Advent is a time of waiting for goodness to rise out of darkness. But there is more to the season than waiting for Santa Claus! This is a time not only to prepare our homes to celebrate the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago, but also to prepare our hearts for Jesus. Parents can use this time of Advent to help children think about how they can grow to become better people and make room for Jesus in their hearts and lives.

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Here are some activities you can do with your child to bring Jesus into your home for Advent and Christmas:

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1. Make or buy an Advent wreath. At dinner each night, light one candle for every Sunday of Advent that has passed and leave it lit while you eat. This helps keep the true purpose of Advent in our minds each day.

2. Set up a nativity scene in your home. Add the figures to the stable as we get closer and closer to Christmas.

3. Celebrate St. Nicholas Day! Have your child put his or her shoes by the door the night before his feast day, December 6. Place a few treats such as chocolate coins or other candies in the shoes for your child to find in the morning!

4. Set up a Jesse tree. A Jesse tree is decorated with specific Biblical ornaments, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas, telling the story of Jesus' family tree. It can be a real tree with real ornaments, or a paper tree where ornaments or pictures are glued or colored. Here is a resource if you would like to try this.

5. Have your child complete one small sacrifice or good deed for others each day. (Use a printable Advent calendar like this one if you need ideas or accountability!)

6. Have your child put a piece of straw or yarn in an empty manger for every good deed he or she does. When Jesus arrives on Christmas Day, (Here is an interesting blog post about this idea, with materials and steps for creating a manger!)

7. Write a Christmas card to troops stationed overseas or families who could use a little extra cheer.

8. Clean out toy boxes and donate good quality items.

9. Read the Christmas story in the Bible.

10. Make and decorate a birthday cake for Jesus.

11. Spend time playing with the family nativity scene and acting out the story.

12. Write a letter to Jesus, thanking him for the gifts received throughout the year.