Chain of Gratitude

This is an activity that we did when I was a kid. I love the fact that it focuses on being grateful for what we already have. In my opinion, there is just way too much focus on what we are going to get at Christmastime. 

I started with a basic mason jar, and decorated it. I used some hemp twine and a handmade tag reading "25 Days of Gratitude."

I then picked a few pages of scrapbooking paper in colors that match my home decor, and cut them into strips measuring 1"x6" which I added to the jar.

Each night of December, before bed, every member of our family will take a strip and write down something that they are grateful for on the white inside the strip.

Then we will add them to the chain.

While the chain will start short and probably stay on a tabletop at first, as it grows we will probably  use to to decorate our buffet in the dining room or hang over a window valance. You can choose to either add to it year after year or [as we will do] you can pack it away with your decorations, then start the next Christmas season by taking apart the previous year's chain and reading aloud all of the things you were grateful for last year.

I pray that your Christmas season will be filled with gratitude, generosity, joy and love!

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Paper Bag Manger & Character Building Activity

 If you know me, or have been reading this blog very long, you know that I am borderline obsessed with character education for kids. During Christmas, I am also obsessed with teaching my kids the real reason for Christmas. This activity is a favorite of mine, because it combines both.

As with many of my Christmas activities, this is a great craft for older children, but if you have little ones you can make this and then allow your children to participate in the activity that goes along with it.

To make your paper manger you will need:

-Brown paper bag (lunch size or grocery size is your choice)

-scissors

-glue

-yellow card stock

-Either a baby doll or make your own doll with white felt and a wooden ball

 Begin by cutting the top of your bag to your desired height, and cutting a circle in the center.

Now you will cut the sides out of your bag, approximately half of the remained height.

Glue the top of your bag together. Then decorate as desired. I simply added a paper star to the top.

Cut your yellow card stock into strips and fold accordion-style. Place these in a separate jar, bag or other container.

Now comes the character education part. Explain to your kids that each time they do something that embodies the true spirit of Christmas, they get to add a piece of "straw" to the manger. This could be anything from displaying generosity, kindness, keeping a joyful attitude or even doing a service project for others. Be sure to give examples, and stay on watch for this behavior. You could even enlist your kids to "catch" each other pleasing Jesus. You may decide to remove a piece of straw each time the behave selfishly, greedily or are unkind, but be sure that it doesn't become a tattling contest between your kids. On Christmas Eve, talk to your children about how their actions were pleasing to Jesus, and praise them for filling up the manger. Then you can add your doll "Baby Jesus" on top of the bed they made for him.

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Felt Nativity Advent Calendar

Around this time of year, I am always concerned that my kids are counting down to a day when they get presents,  and not counting down to a big birthday celebration for Jesus. With all of the commercialized aspects of the holiday season, it takes a lot of effort to bring the focus back to the true reason for this wonderful holiday.

For several years, I searched for an advent calendar that depicted a nativity, to no avail. So last year, I decided to make my own. This is an awesome craft for older kids, but if your kids are little like mine, you can do the "making" yourself and allow them to participate in the daily countdown.

You will need:

-Felt advent calendar base (I found mine at Hobby Lobby)

-Black, white, yellow and tan felt

-Glue 

Your first step will be to do a Google Images search for "Nativity Silhouette" and decide which one you want to use. I chose a very simple one. Print out the image of your choice, and cut it out. Now, trace your image onto your black felt. Pencil shows up fairly well. Glue your silhouette onto your calendar.

Now use your remaining felt to create your baby Jesus. I pretty much free handed mine, but if you are looking for a template or ideas, use that Google Search again. Make sure that your Jesus is sized appropriately to fit into the pockets of your calendar. 

The one main difference between this calendar and the others you have probably seen is that instead of counting up from 1 to 24, you will count down from 24 to 1. This allows the Christ child to "travel" towards the manger scene. 

Because felt sticks to felt, on Christmas morning you can place baby Jesus directly in the manger.

This is one of many things that we do around our house in an effort to put the focus on Him. What traditions does your family have that celebrate the true reason for Christmas?

