Keep Christ in Christmas

Are you searching for ways to keep yourself and children focused on Christ this year instead of toys, candy, elves, and reindeer?  Check out this awesome Blog hop hosted 

by Monica at Equpping Catholic Families.  Participating Blogs are listed at the end of this post.

Download at this Blog only

Advent is a time to wait and participate!

Feel to use this open-ended printable for Advent in any way that helps your children prepare for Christ.

Some ideas starters may include:

Make a bookmark with each candle to use as reminder to keep Christ in Christmas.

Use the printable as a planner for preparation during the four weeks before Christmas.

Cut out the candles and attach them to a “paper headband” to make an Advent hat or center piece.

Write or draw a picture on each candle of things done to prepare our hearts for Christ.

Other Related Posts

Free Advent Clip Art from Charlotte's Clips

And other ideas for Advent

Free Saint Nicholas Clip art and Craft from Charlotte's Clips

Christmas Nativity - craft ideas 

Christmas Is Love

An Emergent Reader for Advent

St. Nicholas Miter Craft

Free Printable Thank you cards with Baby Jesus

For more ways to Keep Christ in Christmas,

Please visit other Linked up Blogs

Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas

Simply Homeschool  Living Advent Series 12/1 - 12/25

Fifth of Five                     Keeping Christ in Christmas - Blog Link-up 2013

Coffee Moments with Sam           The Light of Hope

Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition

Open Window               Making hay while the Advent wreath shines

Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas

Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual

On the Way Home:  Keep Christ in Christmas

Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others

Mommy Bares All        Why Celebrate Christmas Even After #YolandaPH

Canadian Catholic Mom                Keeping The Little Ones Focused: An Advent Link-Up

Mountain of Grace Homeschooling               Keep Christ in Christmas

Em’s Estuary: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Happy Little Homemaker: December Devotion: Immaculate Conception 

Adoro Ergo Sum:  How We Keep Christ in Christmas

JoyAlive.net: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Home to 4 Kiddos      Keep Christ in Christmas

Embedded Faith          Boldly Be the Christ in Christmas

City Girl, Country Home                Emmanuel Is With Us. Are we WITH HIM?

Journey to Wisdom: Trusting in your Awkward Fiats

Joy of Nine9                   Waiting in Joyful Expectation Like a Child

Splendor in the Home                    Ideas For Keeping Advent and Christmas Holy

Training Happy Hearts                     10 Ways to Celebrate the New Liturgical Year

A Catholic Life               Advent: The Beginning of the Liturgical Year & Source of Rich Meditations

Designs by Birgit: Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus

Catholic Inspired: Faith-Centered Family Christmas

A Slice of Smith Life: How we keep Christ in Christmas

Catholic All Year: Three Reasons I love Advent

Mary the Defender: Christmas The Battle Begins

Truly Rich Mom: Keep Christ in Christmas

Day By Day in Our World: 40 Days Seeking Him and Keeping Christ in Christmas

Diapers and Drivel: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Raising Soldiers 4 Christ: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Rosary Mom                    Keep Christ In Christmas With A Teenager

Tercets:     Keeping Christ in Christmas: Join Church Ministries

Campfires and Cleats                        How We Keep Christ in Christmas

Life Unabridged: Celebrating the Fullness of the Advent and Christmas Season

Homeschooling With Joy              Keeping Christ in Christmas

Mrs Domestic Bliss     Gingerbread Nativity

The Chic Traveller      Keeping Christ in Christmas

California to Korea     Keeping Christ in Christmas

Dominique's Desk       Keeping Christ in Christmas

Our ABC Life: An Advent Update

Journey Living: Anno Domini

The Road to Rome: Advent Prayer and Reflection Resources

Life of Fortunate Chances: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Quidquid Est, Est!: Reblog: Advent Posts

Free Advent Clip Art from Charlotte's Clips

Free Advent Wreath Set from my TPT store


Sing to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star:Advent is a time to wait,Not quite time to celebrate.Light the candles one by one,Till the Advent time is done.Christmas day will soon be here,Time for fun and time for cheer.

Free Color by Number Printable Available at Blog only

Advent Song

Here is an Advent Song that we sing everyday when we light the candles.  I don't know where I originally found this, but it is great for little ones.

It is song to the tune of twinkle twinkle little star.

Advent is a time to wait.
Not quite time to celebrate.

Light the candles one by one.
Till the Advent time is done.

Christmas day will soon be here.
Time for joy and time for cheer.

An Emergent Reader for Advent

Integrate Religion instruction into your Language Arts curriculum with this cute Advent is for Waiting Interactive Sight Word Reader. Each page of this simple emergent reader includes a predictable sentence that needs the word "for" to be complete. Students will cut out, unscramble, and glue letters to spell "for" on each page. The images are also a great way to help students identify and recognize the elements of an Advent wreath. Stop by Kinder-Craze to download this great free resource!

Have a blessed day!

Simple "Stained Glass" Window Decorations for Advent

The season of Advent is upon us and we are awaiting the arrival of the King! My students began our preparations for Advent last week and made these sweet and simple "Stained Glass" windows to prepare our hearts and minds for the spirit of the season.

These decorations are quite simple and require only 3 materials:

• Clear contact paper
• Black construction paper
• Pink and purple tissue paper squares

A full tutorial for the project has been posted at Kinder-Craze. Stop by to find complete instructions!

Easy Advent Wreath

I thought I would share a cute and easy Advent wreath project to do with your students or children.

Materials needed:
1 white chinette paper plate for each child
Green paint
Purple, pink, and yellow construction paper
Green tissue paper
4 craft sticks for each child
Glue

Procedure:
1.  Students paint their paper plate green. Let dry. (I use Chinette brand because it is much studier than a regular paper plate.)
2.  Make 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle by rolling construction paper rectangles into tubes and securing with tape.
3.  Dip tubes into glue OR make grass cuts at the bottom of each paper tube. Bend the cuts up and dip into glue.  Arrange the candles around the outside of the plate. Let dry.
4.  Glue tissue paper balls around the edges of the plate OR I have used cut pieces of green construction paper, too!
5.  To create the flame, students draw a flame shape upon yellow construction paper and attach to the top of a craft stick. Do this for 4 flames.
6.  Add a flame for each Sunday in Advent. Store the sticks upside down in each candle until it is time to celebrate each Sunday!
7.  Have fun!

Blessings,