• About/Contact
  • Disclosure | Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Sponsorship
  • Home

Tips, activities and support for staying home with your children and joyfully surviving it!

  • Mom Survival Store
  • Complete Guide for SAHMs
  • Kids Activities
    • Infant Activities
    • Toddler Activities
    • Preschool Activities
      • Preschool at Home Curriculum
    • School Age Activities
    • Free or Cheap Kids Activities
  • Motherhood
    • Motivation
      • Me time
    • Homemaking
      • Organization
      • Quick Tips
      • Recipes
    • Faith
    • Parenting
    • Marriage
  • Natural Living
    • Young Living Starter Kit
    • Essential Oils Recipes
    • Cleaning Tips

Advent Activities for Kids: Teaching about Jesus at Christmas

November 30, 2015 by Jaimi Erickson 2 Comments

Ready to have the ENERGY to be the best mom you can be? Get started! Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome back! Did you already get started here?

Teaching children about Jesus at Christmas to focus on the reason for the season can be done with advent activities for kids. These 6 advent activities cover toddlers, preschool and school age kids.

This post contains affiliate links. Please view my disclosure for more details.

If you have toddlers, preschool age children or school age kids, this list of Advent activities to teach children about Jesus at Christmas (or any time) is one you can start using today! My children are at an age where they believe the most important part of Christmas is getting gifts. As we decorated our house together, the kids were finally old enough to be careful with the delicate decorations. I often think, we need more decorations. The house is not fully decked out. That mindset is the problem-when we keep focusing on the decorations and pomp of Christmas rather than the real reason for the season that was Jesus’ birth, we miss the important lessons that Christmas teaches.

I gathered a few resources that can help us teach our children about Jesus. We can learn a few things too as parents!

As my children grow, I know getting gifts will always be exciting for them-as it should be. I just don’t want them to be so self-focused. The “I want” mentality is one I want them to balance with embracing a mindset focused on “I can give.” Nothing teaches that focus better than the birth and life story of Jesus.

Advent Activities for Kids: Teaching Children about Jesus at Christmas

Books and Activities that Teach about Jesus

Christmas! The whole story of the God who loves

Christmas! The whole story of the God who loves was recently reviewed by Marissa over at All in Good Twine. She is actually a fellow MOPS mom, and shares some illustrations of Christmas! We get a sneak peek into the book.

The devotional for children includes one minute stories each day to explore all of the times Jesus’ birth is referenced in the Bible-even in the Old Testament. It looks like a really great way to teach toddlers and preschoolers about the importance of Jesus’ birth.

 

Jesus Storybook Bible

Children are naturally excited when they are the focus, and this storybook Bible teaches children about how God’s gift of Jesus is about them. A book appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers, this Bible storybook is written at a level that allows us moms to teach about the importance of Jesus throughout all of God’s creation-including our children.

 

Who Was Jesus?

My husband sent us this biography about Jesus’ life and ministry while he was deployed. I read a chapter to the kids each night before bed-along with our other books. It is written for school age kids. I could tell that my 7 year old could grasp the story, but this book is a bit too advanced for my toddlers and preschooler. It’s a great book for diving into each major stage of Jesus’ life to explore his importance in our own lives.

 

What God Wants for Christmas

This is an interactive Advent calendar that involves opening 7 boxes-1 per night-with the final box providing a great lesson (and surprise)! The suggested ages for this activity-in-a-box is 6 and up, so it will be perfect for school age kids.

The shortened Advent calendar format of one lesson per night allows you to go through each lesson in the week just before Christmas, or start it anytime. Children can handle the figures and engage in discussion about Jesus’ significance and how it impacts our own life.

 

Gifts for Jesus

This activity idea for teaching children about Jesus at Christmas was shared by a mentor mom in my MOPS group. It is awesome!

