Christmas Advent Calendar and Nativity Reviews

For years now, ever since our first child was little we have done a Christmas countdown of some kind. We've made our own out of construction paper, we've done chain links, the store bought candy ones, a wooden one with little boxes to fill with candy, etc. last year we used our elf. He brought candy and a card with a number counting down each morning.


I wanted to share two things I'm excited to be using this year: The first is a wooden Nativity Advent calendar from Family Christian Stores. These large wooden calendars can get expensive (definitely more than a disposable cardboard one or a home made one, but I think it's worth the $$ esp if you can find one on after Christmas clearance) Here's why I love this calendar. I got this calendar last year and used it in my classroom at church, but this is the first year I will be using it at home with my girls. I love that it is sturdy and well made, not like some of the cardboard store bought ones. It will last for years to come so you get your moneys worth. I also like that it hangs nicely on the wall. I can hang it up high enough that baby bear can't get onto it. So how it works is real simple. There is a little booklet that goes with the calendar. It has a very short paragraph of the Christmas story to read each day. Inside of the boxes are cute little wooden ornaments that go along with the paragraph. The girls take turns and each day one of them gets to open the box for that day and hang the ornament on the nativity scene. In the past we had a wooden church advent with little boxes, but you had to fill the tiny boxes with treats. It was really hard trying to find something that was small enough to fit, plus cost extra $$ for candy.I like that I don't have to buy tons of Christmas candy, but they are just as excited to open the next box. Plus they get to hear the Christmas story rather than just finding a piece of candy. Advent calendar time has become the highlight of our school day this past week. I don't know if they still sell this exact calendar in stores, but I definitely recommend investing in this type of calendar.

An added bonus is that this nativity also has a sturdy wooden shelf that is perfect for sitting our elf on so this is his home during the day time!

Secondly, I am so excited to be using "What God Wants For Christmas" this year with my girls. It's just so stinkin cute to me and perfect especially for younger ones. This isn't a month long advent calendar. Its an interactive retelling of the nativity story that takes only 7 days.

 

Basically it's a story book that tells the Christmas story and a nativity scene with little ceramic figurines. There are 7 gift boxes to be opened, one a day for 7 days and 1 start box. The starter box reads " Pull out this box to begin an adventure, one that's foretold in God's Holy Scripture." Inside that box are 2 plastic corner pieces that holds the nativity scene together and allows it to stand on its own, plus 2 rubber bracelets that say "What God Wants for Christmas." (the bracelets are actually a spoiler and have the answer on them so I would wait until day 7 to give them to the kids)

Inside the other 7 boxes are the figurines to be added to the nativity.

Each day as the story is read anticipation is built and it ends asking the question what does God want for Christmas?  The whole week the kids are guessing what could God possibly want for Christmas? Some of the answers I've gotten "nothing, because God already has everything." "maybe the world?" "love?" It keeps them guessing and thinking about it all week.

On day 6 the nativity scene is complete and finally on day 7 they get to open the 7th box that answers the question "What does God want for Christmas." The inside of that box is a mirror and the answer is God wants you!

A quote form the book reads "Me?" you ask. "Why is this so? I can not wrap me and put on a bow!" "No you cannot: but what you can give are the choices you make and the life that you live." Then it goes on about how God wants you to know Him, worship him. and choose everyday to live your life for Him. I love this so much! The back of the booklet has scriptures to use on leading a child to Christ. What God Wants For Christmas can be found at Family Christian Stores for $15-$20 and the newer version comes with an audio Cd too!