The countdown is ON! Christmas is ten days away! As we rapidly approach this day, our family chooses to participate in some activities to  prepare our hearts for the Greatest Gift. We celebrate the gift of Jesus! Here are some fun things we do in the month of December:

1. Star from Afar. Every morning my son Aiden wakes up eager to search for three wooden wise men who will lead him to the star. Each night we read the book and scripture reading for that particular day. Aiden loves to remind us before he goes to sleep each night to hide the star! (You could use any kid-friendly nativity set or create your own star and wise men to search for!)
2. Felt nativity scene. For my son’s first Christmas, I used this free template to create a felt nativity scene. I have it tacked to our wall so my son can play with the characters and “act out” the story.
3. Reading stories! Some of our favorites include: Goodnight Manger by Laura Sassi and Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
4. Creating Christmas gifts. I was recently challenged by my friend Christy’s perspective. She wants to raise her daughter to be aware of what she can give, not just receive. Gift giving for a child can come in multiple forms: a craft, a song in the church play, spending time serving at an elderly home…it can vary from year to year based on your child’s abilities and interests as they grow.
5. Christmas lights. There’s nothing super spiritual about this activity, but who doesn’t love Christmas lights? We are big fans of Gabriel Lane and Hoffman’s Chocolate in Palm Beach County.

What do you do with your family, Mama? How do you prepare your little ones’ hearts for the Greatest Gift?

Our felt Nativity scene 🙂