trying to save his father from a death sentence after being falsely accused of a crime.

We couldn’t wait for the next chapter and unit study lesson each day!

This year, we are going to be doing our first Sonlight Advent Unit Study, Jotham’s Journey.  You can complete their units, really, in any order, but if this is your first year it’s recommended you begin with this Christmas book.

If you have kids around ages 7-13, I think this would be a beautiful addition to you holiday homeschooling!

Throughout the Advent season, this unit study leads families through readings from the book Jotham’s Journey and related scripture verses, along with crafts, music, discussion questions and baking activities. 

Daily lessons are short yet meaningful, and I LOVE how everything is already planned out! In true Sonlight fashion, this is very open-and-go (aside from needing to grab some of the craft and baking supplies).

Sonlight’s Advent Unit Studies are a great way to engage your kids and help them understand and appreciate this time leading up to Christmas.

Check out Jotham’s Journey Advent Unit Study and get the prep done now so you have everything you need when the season rolls around!

And while you’re checking out the Sonlight Advent Unit Study, take a moment to peek at their deals and specials page. This page is updated when new offers are available, and they might just have a sale on something you need!

You’ll also want to enter the giveaway they’ve got going on for their Discover & Do Science Experiment kit. These are such great resources for your homeschool!

Advent Idea #2: Uncovering Mercies at the Manger

In addition to the family Advent Unit Study above, this year my kids are going to complete their own personal devotionals during Advent.

We have really enjoyed using the devotionals from Not Consumed Ministries, and Mercies at the Manger is their Christmas Bible Study for kids.

These Bible studies are offered in 4 different levels, so you can use them with different ages: from your 4-year olds all the way up through your older children…and yourself (yes, there is a parent level study, so you can complete your own and then discuss with your family).

This is a 25-day Bible study. The Christmas Countdown Cards are not included (but a really fun add-on!).

Advent Idea #3: Truth in the Tinsel

This curriculum has grown quite a bit since I first used it (probably about 7 years ago!). I had first heard about Truth in the Tinsel on a podcast, and a dear friend was also using it with her kids. I purchased the ebook and really enjoyed crafting Christmas ornaments with my kids as we read through the Christmas story from beginning to end throughout Advent.

With Truth in the Tinsel, each day you’ll read a Scripture passage, and then create a fun craft ornament related to that passage. When we did it, I found a mini Christmas tree on sale at a local craft shop, and my kids used it to hang their ornaments on.

This is a great Advent activity if you have kids that really love crafting! The ornaments can be displayed each year as you remember the meaning of Christmas.

More Family Advent Calendar Activities

If you’d like even more Advent calendar ideas, here are a few popular posts and printables I have available on the blog:

• 25 Gifts of Service Advent Calendar + FREE Printable for Kids
• Make This Advent Special with an Advent Wreath Activity Kids Will Love
• Simple Advent Crafts for Kids: Countdown to Christmas
• Jesse Tree Advent Activity Pack

A Meaningful Advent Season

Advent is such a special time. This Christmas season, let the twinkling lights, Christmas carols, and festive decorations serve as a backdrop to the real magic you’ll create with your whole family in anticipation of Christ’s birth.

I hope you love each of these Advent ideas as much as I do! Let’s begin this joyful journey, count down the days of Christmas, and embrace the true meaning of Advent—a season of hope, love, and the anticipation of the greatest gift ever given.

Let me know in the comments: what are your favorite Advent family activities? What has been the most meaningful way in which you’ve celebrated? I want to hear from you!

Related Posts

• The Best Gifts For Homeschool Moms This Holiday Season
• Start These Saint Nicholas Day Traditions This Year
• A Christmas M&M Poem That Shares a Beautiful Reminder

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