When her kids were young, she had them write one kind thing they did each day leading up to Christmas. Everyone writes their kind action on a piece of paper and slides it into a box. (You can cut a slot in the top of a shoe box for this.) Each kind act is called a “gift for Jesus”. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, you can read the notes to recall all of the kind things your family did in Jesus’ name during Advent. What a great activity to continue throughout the year and even turn into a New Year’s Eve celebration as well to look back on all the good that everyone did in the past year.

I absolutely love the lessons taught by this simple self-check each day. It is our duty to love and do kind things for Jesus and because of Him. This activity teaches that fundamental Christian calling in a way that even young children can grasp and use to feel empowered. The reason for the season is emphasized with this simple activity that has a big impact on what our children take away from the Christmas season.

 

Sensory Activity to Learn About Jesus

Children appreciate using their senses. During Christmas, with the emphasis on gifts, I like to remind my children that Jesus only received three gifts-gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. I actually use Frankincense and Myrrh regularly at home and decided to let my children explore these two essential oils to really dive into a sensory activity to learn about Jesus.

As far back as Biblical times, people used essential oils to heal and protect their bodies. The assumption in Healing Oils of the Bible is this is why giving Jesus Frankincense and Myrrh was so important. Myrrh and Frankincense are helpful for supporting the skin. Jesus would need to be healthy and focused on His mission during the path that His life was going to take. We placed a few drops of Frankincense and a few drops of Myrrh into our home diffuser and smelled what Jesus may have smelled like.

I know this sounds a little silly, but scents are huge triggers for memories and feelings of security. Smelling the oils that Jesus may have used on His skin is a unique sensory experience for kids. It makes the discussions of Jesus a little more tangible for kids.

If you’d like to order Frankincense and Myrrh (either or both), you can sign up as a retail or wholesale customer where I buy my essential oils. (Wholesale members receive 24% off retail price.) You could have these two essential oils in your home before Christmas to explore the real scents of the season. Read more about essential oils here.

 

6 advent activities for toddlers, preschool and school age kids that teach children about Jesus at Christmas time.

We do not wait to teach about Jesus until we get to Christmas, but the time of year is a prime motivator for getting some Advent activities about Jesus started in our homes. I really like the variety of options that these resources offer and that they are great for multiple ages of children-toddlers, preschool or school age kids can take away important lessons with simple advent activities for kids.

What is your favorite activity to teach and talk about Jesus with your children?

 

 

 

Successful Mom Daily Checklist to help you gain balance between housework and play time with the kids. Get more done, and feel more successful as a mom and homemaker.

Enjoy your time at home!

Your Name

Filed Under: activities Tagged With: Advent, books, Christmas, Holiday Guide, Jesus, preschool, reading, school age, sensory, toddlers

Comments

  1. Marissa says

    December 4, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    Hi Jaimi! Thank you so much for sharing about my review of Christmas! Advent Story. We are really liking it and hope that others do too! I hope you have a great weekend!

    Reply
    • Jaimi says

      December 5, 2015 at 10:09 pm

      Thanks, Marissa! I was thrilled to read about Christmas! on your blog and was so happy to add it to my Advent activities list here.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me on Instagram!

sahmsg_jaimi

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” - Audrey Hepburn

I spotted her just looking at our little seedlings. The peace of doing with our hands what we have learned with our mind is so satisfying. 

Tomorrow we can plant our first seeds in the outdoor garden beds. I am so excited for the simple task.

#gardenathome #athomegardening #athomefarm #homesteaddreams #learningtogarden #growingagreenthumb #hope #quote #quoteoftheday #familytime #outdoorswithkids #unschooling #learningaswego #peace #peaceathome #children #homeschool #homeschoolmom #homeschoolkids
Focus for art + dirty finger nails from playing in Focus for art + dirty finger nails from playing in the woods. 🎨 🌲 

 #wellrounded #myboys #boymom #raisingboys #momofsons #momof4 #homeschoolingboys #homeschoolingmom #artforkids #playtime #outdoorlife #outdoorkids
What are your plans for the weekend? #friyay We What are your plans for the weekend? #friyay 

We are having a few neighbors over tonight. (Obviously not locked down here. 👌) 

I am thankful for like minded people. 

