FREE Advent Calendar for Kids and Helpful Tips for Mom Too

Well Advent is almost here whether you are ready or not! Here is my annual Advent calendar for the kids. If you have the Activity pack from last year there are no new saints, but I have added additional pages this year: Epiphany, the Holy Family, nativity gift tags, a template letter to Baby Jesus, and the bonus of an updated easy to read St. Andrew's Christmas Novena card. You can pick it up in my Etsy shop here. 

To print the calendar click on it and save it as an image then you can select to print it. 

There is an Advent Activity Pack group on facebook you can join where others and I share ideas and links for Advent.

Advent Activity Pack Resource Closed group · 65 members Join Group A place to share and talk about Advent traditions and activities.

Help for the Mamas...

1. YES Dec 8th is a Holy Day of Obligation even though it's Saturday. It might be helpful to look at your church's Advent schedule and see what times they have set aside for Mass. If they offer a vigil, going Friday night for Immaculate Conception and then Sunday Morning or afternoon for your Sunday obligation may be a pleasant way to spread it out.

2. My lovely friend Ginny at Not So Formulaic has written this beautiful Mass Journal for moms. This Advent, one of my goals is to pay better attention in Mass as I am busy keeping an eye on my children. The older girls are pretty great now in Mass, but golly that two year old! I am hoping to kick start my Advent this weekend with Ginny's book Until I Rest in You. You can pick up a copy at Amazon or buy a digital download from Not So Formulaic here.
                                                 

Here is a peak at the inside of this beautifully simple Mass Journal. 

Help for the Kids...

1. Advent is a time to focus our hearts on Jesus more. If you are not already volunteering and helping find something as a family you can do to help others.  Ginny also has an awesome Works of Mercy printable advent calendar with suggestions for Advent prayer, sacrifice, and service.

2. Encourage little acts of kindness in your family. There are a bunch of awesome ways to do this. The straw for Baby Jesus thing, Natalie the Nativity Angel, Abigail the Altruism Angel (she is retired this year maybe she'll make a come back next year after a thorough proofreading and editing of the file), The Shepherd on the Search, or Christmas Countdown as you follow the star (This is my new

3. I have really wanted to jump on the Jesse Tree train because I feel it is a tangible way of unfolding Salvation History for children. I stumbled upon this beautiful Jesse Tree printable from Marginalia Books and it's only $4!!!!! It only lists the reading and you need to look them up but can be a great activity to help kids become more familiar with the bible. Make it special by lighting a candle as you break open the Word of God and read from the Bible together.

If you are looking for Jesse Tree ornaments and a little more substance check out To Jesus Sincerely and Sara's Mosaic Jesse Tree. The meditations are beautiful!