As parents, we want our children to understand the true meaning of Christmas. An advent calendar can help teach them about this special season and build excitement for Jesus’ birth. But how exactly should we explain what an advent calendar is to a young child? As a professional custom advent calendar manufacturer, I will share some tips to help them grasp this meaningful tradition.
What is an Advent Calendar?
An advent calendar is a fun way to count down the days until Christmas. It has little numbered doors, pockets, or shapes to open each day from December 1st until Christmas day on the 25th. Behind each door is a small surprise like a piece of chocolate, a Bible verse, or a Christmas symbol.
Some advent calendars tell the story of the nativity scene leading up to baby Jesus‘ birth. Others feature wintery pictures or Christmas characters and treats. No matter the style, they all serve as a visual countdown to the holiday.
Explaining Advent
The word “advent” means “coming.” For Christians, Advent is the celebration of Jesus coming into the world as a baby. We use advent calendars and wreaths as reminders of God’s promise to send a Savior. The Advent season lasts for the four Sundays before Christmas.
Using Simple Language
When explaining Advent to young children, keep your language simple. Avoid using the word “Advent” itself, since this may be confusing. Instead, relate it to concepts they understand – like counting down days and looking forward to special events.
You can say, “We have this special Christmas calendar to count down the days until Jesus’ birthday!” Explain that just like counting down to their own birthday, this builds excitement and joy.
Making Connections
Connect the advent calendar to traditions your family already celebrates. For example, “Remember how we count down the days until your birthday? And how excited you feel when your special day gets closer? Our Christmas countdown calendar works the same way! Instead of counting down to your birthday though, we count down the days until Jesus’ birthday on the first Christmas!”
Using Visuals
Young children learn best with visual cues and hands-on activities. Use your actual advent calendar to demonstrate opening a day’s door and finding a surprise inside. Let them open a day themselves to connect the physical object to your explanation.
You can also relate the advent calendar visually to their birthday countdowns. Make a sample countdown chain out of paper loops if you used those to count down for their birthday.
Making it Spiritual
While the surprises inside are fun, be sure to emphasize the real reason behind advent calendars – preparing our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Explain that each day’s door helps us remember how much God loves us. He gave us Jesus to save us and be our friend forever. Use child-friendly nativity books and Bible storybooks to reinforce the biblical meaning.
With some simple analogies and visual connections, your children can grasp the significance of this special tradition. Approach it with joy and anticipation, emphasizing that it helps us focus on the greatest gift of all – our Savior!
Additional Ways to Explain Advent Symbols
Here are some other common advent symbols you can use to teach children about this season:
The Advent Wreath
Many families display an evergreen advent wreath with four colored candles – three purple, one pink. On each Sunday leading up to Christmas, we light another candle. You can relate this visually to a child’s birthday candles.
Explain that the growing ring of light represents Jesus our hope coming closer, like a ring of brightness shining in a dark world.
The Advent Calendar Windows
As we open each window or door, more light shines out, indicating that the celebration of Jesus’ birth is coming closer. Just like every window opened makes a house brighter inside, each day of the advent calendar lets more joy and anticipation enter our hearts.
The Colors
The purple candles remind us that long ago, God’s people waited hopefully for the Savior God had promised to send. We wait patiently too. The pink candle symbolizes joy – just like your favorite bright color! It appears on the third Sunday, when our joy grows because Christmas is so near.
Christmas Trees
These evergreen trees represent everlasting life that Jesus gives us. The lights remind us that He lights our lives spiritually when we believe in Him as our Savior. And the star on top makes us think of the Bethlehem star that showed baby Jesus’ arrival!
Making it Age-Appropriate
Obviously you’ll use different language explaining advent to a toddler versus an older child. But the same principles apply – use visual analogies, relate it to their experience, emphasize the meaning of Christ’s coming which we anticipate and prepare for.
With creativity and patience, your children can grasp the wonder of this special tradition. Ultimately it’s about preparing our hearts, not just adding activities. May this season fill your family with joyful hope in God’s greatest gift to us – Emmanuel, God with us!
Activities to Reinforce Learning
Once you’ve explained what an advent calendar and Advent season is all about, follow up with related activities to reinforce your children’s learning. Here are some ideas:
- Do an advent calendar craft. Have your children color and decorate a simple calendar template. Cut out door flaps to open each day. Help reinforce numbering by having them write numbers on the doors. Add Bible verse snippets, nativity scene stickers, or other small Christmas symbols behind each door.
- Act out the nativity story. Set out figures from a nativity set or kid-friendly character toys like Fisher Price Little People. Have your kids use these to act out the Christmas story, taking baby Jesus to the manager on Christmas day.
- Make an Advent chain. Help your children loop strips of paper into links and staple these into a paper chain garland. Write a Christmas-related word or short Bible verse on each link. Tear off one loop each day in Advent and read what’s on the back.
- Do an advent devotional or story book. Read a simple devotional or Christmas storybook every day during the Advent season to reinforce that this tradition is about Jesus.
The key is to engage your kids with reminders – both visual and interactive – of why we use advent calendars in the first place. With child-appropriate activities centered around Jesus’ birth, the true meaning will click!