I am thankful too for friends that are not always on the same page. 

I am thankful for God’s word that teaches us to create and build community in love. 

I am thankful for Fridays. 💗💗💗

What are you thankful for today? 

#gratitude #twoworlds #fridaynight #fridaywithfriends #fridayplans #livinglife #atpeace #gratitudepractice #momlife #momsintheneighborhood #eastnc #faithoverfear #faithlovehope
Today’s schooling looked a bit like this. 💕 L Today’s schooling looked a bit like this. 💕 Library, reading, painting the toy that came in the kids meal, reading time, and calm. 

When I think about my homeschool style (aka structure) it has definitely evolved over the years. I never really researched a style until today actually. 😂 What I found was, we started as Traditional - workbook-based learning. Then I added Unit Studies to our Traditional structure. Now we naturally have shifted to a more Charlotte Mason + Unit Study approach for some subjects and Traditional approach for a few subjects (math most specifically). 

Flexibility keeps our interest. Plus learning never stops.

Today our day began with a visit to our library. When we got home the kids all found a spot and were so quietly reading I did not want to shift gears! So I didn’t. 

There was reading, eating, drawing, painting, and so much quiet you guys I just had to let the kids go with this. My brain was soaking in the peacefulness.

When I started homeschooling, I would have never thought that a day like this would make me feel successful. It feels so good to have reached this point. 

When days happen like today, it feels pretty much like magic. 

What is your style if you homeschool? If not, what style would most appeal to your family?
#homeschoollife #homeschoolmom #homeschooljoy #homeschoollearning #homeschoolday #perfectday #homeschoolinglife #homeschoolingmom #homeschoolingmoms #homeschoolingstyle #kidslearningathome #charlottemason #unitstudy #traditionalhome #stayathomemom #momsathome #homeschoolreallife #eastnc #readingwithkids #learningtoread #librarytime #peacefulday #moms #momswhopray
You know what’s funny? I took this pic not even You know what’s funny? I took this pic not even noticing what random things were out of place. 😅 Perfect for this post today. 👇

Motherhood is a juggling act. We try to seek balance and be joyful, but kids, husband, house, our needs and wants all pull us in different directions.

We worry that if we drop one ball they all will come crashing down! We are busy, yet not feeling productive many days. The line between needs and wants become blurred.

Attempting to keep it all organized is overwhelming. 

We tend to define balance with images in magazines, snapshots of other moms who are
having a together day when we are not, or elaborate spring cleaning tasks that sound great and get pinned but ultimately leave us feeling even deeper in frustration when we do not complete them.

*****
Balance is not a place where you go and never ever again feel a bump in the road.

Balance is an on-going, always changing, never finished job. 

*****

If you feel out of balance today, you are just in the process of working your way back to it. 

If today was a great day, prepare yourself now because the scale may tilt and things may feel out of your control tomorrow. #reallife

It is not easy to cut things from our calendars or limit our focus each day. I feel that struggle so much. My whole family needs and deserves my time and attention. I am constantly in a state of re-balance, and making attempts to re-organize, as I attempt to balance four children and a husband.

That requires a lot of humility, prayers for God’s peace in my life, and relieving myself of any guilt for not doing it all every day.

Do you see the items out of place in this pic or are you focused on the beauty within it? 😉💕

#motherhoodinspired #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mothersunite #mamahood #grow #momtribe #momsunite #womensupportingwomen #motherhood #mamassupportingmamas #momlife #motherhoodrising #realmotherhood #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodunited #mommymoments #lifeasamama #honestmommin #motherhoodisdarling #simplymamahood #thatmomlife #motherhoodunfiltered #momstofollow #motherhoodunplugged #honestmotherhood
#homeschooling
#homeschoolinglife
#AD Today was hard! School took longer than expect #AD Today was hard! School took longer than expected, grocery shopping got pushed back, and I am soaking up my time to get quiet and pray it all away. 

