The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! Believers all around the world are getting ready for a special season: Advent. If you’re like many parents, you’re looking for ways to observe Advent that inspire anticipation for the coming of Jesus while also drawing the family together.

You might also want ways to help you and the family slow down amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Despite the true reason for this season, it’s easy to lose sight of Christ amidst the chaos around Christmas. Below are some wonderful ideas that can help.

1. Make and light an Advent Wreath

An Advent wreath is the perfect opportunity for a fun craft with the kids, as well as ways to mark the passage of the Advent season. Lighting one candle each week while reading Scripture passages regarding the arrival of our Savior is a simple and effective way to nurture anticipation.

If you are looking for good passages to use for this activity, this article is a great resource. Or you can join our Facebook group and find inspiration from churches all around the world!

2. Start an Advent chain

Cut strips of construction paper. On each one, write a charitable activity. You can ask the kids to help you come up with ideas. Write down one idea for each day of Advent.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Visit an elderly shut-in from your church
• Donate clothes your family no longer wears to a local homeless shelter
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen (if your kids are old enough)
• Go Christmas caroling through a local nursing home
• Cook a meal for a neighbor
• Purchase toys to donate to a local women and children's shelter
• Set out a jar and have your family put money away through the Advent season to later donate to a charity you all choose together

Every day, have the kids pull a strip out of a hat, then have the family do that activity and make a loop out of the strip. Loop each new strip through the last one, creating a colorful chain. On Christmas Day, review the chain and talk as a family about all you learned about loving your neighbor and how this helped you prepare for celebrating the coming of Jesus.

If you would rather use a printable list of activities, check out this idea on Pinterest.

3. Assemble a Nativity Scene

This one is great because you likely already put one out every year. But consider adding each animal and character slowly over the season, talking about their significance and meaning as you go. For instance:

• Add one animal to the scene every few days. You can use them to talk with your kids about Christ's humble entry into the world in a lowly stable.
• Add Joseph and Mary the week before Christmas Day. Talk about who they were and the significance of their role in our faith.
• Add Jesus on Christmas Day. Celebrate his coming with both joy and reverence.
• Add the Wise Men a few days after Christmas. You can use them as an opportunity to discuss bringing our gifts to Jesus.

The sky's the limit for how creative you can be with this activity! You can introduce the Wise Men early, but move them from room to room through the house every few days to emphasize their long journey. When you introduce Mary and Joseph, help the kids research the town of Bethlehem to make the place more real to them. There’s no end of opportunity to get the whole family involved.

Merry Christmas from ChurchTrac!

This is only the beginning of all the ways families can come together as Christmas approaches. To find more inspiration or to share your own ideas, join our Facebook group with believers all over the world. We would love to know what you are doing this year to celebrate.

No matter what you do this Advent season, the ChurchTrac team will be joining you in celebrating the coming of Jesus and sharing His love this Christmas season.