24 Christian Advent Activity Ideas for Children

Advent is a wonderful time to slow down, spend time together as a family and help children discover the meaning behind Christmas.

While Advent calendars are often filled with chocolate and little treats, there are plenty of other ways to count down to Christmas. A simple activity each day can create opportunities to read the Bible, talk about faith, practise kindness, get creative and learn more about the story of Jesus.

We've put together 24 Christian Advent activities for children that you can use throughout December. Some take just a few minutes, while others can become family traditions that you return to every Christmas.

And don't worry, we've included plenty of ideas that don't require a mountain of craft supplies!

How to Use These Christian Advent Activities

You could simply work through the list from 1 to 24, choosing one activity each day. Or, turn the ideas into your own Christian Advent calendar.

Write each activity on a small piece of paper, fold it up and place it in numbered envelopes, a jar or your existing Advent calendar. Each morning, let the children discover what today's activity will be.

It's a lovely way to make the countdown to Christmas about time together, kindness, faith and the Christmas story, rather than simply counting down to presents.

24 Christian Advent Activities for Children

1. Learn About the Meaning of Advent

Start Advent by talking about what the season actually means. Explain that Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation as Christians look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Ask the children what they are looking forward to about Christmas and what they think it means to prepare for Christmas in their hearts as well as their homes.

2. Make an Advent Wreath

Make a simple Advent wreath together using greenery, paper or other craft materials. Talk about the candles traditionally used during Advent and what they represent.

You don't need anything elaborate. The important part is creating something together and using it as a starting point for conversations throughout Advent.

3. Read the Christmas Story Together

Set aside some time to read the Nativity story from the Bible together. You could read it all in one sitting or divide it into smaller sections throughout Advent.

For younger children, use a children's Bible or illustrated storybook and ask questions as you go.

• Who were Mary and Joseph?
• Why did they travel to Bethlehem?
• Who came to visit Jesus?
• What do you think that night was like?

4. Create a Nativity Scene

Make your own Nativity scene using cardboard, paper, modelling clay or recycled materials. Children could make Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, angels and animals. You could even add a new character each day as Christmas gets closer.

It doesn't have to look perfect.

5. Start a Gratitude Jar

Find a jar and some scraps of paper. Each day, ask everyone to write down something they are thankful for and put it in the jar. At the end of Advent, read them together.

It's a lovely way to encourage children to notice the good things in their everyday lives during what can otherwise become a very busy month.

6. Learn About the Advent Candles

Find out what the candles of an Advent wreath represent and talk about the themes associated with them. Depending on your family's tradition, these may include themes such as hope, peace, joy and love.

Light the appropriate candle each week and spend a few minutes talking about that week's theme.

7. Make a Jesse Tree

Introduce children to the tradition of the Jesse Tree. Create a simple paper tree and add an ornament each day representing a different part of the story leading towards the birth of Jesus.

It's a lovely way to explore the Bible and help children understand that the Christmas story fits into a much bigger story of faith.

8. Do Something Kind for Someone

Make kindness part of your Advent countdown. Ask your children to think of one small thing they could do to make somebody else's day better.

• Help a sibling.
• Make someone a cup of tea.
• Write a kind note.
• Help with a household job.
• Let someone go first.

Small acts can make a big difference.

9. Make Christmas Cards for Someone Who Might Feel Lonely

Make handmade Christmas cards for relatives, neighbours or people in your community who might appreciate a little festive cheer.

Encourage children to think about how receiving an unexpected card might make someone feel. It's a simple activity that combines creativity with kindness.

10. Read a Bible Story

Choose a Bible story that your children haven't heard before and read it together. Afterwards, ask them what they thought the story was about and whether there was anything they found surprising.

11. Donate a Toy

Ask your children to choose a toy, book or game they no longer use that could make another child happy. Talk about why giving can be just as important as receiving.

Check with a local charity or organisation about what donations they currently accept before making your box or bag.

12. Make a Christmas Decoration With a Message

Create a Christmas decoration that represents something meaningful to your family. It could be a star representing the Christmas star, an angel, a heart representing love or a simple decoration featuring a favourite Bible verse.

Add the year to it and bring it out again next Christmas.