I have discovered simple, quick ways to feel refreshed staying at home. With four kids, homeschooling and military life I can not just get a break when I feel I need it. 

These ideas have helped me feel rejuvenated in small moments even when I can not get out of the house to have a break.

One of the simplest ways to recharge is with a good old hot shower. I think it pretty much cures mom overwhelm and stress. I always planned my showers around the kids’ quiet times. That way I could take my time.

Choosing hair care products that are really special make it even better. @hairmayraki has natural repairing shampoos, hair growth kits and weightless moisture shampoo that feeds moisture into your hair so it feels and looks amazing even if you have to air dry!

**Use code JAIMI20 to save 20% on your Mayraki hair care products!**

As we get older our hormones shift, so hair loss can be a problem. Just like after having a baby!

Using Mayraki Hair growth and anti hair loss products helps me maintain full, healthy hair. It smells so nice and makes my hair feel moisturized and completely clean.

I put together a helpful list of ways to help us moms feel refreshed.

They are simple actions we can take to care for ourselves each day. I even have some ideas from my friends here on Instagram too! 

Check out the tips from my friends on the blog (via link in bio):

@thewholeparenting

@brandyintheatl 

@joqueen_and_family 

@coffeechaosandcuddles 

@pnicole_05 

What are your favorite hair, skin or spa products to make your pamper time feel special?

#momtime #goodhairday #selfcare #metime #quiettime #naturalhaircare #quiettimeformoms #momneedsabreak #mommytimealone #mommytimenow #momsgetabreaktoo #haircare #reenergizeyourbody #mentalbreak #momlife #mommylife #sahmlife #sahmproblems #sahmlifestyle #sahmmom #sahm #moms #blogger #momblogger
I spy two creatures who naturally love nature, wat I spy two creatures who naturally love nature, water and most of all dirt. 😍

Are your kids the outdoorsy, adventurous types? Anyone just over having clean floors with all the wet boots and feet going in and out like me? 🙋‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I can handle dirty floors for all this nature play without a doubt. 

#outdoorkids #freerangekids #natureplay #natureschool #siblingplay #siblinglove #kidled #kidlearning #homeschoollife #letthembelittle #freeplay #instakids #saturday
#AD Yesterday we had some talks. Things got a litt #AD Yesterday we had some talks. Things got a little tense. There were tears because she was embarrassed about what she did and said. 

I made sure to go to her room after things cooled down (where she was sent for her behavior) and ask why, talk about my reason why, and then she decided to come down and eat her dinner. (The whole issue was that dinner included a green vegetable...😅😂)

Everything returned to contentment. We all smiled. This is real life and real parenting. Our emotions clashed but calm logic brought things back in focus.

Today we can laugh and be silly thinking about it. 

What is the most recent heated or challenging moment you’ve experienced with your kids lately? Did things get resolved? 

***Sweatshirt: @choseninchrist 
Get it: Use code jaimi for 15% off...Link in bio.***

#realmotherhood #motherhood101 #logicalparenting #realisticmotherhood #motheranddaughter #kidsneedconsequences #learningtoobey #logicwins #greenvegetablesaregoodforyou #momwin #parentingtruths #parentinglife #stayathomemom #sahmlife #sahmgoals #raisingarrows #healthyeating #momblogger #bloggerlife #momlife
How have you been taking time to recharge while st How have you been taking time to recharge while staying at home? Making my list of favorite ways to refresh ‘cause moms with full schedules from morning to night need some simple ideas to get in quiet time. 👏 Do you need recharge time?

I like keeping it simple. 👌 Luxurious shampoo and body butter to maximize the spa feel after a hot shower, Bible study in the morning with my coffee, walking the dog solo are just a few of my break ideas. (I think hot showers are a cure all for a lot of stress! Time to think, feeling the strain wash away...all good things.) What do you think?

