How to Celebrate Advent With Your Kids
November 22nd, 2016 | John Chandler
Waiting is not something that comes easily to most kids. And waiting for Christmas is even more difficult. There are parties, decorations, lights, cookies, presents, and activity everywhere…did I mention cookies? The weeks leading up to Christmas are an exciting, sugar-filled time!
As we disciple our kids, we want them to grasp a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the days leading up to Christmas. We’re in the season of Advent. Advent is a time of patient waiting and expectation. We participate in the story of God’s people for centuries, longing for the Messiah to come. During Advent we prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus as a baby, and we prepare our world for Jesus to return again. Advent is also an opportunity to pause the Christmas chaos that surrounds us.
There are lots of ways to focus on Advent as a family. You can create an Advent wreath and light a candle every evening, participate in a service project, or use an Advent devotional aimed at kids. As my girls have grown up, I’ve experimented with different things and had varying degrees of success.
Instant Advent is a daily Advent devotional for families. It’s put together by sparkhouse which is the same curriculum we use during Kids Time on Sundays. Every day, from November 27 – December 25 there’s a video, a short reading meant to be read by a parent, discussion questions, and ideas for activities. Kids at Austin Mustard Seed are already familiar with the characters in these videos because they see them on Sundays. I got to preview all of the devotionals last week, and they are both meaningful and fun. Plus, they’re FREE!
Sign up here. The devotions will be delivered to your inbox every day.
Let us know what your family decides to do to observe Advent and how it goes. Whatever you do, may your Advent be filled with joyful anticipation and hopeful expectation for our Savior, Jesus, to arrive!