13. Have a Family Prayer Time

Set aside a few quiet minutes for family prayer. Children can take turns choosing something to pray about, whether that's family and friends, people who are struggling, the world around them or something they are thankful for. Keep it simple.

14. Learn About the Nativity Characters

Choose one character from the Christmas story and find out more about them. You could explore Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels or the Wise Men.

Ask children what they think that person might have seen, heard or felt during the events surrounding Jesus' birth.

15. Make a Donation

Choose something your family could donate to help others at Christmas. This might be food for a local food bank, toiletries, warm clothing or another item requested by a local charity.

Get the children involved in choosing and collecting the items so they can see how a small family action can help somebody else.

16. Sing Christmas Carols Together

Put on some favourite Christmas carols and have a family singalong. You could even learn a new carol together and sing it for your family at Christmas.

17. Make an Advent Activity Jar

Create your own jar filled with Christian Advent activities. Write different ideas on pieces of paper, fold them up and let the children pick one each day.

Mix Bible activities, creative projects, kindness challenges and family activities so that nobody knows what is coming next.

Don't fancy spending an evening thinking up and writing all those little cards yourself?

Our 64 Christian Advent Activity Cards are ready to print and use straight away. Simply print the cards, cut them out and pop them into a jar. You get 64 different activities, so there are plenty to choose from throughout Advent, and you don't have to do the planning yourself.

18. Do Something Kind for the Planet

Talk about how we can care for God's creation. Go for a litter pick together, plant something, recycle old Christmas cards or find another simple way your family can look after the environment.

Ask the children why they think caring for the world around us matters.

19. Write a Letter to Jesus

Give children some paper and encourage them to write or draw a letter to Jesus. They could write about what they are thankful for, what they hope for, people they want to pray for or what Christmas means to them.

20. Learn About Christmas Around the World

Choose a country you've never visited and find out how Christians celebrate Christmas there. Look at traditional food, music, decorations and celebrations.

It's a great way to show children that although Christmas is celebrated in many different ways, faith and traditions can bring people together all over the world.

21. Help Someone Without Being Asked

Choose a household job and do it without anyone asking you.

• Tidy a room.
• Put away the dishes.
• Help with the laundry.
• Make a sibling's bed.

Then talk about how helping others doesn't always have to involve a grand gesture. Sometimes it's simply noticing what needs doing and getting on with it.

22. Learn About the Wise Men

Read about the Wise Men who travelled to see Jesus. Talk about their journey and the gifts they brought.

You could also make your own paper crowns or create a simple map showing their journey.

23. Make a Christmas Kindness Challenge

Create a mini kindness challenge for the final days before Christmas. Choose three or four things you can do for other people before Christmas Day.

Then see how many acts of kindness you can complete.

24. Have a Christmas Eve Reflection

On Christmas Eve, take a few quiet minutes together to look back over Advent. Ask the children:

• What was your favourite activity?
• What did you learn?
• Who did you help?
• What are you thankful for?
• What are you most looking forward to about Christmas?

Make Your Christian Advent Countdown Easy

Advent doesn't have to mean creating a complicated activity every day.

The best traditions are often the simple ones that fit naturally into family life. A few minutes reading together, a small act of kindness or a conversation around the dinner table can become something your children remember for years.

And if you love the idea of a Christian Advent activity jar but don't have the time or the headache of creating all the cards yourself, we've done the work for you.

Our 64 Christian Advent Activity Cards are ready to print and use immediately. The set includes a wide variety of faith-focused activities covering Bible stories, Scripture, prayer, kindness and generosity. Simply print, cut and add them to a jar, then choose one or two each day.

It's an easy way to keep the focus on faith, family, kindness and the meaning of Christmas while still making Advent fun for children.

More Christian Christmas Fun

If you're looking for more ways to bring faith, family and a little fun together this Christmas, we have a few other printable Christian games you might enjoy too. Try a Nativity Left Right Game for a fun gift-exchange game based around the Christmas story, Roll a Nativity for a simple Christmas dice game, or Roll the Three Kings for a fun activity inspired by the journey of the Wise Men. They're all easy to print and play, making them a great addition to a family Christmas, church gathering, Sunday school or festive get-together.

Whatever traditions you choose, we hope you have a peaceful, meaningful and very happy Advent. ❤️