Since I have been a #stayathomemom for 13 years now, my kids have always been around and my time has been devoted to home and family. But I NEED time to have quiet and just be alone too. 

That means I have to squeeze in my recharge time in creative, simple ways. 

I am going to finish up this blog post and share it all with you. Share what you do too! I would love to give you a  mention you in the post. 👩🏼‍💻 💕

#inspiredmotherhood #foodforthought #bloggercommunity #instablogger #blogging #motherhoodinspired #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mothersunite #mamahood #connect #momtribe #momsunite #womensupportingwomen #motherhood #mamassupportingmamas #momlife #motherhoodrising #realmotherhood #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodunited #mommymoments #lifeasamama #honestmommin #simplymamahood #thatmomlife #motherhoodunfiltered #momstofollow #motherhoodunplugged #honestmotherhood
I just love this community! Come join me 👇👇👇

⭐️ LIVE GROWTH EVENT ⭐️
Bringing mamas / bloggers / smalls shops and influencers together! Make connections with your target market!! 
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Follow these steps below to join the Loop 👇🏼👇🏼
➡️ Follow me ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
➡️ Like this post 
➡️ Go to @motherhoodconnectiontribe and follow all directions on their post!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
👉🏼👉🏼 Like my 5 most recent and I will return!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ That’s it! Thanks for joining me & Happy Looping ✌🏻
.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
.⁣⁣⁣⁣
.⁣⁣⁣⁣
.⁣⁣⁣⁣
#motherhoodsocial #motherhoodconnectiontribe
When you really focus on fear, isn’t it pretty s When you really focus on fear, isn’t it pretty silly how much we let it run our lives? 

Anyone who knows my 7 year old daughter knows she has a “no fear” spirit. She can be a bit of an adrenaline junkie. She is always moving, seeking out fun and not intimidated by the unknown.

As a parent I both admire and cringe. 😅 

I find that I have to suppress my fear when it comes to her adventurous spirit so I do not diminish her true nature. I also have to be on the ball from a parenting perspective to talk through being smart while having fun. 

It is not as if we can ever see the results from the actions before we act though. 

Remembering myself how I truly only know what I see and what faith teaches me allows me to focus on eliminating fear from ruling.

For many years I was the opposite of my wild child. I was always thinking too far ahead to see what potential pain may come. That suppressed my nature. I see my kids so social, so eager to try new things and it energizes me to set that example too. 

Fear is not a worthwhile debate partner. 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” ~Proverbs 31:25, NIV

Do you wrestle with fear in parenting and life in general or are you more of the no fear type?

#nofear #resistfear #faithandlogic #adventurousspirit #truenature #enneagram #enneagramparenting #personalitytypes #wildchild #wildandfreechildren #freerangeparenting #freerangeparents #instakids #instamom #instablogger #parentingmindset #goexplore #explorenature #natureschool #sahmsg #easternnc #eastnc #camplejeunelife #militarykids #militarylife #godledmotherhood #godledhomeschool #motherhoodsocial
Everything is better with people who are genuine, Everything is better with people who are genuine, content, loving and honest. 

Mardi Gras lunch (yesterday) with a great group was food for the soul. Belly laughs, ear to ear smiles and beignets made the day. 

#FatTuesday #MardiGrad #lunchbunch #osccamplejeune #camplejeunelife #mykindofmasks #goodfood #goodfun #goodpeople #realpeople #strongwomen #militarylife #militaryspouse #millife #milworld #eastnc #nclife #thegoodlife #blessedlife #motherhood #asiturn40 #momlife #momsdayout #motherhoodsocial
Load More... Follow on Instagram





Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in



©2018 The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide – Jaimi Erickson

HOME | ABOUT | DISCLOSURE/PRIVACY | SPONSORSHIP

Facebook | Pinterest | Email