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Super Simple Salt Dough Ornaments

 

I originally discovered this recipe on Pinterest, and we have had so much fun with it here. I have slightly altered the original to include more flour and less salt, which creates a very smooth outcome.

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup salt

1 1/2 cups water

Combine flour and salt, then incorporate water slowly. Knead the mixture on a floured surface for approximately 15 minutes or until very smooth and not sticky. Roll out on floured surface to about 1 cm thickness.

To make the handprint gift ornaments, simply cut out a circle (I used a drinking glass) and help your little ones press their hands into the dough.

To make the cut outs, just allow your kids to use cookie cutters, the same way you would do with sugar cookie dough. (That's Man-Cub making a "please stop taking photos of me so I can keep playing with this dough" face)

For all of the ornaments, I used a straw to poke the holes.

Once you have cut out or shaped them, bake in a 300 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. The ornaments should be completely hardened once cooled.

Decorate your ornaments with acrylic paint, glitter glue, or paint pens.

Here are few of our finished ornaments. We all had a blast with this project, and Man-Cub has brought out the cookie cutters several times since, begging to repeat the project!

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The Kid-Friendly Advent Wreath

If you have never taken part in an Advent Wreath tradition, none of this will be a stretch for you. If you have, please know that my version of the tradition is not traditional in almost any way. If you want to stick with the traditional readings and candle colors, please do. I began this way of celebrating advent about 3 years ago, during my Man-Cub's second Christmas season. Back then, we could barely get him to sit still long enough to make it through the reading, but we persisted, and now he eagerly looks forward to Sunday evenings and the time to light (and blow out!) the candles. Now we are approaching our fourth advent season since we began doing the wreath and as soon as I pulled out the holiday decorations he was searching for the wreath and candles. That will warm a mama's heart!

The picture above is Man-Cub with the wreath last Christmas morning. I purchased the supplies to make the wreath at AC Moore Arts & Crafts, but almost any craft store should have the supplies needed. It consists of:

• Wire wreath form with candle holders (check floral supplies aisle if not in the seasonal section)
• Holiday decorative picks
• 4 taper candles (I chose colors that coordinate with my decor)
• 1 medium-large pillar candle for center of wreath

Each Sunday night after dinner we gather back at the family table and bring out the Bible and our Little People Nativity set as well as other props if applicable.

Click HERE for the weekly, kid-friendly readings.

Each week we light the candles from the week before, adding a new candle each week. We read and discuss the message in the reading and ask age-approriate questions to review. Then we take turns blowing out the candles.

On Christmas morning, after stockings are un-stuffed but before we begin opening gifts, we light all of the candles, including the big one in the middle. We keep all of the lights off so that the only glow comes from the 5 lit candles, and we read about how Jesus is the Light of the World. We finish this special time by singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and allowing the little ones to blow out the candles as if they were the candles on a birthday cake. 

This year, now that Man-Cub has become more contemplative, we plan to add one final question to finish our Advent celebration:

What birthday gift will you give to Jesus this year?

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Kid-Friendly Advent Readings

To read the beginnings of this family tradition as well as a list of supplies to make the wreath, click HERE.

The first Sunday of Advent this year is December 2nd. 

If you are late getting started or miss a Sunday, just catch up on a week night. We have been know to move our candle lighting to a Monday night from time to time if the kids are cranky on Sunday nights.

Okay, let's dive in!

Week One: Mary, the angel, and some very exciting news!

You will need: Bible, nativity figures or some other representation of Mary and an angel, advent wreath , candles, and lighter/matches

• Read Luke 1:26-38
• Light the first candle.
• During the reading, point out to your child which of the characters are Mary and the angel, allowing them to hold the figures.
• Questions for review and reflection:

1. Who brought the good news to Mary?
2. How do you think Mary felt? (Surprised, worried, happy, scared, sad?)
3. What do you think if would be like if an angel showed up in your room to give you a message? How would you feel?
4. What was the very exciting news that the angel brought to Mary?
5. What exciting news does God want us to share this Christmas season?

• Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the good news of Jesus' birth! Please help us to wait as expectantly as Mary did for the coming of your Son. May we always remember the true message of Christmas, and share that message with others through our words and deeds this Christmas Season! Amen.

