Advent Ideas for Kids and Families

Here is a collection of 14 fun and simple Advent activites for families with kids of all ages. Make your own Advent calendar, make some DIY nativity story stones to tell the story of Jesus’ birth, make a nativity scene out of Lego or one out of graham crackers that doubles as a treat! And so much more…

Advent doesn’t have to be just about collecting trinkets, or consuming sugar, or counting down until Christmas (i.e. counting down until presents).  Here are some simple and creative ideas to prepare kids’ hearts for the birth of Christ during Advent. These Advent activities for families include fun and creative Advent calendars as well as other ways to celebrate the season and explore the story of Jesus’ birth.

We do a handful of these Advent activities with our kids each year.

Advent Activities for Kids and Families

Here’s my list of simple and creative crafts, Advent calendars, and other Advent activities that can help you and your family prepare you hearts for the birth of Christ during Advent.

DIY Christmas Story Advent Calendar – Tell the Christmas story over the course of Advent.  This is an easy make that can be a sewing project or a no-sew project.

25 Days of Service Advent Calendar – This is a great way to get kids into giving and serving others for the whole of Advent.

Advent Colouring Pages – Have kids who love to colour?  They can colour the Advent story with these 25 colouring pages.

Make an Advent wreath – This is a super simple craft that you can do with even the littlest of kids.  This also gives you an opportunity to talk about the hope, peace, joy, and love that is found in Jesus.

Bible verses to teach kids about Advent – These Bible verses are designed to go with the 4 candles in an Advent wreath, leading up to Christmas.

Simple Advent Activities – This is a list of 21 great activities (that don’t involve getting stuff or eating sugar on a daily basis) that you can do with your kids.

Popsicle Stick Nativity Scene – This is an easy project to do with kids of any age.  Turn craft sticks and peg dolls into a nativity scene!  This project goes well with the Simple Stone Advent Calendar.

Paper Chain Advent Calendar – This is a really simple and elegant way to tell the Christmas story during Advent.  Beginning on December 1, read one Bible verse (one strip of paper chain) and add it to the chain.

Advent Window Decorations – These faux stained-glass Advent candles are gorgeous and easy to make with the kids.

Nativity Story Stones – Use painted rocks to tell the story of Jesus’ birth.  We use these story stones over advent to tell the Christmas story.  (We pair it with our Christmas Story Advent Calendar.)

Graham Cracker Nativity Scene – Make a nativity scene out of graham crackers and candy.  Yum!

Names of Jesus Advent Paper Chain – Another easy Advent paper chain.  Remove one piece of the chain each day leading up to Christmas.

Lego Nativity Scene – This is an adorable activity for kids who love to build.

Felt Nativity Scene – This is a simple and creative craft to do with the kids this Advent.  Bonus: this doubles as imaginative play.