Are you a procrastinator like me looking for Advent activities for your kiddos?  I updated this calendar just in time to start Advent with our kiddos today.  These are all activities that realistically can be completed with a newborn, our current stage.  Hope you enjoy!

(Light the 1st purple candle this week.  This week’s theme is HOPE.)
November
27- Decorate a Christmas tree with Grandpa
28- Introduce the Advent Candles and the meaning of Advent (Here’s a great website with Advent Information)
29- Read Matthew 1:18-24 (Angel appears to Joseph)
30- Make an Advent Chain (red and green paper chain) to count down to Christmas
December
1- Read Luke 1: 26-38 (Angel appears to Mary)
2- Talk about all of the things we hope for at dinner
3- String popcorn garland for our Christmas tree and watch Polar Express

(Light the 1st and 2nd purple candles this week. This week’s theme is PEACE.)
4- Invite new friends to dinner
5- Make a Donkey puppet (We’re using this template.  The donkey is a symbol of peace and humbleness.)
6- Read Luke 1:57-66 (Introduce John the Baptist)
7- Have a Christmas carol dance party
8- Read Luke 2:1-7 (Discuss Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem)
9- Talk about other places in the world that are at war
10- Create Christmas cards and send them to Soldiers using resources from this website

(Light the 1st and 2nd purple candles and the pink candle.  This week’s theme is JOY.)
11- Take a drive to look at Christmas lights
12- Address Christmas cards and watch Christmas cartoons
13- Read Matthew 2:1-12 (Discuss the wise men’s joy)
14- Make Christmas presents for grandparents
15- Read Luke 2:8-20 (Introduction of the Shepherds and Angels)
16- Attend our Homeschool Co-op Christmas party
17- Watch Charlie Brown’s Christmas and talk about the true meaning of Christmas

(Light all three purple candles and the pink candle. This week’s theme is LOVE.)
18- Make and decorate heart sugar cookies
19- Deliver cookies to our neighbors
20- Make paper snowflakes
21- Memorize John 3:16
22- Say a prayer for the families that sent us Christmas cards
23- Act out Luke 2 together
24- Attend our church Christmas Eve service (Light ALL FIVE candles!)
25- Birthday cake celebration for Jesus’ Birthday!

© 2011, FROM MILITARY TO MOM. All rights reserved.

Related posts:

1. Easy Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids
2. Our New Homemade Advent Wreath
3. Merry Christmas!
4. Burning Down the House
5. What I’ve been doing… while not blogging

2 Responses to “Easy Advent calendar for kids 2011”

1. Debra Aarhaus says:

   December 7, 2011 at 8:36 pm

   Hi Alyssa, I think this a great idea; are you using the advent wall hanging I made for the children?
2. Alyssa says:

   December 12, 2011 at 9:08 am

   Thanks, Nana! I made my own advent hanging this year, but yours is super cute.