Count Down to Christmas with
CHRIST-Centered
Family Activities and Traditions!
We just LOVE Christmastime and all the fun crafts, presents, and goodies that come with it. But as parents, we’re always trying to find ways to make more meaningful memories with our family. With all the chaos and busyness of Christmas, we want to make sure we’re focused on the REAL reason for the season. You might remember that last year we shared LOTS of fun, Christ-centered family activities and traditions. Well, it was one of our all-time, most popular posts, so we figured you all were trying to focus more on keeping Christ in Christmas too! That’s why this year we decided to take it a step further and put our favorite ideas onto our own…
Christ-Centered Christmas Countdown!
We asked one of our favorite designers, Kristin Clove, to create some Christ-Centered Christmas Activity Cards. And we have to say, they turned out absolutely gorgeous!
If you haven’t checked our her shop, CdotLove, you really need to! We’re always drooling over her custom designs. {Make sure you stop by her facebook page to leave a quick “thank you!” and let her know the Divas sent ya.}
To Make Your Own Countdown You Will Need:
- Our Printable Activity Cards
- White Cardstock
- A Laminator and Laminating Pouches
- A 12×12 Nativity Print
- A 12×12 Frame
- Sticky Tack
- Scissors
Here’s How It Works:
First, print our Christ-Centered Christmas Activity Cards onto white cardstock.
Cut and laminate each card.
Next, frame your 12×12 nativity print in your 12×12 frame. {You can chose any 12×12 print that you like, but this one is my absolute favorite! It’s just gorgeous!}
Now, simply use sticky tack to attach your 24 favorite activity cards to the glass of the frame, covering the picture. {We’ve included 30 cards, just in case some of them don’t work for your family.}
You should end up with 4 rows with 6 cards on each.
Each day in December, choose one activity to do together as a family. When you’ve completed the activity, remove the card from your frame. As Christmas approaches, you’ll slowly start to see your nativity print.
By Christmas morning, you’ll be able to see the full picture of Christ’s birth.
So Simple! It’s as Easy as…
One
Two
Three
Want to Know What’s on the Activity Cards?
For your convenience, we’ve listed each of the activity cards below. Many of them are linked to other posts with more details, ideas, and free printables to make the activities even easier to pull off! {We’re ALL about quick and easy during the busy holiday season!}
*TIP: You might want to pin or bookmark this post now so you can refer back to the list below quickly each night when you pick a new activity.
- Make a Christ-Centered Christmas Playlist
- Watch Joy to the World or The Nativity Story
- Cut and Color a Nativity Scene
- Make a Gingerbread Nativity Scene
- Go on a Family Nativity Scavenger Hunt
- Talk About the Symbols of Christmas
- Have a Bethlehem Dinner
- Hang a Jesus Stocking and Fill it With Letters to Jesus
- Go Caroling at a Nursing Home
- Make Birthday Cupcakes for Jesus
- Attend a Live Nativity or a Messiah Concert
- Talk About the Legend of the Candy Cane
- Have a Christ-Centered Coloring Party
- Do Random Acts of Christmas Kindness
- Make a Baby Jesus Ornament for the Tree
- Visit a Widow or Write Christmas Cards to Your Grandparents
- Make a Gratitude List and Count the Gifts Jesus Gave Us
- Go Stargazing and Talk about the Christmas Star
- Watch Mr. Krueger’s Christmas or A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Put Thank You Notes on the Doors of Homes That Display Nativities
- Donate Old Toys to a Charity
- Share Your Favorite Stories of Jesus
- Volunteer as a Bell Ringer or at a Soup Kitchen
- Read and Act Out the Nativity Story
- Send a Christmas Card or Package to a Solider Overseas
- Organize a Family Service Project
- Turn Off the Lights, Light a Candle, and Talk About the Light of Christ
- Take Christmas Goodies to Your Local Police or Fire Station
- Deliver Small Christmas Gifts to a Children’s Hospital
- Sing Silent Night and Talk About What the First Christmas was Like
Oh, and we’ve also included a few BLANK activity cards as well, just in case you want to add your own, personal family traditions.
This would also make an AMAZING Christmas gift idea for family and friends! It’s a gift their families can use for years to come!
Ready to get started?!
I would like to download that beautiful picture and use this for our new tradition. The link doesn’t work and allow me to get the photo. Could you possibly email it to me please? Thank You.
Sorry you aren’t able to download it. I have checked the link a few times and it works for me. Are you clicking the pink “click here to download” button towards the end of the post? I just used the link and downloaded it so I can send it over to you. Want to send me the email address you would like it sent to?
Love this advent calendar. I would love to see an alternative version that was just the blank cards (without the words) to customize.
That’s a great idea, Ruth! We may have to add that in the future. In the meantime, there are two blank cards that might help you out. 🙂
Where did you get the 12×12 printed?
Hi, Ginny! I found that 12×12 nativity print on Amazon, but it looks like it’s not available at that link anymore. It’s called “Light of Love” by Mark Missman. (But really ANY 12×12 nativity scene print would work.)
Thank you for publishing \ pinning the correct perspective!!
So glad you enjoyed the post. Merry CHRISTmas! 🙂
I seriously LOVE how this reveals at picture of the Savior! So creative and perfect for keeping the focus on Christ at Christmas!!