A Wise Woman Builds Her Home: 14 Simple Advent Ideas for Busy Families

Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you;

He is the Messiah, the Lord.

~Luke 2:11

December is right around the corner and I know we all want to keep the focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas this year before all the hustle and bustle. I think it is so important for us to have a quiet time in our day where we slow down and focus on the Lord and the gift of His Son, our Savior.

With the days leading up to Christmas we can do that -that is why I wanted to share a few Advent ideas for your family. I know that many of you have young children so I included several things to do with them and some easy ways to keep the focus on the real meaning of the season!

1. Wreath and Candles - you can find a traditional wreath like the one pictured above on this post or special ones like this one of baby Jesus below. Don't forget to get the candle set to go with it! You can read the story in the Bible of Jesus's birth in Luke to go along with it.

You can find the Crown Advent Candle Wreath here.

2. Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional - This is an advent devotional that goes through the names of Jesus leading up to the special day.

In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, Asheritah Ciuciu leads readers through the four weeks of Advent (Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love). Each week:

Begins with an interactive family devotional that equips readers to celebrate Advent together
Offers five daily reflections that focus on that week's name of Jesus
Includes suggestions for fun-filled family activities or service projects

You can find it HERE.

3. Come Let us Adore Him - A Daily Advent Devotional

The wonder and awe of the Christmas season can easily get overshadowed by lights, tinsel, bows, and paper—not to mention last-minute trips to the mall and visits to the in-laws. In all the hustle and bustle, we often lose sight of what’s most important. This book of daily readings for the month of December by best-selling author Paul David Tripp will help you slow down, prepare your heart, and focus on what matters most: adoring our Savior, Jesus.

You can find it HERE.

4. The Star From Afar - a great way to teach your children the story of Christmas.

It basically goes like this:

Set up the nativity
Hide the star every night
Once the children find the star move all Wise Men to its location
Read Scripture
Repeat
On Christmas Eve place star on top of the Stable
On Christmas Morning the three Wise Men find baby Jesus!
You can also add a sweet treat or surprise for memories at each location for even more fun

Read my post about it HERE along with videos.

You can find Star from Afar HERE.

5. Truth in Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands

This is a practical eBook that shares planned out daily devotionals to read with the kids that are combined with doing easy crafts that reinforce what has been taught that are used as ornaments to adorn your Christmas tree! So all through the month they can look at what they made and remember the Scriptural truths as the weeks and days go by. Isn't that a blessing?

What is nice is that everyone knows how busy it can get in December--this ebook is designed to help accommodate that (it is very simple) and even offers flexibility in the lessons so that you can do it on your own schedule, choosing which crafts you'd prefer. You could even do them all in one day if you'd like!

Since I am a not-so-crafty-Mama-with-little-time, I had also bought the Truth in Tinsel Printable Ornaments in the past which is handy because if things get too busy we can just print out some premade ornaments that coincide with the days Scripture, they color it, and voila--it's done!

Read my post and see video about it here.

You can find it all HERE.

6. The Shepherd on the Search

Help the Shepherd find his way to the manger as you count down the days! Comes with a storybook.

This set can also be used with The Shepherd on the Search Children's Christmas Music & Reading CD for an inspiring combination of fun, praise, and meaningful activity—a wonderful way to keep Christ in Christmas.

Read more about it HERE.

You can also use The Shepherd on the Search 25 Day Devotional to go with it.

7. Christmas Nativity Wall Hanging

Add parts of the Nativity scene as you count down the days--perfect for little ones. Here is a description:

NATIVITY SCENE is beautifully crafted with a blue, gold, tan background and embroidered plush figurines; measures 18 inches wide by 16 inches tall; store away the figures in the built-in pocket on the back
INTERACTIVE nature allows you to create the scene of your choice; each piece connects by hoop & loop and can be arranged as a traditional manger or have fun and create a whole new crèche display
PERFECT in many places; ideal in the living room, kitchen, den, dorm rooms, apartments, senior citizen homes, take it on the road in your RV, always festive near the Christmas tree; non-breakable space saving wall hanging
18 UNIQUE NATIVITY FIGURES include Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, Three Kings, 3 Shepherds, camel, donkey, 2 Angels, dove, 2 stars and 2 sheep
A FAMILY TRADITION: this nativity wall hanging holiday decoration will become a new keepsake for your family and an anticipated holiday activity year after year; the perfect gift

Find it HERE.

