Advent is nearly here, and the excitement for Christmas is palpable. For families with children, the expectations for a magical holiday filled with gifts can start to feel overwhelming. As Christians, we prepare for the birth of Christ in Advent by waiting with hope and joy. The pressures of the season can sometimes overtake our experience of God’s peace and love. Making time for family Advent activities and rituals can help realign and deepen our connection to Jesus’ birth.
Making or finding an Advent wreath is a good way to start. A wreath can be made from evergreens, artificial greens, flowers, or paper. Be creative and enjoy planning a wreath together. There are a lot of wreath-making ideas on Pinterest and YouTube. You can add four candles, either real or flameless, to mark the four Sundays in Advent. Lighting candles on the Advent wreath every Sunday provides a time of shared focus. I have discovered that many children have never been around a real candle in their homes. The Advent wreath is a perfect way to introduce beauty and mysticism of firelight in this simple ritual and fire safety. There are also incredibly realistic flameless candles available for a hazard-free wreath.
Another wonderful way to slow down the chaos of the season is to mark time with weekly or daily devotions. Readings from the Old Testament prophets help set the stage for the coming of Christ. There are many Advent devotions for families, both online and in print. One of my favorite Advent resources is the deck of Families Celebrate Advent and Christmas cards. This deck of cards has a whole array of activities, devotions, prayers, and suggestions. The cards are labeled by day, but they could be used in any order. There is also the Augsburg Fortress Advent devotional, Come, Emmanuel, whose free promotional pack includes drawing prompts and Bingo cards to help keep kids engaged in reading the devotions.
Putting out a nativity set is also a wonderful way to include children in preparing for baby Jesus. When my children were small, we enjoyed making creche scenes out of blocks, clay, wooden figures, and Legos. As they grew older, we purchased a breakable nativity set and they loved helping to unpack it from bubble wrap and display the figures on a windowsill. I remember the concentration on their sweet faces as they held each piece with care and gentleness.
Advent is a special time to share with our families. We wait and wonder at God come to live with us on earth. Preparing our hearts and minds during the weeks of Advent for the joy of Christmas Day can be a peaceful and loving way to enhance our faith and experience of God’s incredible miracle.
