Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means coming. In many Christian churches, Advent is a time of preparing for Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus. Advent officially begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which can fall between November 27th and December 3rd, and always ends on Christmas Eve. In 2022, Advent starts on Sunday, November 27th. However, some families celebrate Advent from December 1st through the 24th each year. If you’re looking for ideas to celebrate the Advent season with your children, try one of the free Advent activities below.

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DIY Boxes Advent Calendar

Using this free printable, your family can create a cute Advent calendar out of boxes. The boxes are perfect for filling with candy or a small toy, as the author suggests. You could also include one of the Bible verse cards or activity cards from the other printables below.

 

Daily Bible Verse Cards

The cute little Bible verse cards found in this free printable are perfect for adding to your Advent calendar, either alone, or with a piece of candy. Each verse tells a small part of the Christmas story. The cards were written using the International Children’s Bible and the Easy Readers Version of the Bible.

 

Advent Calendar Activity Cards

These free printable Advent activity cards focus on fun, family, and kindness. With over 40 cards to choose from, there are plenty of options to do a different activity each day of Advent. The cards are the perfect size for storing in a small jar.

 

Christmas Countdown Activity Cards

In this free printable, you’ll find 34 different Christmas activity cards to choose from, plus a blank page to create your own. Choose your family’s favorite activities and do one each day leading up to Christmas. The activity cards would be great for putting in the pockets of an Advent calendar or displaying in other ways.

 

Names of Jesus Ornaments

The 25 Christmas ornaments in this free printable each coincide with one of the names of Jesus, such as Alpha & Omega, Mighty Counselor, and Prince of Peace. Two versions of the ornaments are included. They can either be printed in color or with a black and white outline so that your children can color them. Also, the ornaments go well with this free Names of Jesus unit study.

 

Bible Verses to Read for Christmas and Advent

This free daily Bible Verse Checklist can be read throughout December as you see fit. There are 25 verses in all. Pick and choose the verses your family reads. If you’d prefer a calendar format for Bible reading, see the next printable below.

 

Bible Verse Advent Calendar

With this free Bible Verse Advent Calendar,  your family will have a Bible passage to read each day from December 1st through December 25th, culminating on Christmas Day. The passages tell our Savior’s story, beginning with the Fall of Man and the Messianic Prophecies, all interwoven with the story of Christ’s birth.

 

Christmas Journal for Kids

This free Christmas Journal contains 25 holiday-themed lined pages. Each page has a header where you can write the day’s main activity or something special. Then use the lines to add the details and your thoughts. It’s an excellent way for children to get writing practice while recording holiday memories.

 

25 Days of Service

This free printable puts the focus on serving others during the Advent season. The printable includes Advent calendar inserts. Each little slip contains a service project to complete and is the perfect size for the little pockets of an Advent calendar. The printable also includes Service Project Bingo. As your family completes a service project, mark it off on the Bingo card. Work together to get a Bingo!

 

Simple Advent Ideas for Families

Humility & Doxology shares simple activities your family can do throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas. The ideas include making an Advent chain with daily scripture readings, a Jesse Tree, and a DIY Advent countdown candle. She also recommends various books and devotionals.

 

Scripture Advent Countdown

Take a journey through Luke with this Scripture Advent Countdown. With 24 chapters in the book of Luke, your family can reflect on one each day as you countdown to Christmas. This free printable includes 24 Bible verse cards and a journal. The journal has spaces for your children to record notes, key verses, and prayers.

 

Christmas Countdown Activities

This post at Hess Un-Academy suggests 24 daily activities for your family to do as you count down to Christmas. Many of the activities focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas. The post also includes a printable Christmas bucket list and a 44-page Christmas coloring book.

 

Nativity Advent Coloring Page

This simple and cute free coloring page is a fun way for children to count down the days until Christmas. The nativity theme helps keep the focus on Christ.

 

Paper Chain Craft

This paper chain craft is a fun alternative to a traditional advent calendar. Each chain is made up of 25 rings. The children will remove one ring each day, from December 1st through Christmas morning. The top ring, with a snowman or reindeer face, can be saved to reuse next Christmas. The free tutorial has easy step-by-step instructions.

 

25 Days of Christmas Acts of Kindness

Get into the spirit of giving with this Christmas acts of kindness challenge. The free printable lists 25 acts of kindness your family can do as you count down to Christmas.

 

Advent Candles & Wreath

Your family may enjoy lighting Advent candles at home as well, even if you attend a church that does this. This video from Chuck Knows Church explains the Advent wreath and what each candle signifies.

Christmas Around the World Unit Studies

The Advent season is an excellent time to learn about other countries’ Christmas traditions. Our free Christmas Around the World unit studies each last five days. Other than a recipe on the 5th day, they require zero prep or purchases. There are no books to buy; everything is free online. Choose just one country, or pick several units for a full month (or more!) of learning about other countries’ Christmas traditions, culture, and geography.

 

More Free Christmas Resources

Christmas Unit Studies
Printable Christmas Cards
Printable Christmas Thank-You Notes
Printable Christmas Coloring Pages
Christmas Book List

 

 

Note: This post was originally published on October 11, 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.