8. Good Deeds Manger - A Christmas Tradition Centered on Christ and Interactive Nativity Set

Together with your children be inspired to do good deeds leading up to Christmas day. Add more hay in the manger when you do!

The Good Deeds Manger is an interactive nativity set that helps teach the true meaning of Christmas
This Christmas tradition uses a realistic manger to encourage all to follow our savior's example of service
Each good deed earns straw to put in the manger so on Christmas morning baby Jesus can sleep in the hay
Bring Christ back into Christmas by serving others and using this scene of His birth to encourage your entire family to love thy neighbor
Includes a proclamation ornament explaining how to make the bed of hay for our Lord

You can find it HERE.

9. Nativity Advent Calendar

We've all seen these before but sometimes they are hard to find with a religious theme in the stores.

You can find the calendar HERE.

Love these ornaments that are related to the Bible that you hang on the tree to remind you of the true meaning of Christmas.

Have meaningful, family-time interaction learning about twelve names of Jesus with The Twelve Names of Christmas ornament set. Read through each story with your family and have your children hang the corresponding ornament on the tree. Whether you choose to hang all twelve ornament names at once or spread the activity over the twelve days leading up to Christmas morning, you and your children will be reminded of how glorious and majestic is the name of our Lord!

Cover:
The Twelve Names of Christmas
Faith-building ornaments for discovering Jesus
Includes a 12-day devotional & bonus mine-to-make printables

You can find it HERE.

10. Jesse Tree Ornaments

We love making Jesse Trees every year and even wrote a post about them.

You can find these HERE.

11. Shepherd on the Search Advent Calendar

Here is another religious themed calendar since they can be hard to find. This one can be used with The Search for the Shepherd mentioned above!

You can find it HERE.

12. Nativity Wall Clings

If you like hands on activities for the kiddos, try these clings of the Nativity story that can be hung up and reused.

You can find it HERE.

13. Max Lucado Christmas Coloring Book - Because of Bethlehem

You have to see the inside of this coloring book--what an easy and simple way to lead up to the days! You really need to take a look inside of the pages! Here is a bit about it:

Put away your hectic Christmas to-do list and pick up some moments of peace with this beautiful, interactive adult coloring book. Bestselling author Max Lucado invites you to step out of the harried holidays and reconnect with the Christ of Christmas by meditating on the greatest gift ever given. As you add your personal touch to these inspirational Christmastime quotes, you'll discover joy and refreshment in the God who is always near you, always for you, and always in you.

You can find it HERE.

14. Max Lucado Table Top Devotional

What a great idea for busy families--sometimes a tabletop devotional will be read more than a regular book devotional.

Because of Bethlehem Love Is Born, Hope Is Here. Each day this lovely Advent Tabletop Devotional highlights an inspirational quote from bestselling author Max Lucado, a Scripture, and conversation starter questions. Enjoy, be blessed, and rejoice in the truth—twenty-five daily devotions for the Christmas season that focus on Jesus, the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Here is a sample copy from December 1:

December 1

God knows what it is like to be a human. When I talk to Him about deadlines or long lines or tough times, He understands. He's been there. He's been here. Because of Bethlehem, I have a friend in heaven.

Scripture:
"The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and they will name
him Immanuel," which means "God is with us." Matthew 1:23

Conversation starter questions:
What's the big deal about the baby in the manger? Who was he? What does his birth have to do with me?

You can find it HERE.

What are some of your advent ideas?

We'd love for you to share them below in the comments!

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