Week 2: Joseph has an important dream.

You will need: Bible, nativity figures of Joseph and an angel, advent wreath, candles and lighter/matches.

• Light the first week's candle
• Read Matthew 1:18-25
• Point out to your child the characters of the story and allow them to hold them when they come up.
• Light the second candle.
• Questions for review and reflection:

1. What was Jesus' mother's name?
2. Who was she supposed to get married to?
3. How did the angel appear to Joseph? What did the angel tell him?
4. What did the angel tell Joseph to name the baby?
5. What other, special name did the angel say that Jesus would be called? (Remind your child of the meaning of Immanuel).
6. Did Joseph obey what the angel told him to do?
7. Are we supposed to obey God? What does obedience to God look like?

• Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us how to obey you by showing us how Joseph obeyed you. Help us to listen for what you want us to do and obey you right away. May we remember to be obedient to your will at Christmas time and always. Amen.

Week 3: No room at the inn.

You will need: A Bible, something to represent a stable (from a nativity set or even a box), figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus in a manger, and a donkey, Advent wreath, candles, lighter/matches.

• Light the candles from the first 2 weeks.
• Read Luke 2:1-7
• Point out the figures in the story and allow your child to hold them and place Mary and Joseph in the stable.
• Light the 3rd candle
• Questions for review and reflection

1. Who had to make a long trip?
2. Where did they go?
3. Did they find a comfy place to stay while they were visiting Bethlehem?
4. What very exciting event happened while they were in Bethlehem?
5. Do you know what a stable is? Do you know what a manger is? (Explain these words, being sure to emphasize the fact that a stable is a common barn, and a manger is where an animal drinks. Also use wording to describe the "stinky" or unpleasant environment that a stable would be for sleeping) 
6. Where were you born? (emphasize the comfort and cleanliness of hospital or birth center settings vs. a stable)
7. When you were a little baby, where did you sleep? (again, emphasize the comforts of a home and crib). What would it be like to sleep in a barn?
8. Why do you think that God would send his Son to be born in a barn?

• Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you so much for the birth of your Son, Jesus! Although Bethlehem did not have room for Him, allow us to make room for Him in our hearts. We pray that we would not miss out on how special His birth was this season. Help up to remember His humble start and to stay humble ourselves. Amen.

Week 4: Shepherds and Wise Men

You will need: Bible, figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, and various animals, some kind of star, Advent wreath, candles, lighter/matches

• Light the previous 3 candles.
• Read Luke 2:8-18 and Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
• Light the fourth candle
• Point out the figures in the story and allow your child to hold them and place them in their appropriate spots.
• Questions for review and reflection:

1. How did the shepherds feel when the angels appeared?
2. What did the angels tell them to do?
3. How would you feel if all those angels appeared to you?
4. What did they do in response to the angels good news? (emphasize that they obeyed, worshipped AND told others)
5. What did the wise men follow to find Jesus?
6. How many gifts did they bring? Do you remember what the gifts were?
7. What is the greatest gift of all time?

• Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of your Son! We know that He is the best Christmas present of all! Help us to respond to His birth the same way that the shepherds did, and worship Him the way the wise men did. Remind us of the lessons that we have learned from the shepherds and wise men, and help us to live our lives as a precious gift to you. Amen.

Christmas Morning: The Light of the World!

You will need: Bible, Advent wreath, candles, lighter/matches

• Turn off all the lights, light the 4 taper candles and the center candle.
• Read John 1:1-5
• Questions to ask:

1. Who is the light of the world?
2. Who's birthday is today?
3. What birthday gift will you give to Jesus this year?

• Prayer: Jesus, we love you so much! Thank you for coming to this world to be our light! Help us to shine your light to the whole world, at Christmas and always. Be with us as we strive to live out the gifts we promised to give you this year. Happy Birthday Jesus! Amen.
• Sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and allow the kids to blow out the candles as if they were the candles on a birthday cake!

It is my sincerest hope that this tradition has blessed your family this advent season. May the joy of the birth of Jesus permeate your heart and life at Christmas and always!

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