First Year Observing Advent - Any Advice?

Updated on November 12, 2011
A.P. asks from Sanford, FL
6 answers

This will be our first year celebrating Advent. I ordered an advent calendar and a book of devotions for kids and adults related to the Jesse tree. Any advice on the Jesses tree and the ornaments? Do you make your ornaments every year, did you buy a set somewhere. If so, where? We have a 3 1/2 yo and I think it would be nice for him to color some cut outs while we discuss the devotions, but I'm not sure since I also heard that have pre-made ornaments and unwrapping them mad ethe experience special as well.

What do you do?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

We went with two of the books suggested here and are doing the paper tree and ornaments. My son is enjoying coloring the ornaments, but devotion is usually pretty short for him (he's only 3). Never the less, we will keep pressing on. I'm sure next year he will understand more.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have used the following Jesse Tree kit in the past (link below). It has daily ornaments that you can photocopy and your child can cut out and color. It does come with a paper tree poster you can color or decorate. But we didn't use ours. Instead I bought a miniature pine and hung them on that. Another year, we bought a Jesse wooden tree (looks like a mitten rack) made specifically for displaying ornaments. I have also seen people just use twigs and boughs from their yard mounted in a flower pot or on wooden slats too.

For the kit see:

http://www.amazon.com/Jesse-Tree-Kit-Lynn-Simms/dp/081983...

I have also used the following books for daily activity ideas for advent:

http://www.amazon.com/Joy-World-Advent-Activities-Family/...

http://www.amazon.com/Things-Make-Do-Advent-Christmas/dp/...

http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Arts-Christmas-Crafts-Prayer...

You can buy pre-made Jesse Trees from the following sites:

www.stpatricksguild.com
www.christianbook.com
www.adoremusbooks.com

And one year we used this Advent calendar on dvd, which was fun for the older kids (6 and up) as well as the big people. :) Each day there is a 3-5 minute video highlighting saints, traditions, stories and prayers in preparation for Christmas.

http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Calendar-DVD-Christmas-Count...

Advent wreaths for Sunday observance are nice too. There are some pretty cute felt ones that use no fire if you have that concern with your little one.

See:

http://www.amazon.com/Fabric-Advent-Wreath-%252d-9%2522/d...

Hope this helps and have fun celebrating the season.

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

I would also get an advent wreath, which is a wreath with 4 candles, 3 purple & 1 pink, that sits on your dining room table. Each evening you say special prayers (they will be on a printout with your wreath) and light one of the candles. Every Sunday you light another candle, until you are finally at the 4th week of advent and have all 4 lit.

http://www.leafletonline.com/Advent-Items/products/177/

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

We do different things. In our home, I have an Advent wreath and the church gives out a book with devotionals in it. We don't do anything about a Jesse tree, so I can't comment on that.

Every week at dinner, I read the devotional to my DD (also 3) and I light the candle for that week. Last year I also tried teaching her a song I knew from childhood that goes "candle, candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter's night. Candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light". You can Google for the whole song.

Usually the devotionals include something for every night, but for DD I focus on each week. She has been fascinated by the candles since she was a baby.

We also have a 24 day calendar that we move the marker between the pockets, and while that's not a religious thing (though we had one with Christian symbols when I was a kid), DD really likes to do that.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

When my children were growing up we tried various things.

Do what you think your son can handle best. Unwrapping pre-made ornaments could be a nice surprise (like opening an early Christmas present - but no, it's Advent, and here's what Advent and the ornament are about...). On the other hand, a Jesse tree with hand-colored ornaments on it sounds wonderful! You'll want to take a picture of it.

Remember that toddlers don't have great attention spans - oh, I bet you already knew that! So having something to do during the devotions could be a great idea, especially if you're doing this as a family. Make it short and sweet.

I hope this Advent will be especially wonderful at your house. I think you're on the right track with it.

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Our church also has special Advent services each week. Check those out. We always go to Christmas Eve "midnight" services, too.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.D.

answers from Atlanta on

Thanks so much JL from St. Paul. I too wanted some info on Advent although we did for the first time last year I was trying to think of something a bit different to look into. Thanks

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions