Printable Advent Calendar for Kids with 24 Advent Readings

We had an advent calendar every year when I was growing up. It was one of those cardboard box kinds you get at the grocery store. We'd stare at the calendar just waiting for the moment after breakfast when we could punch open the little numbered door for the day and consume our little piece of chocolate before heading off to school.

Yes, we were self-controlled enough to make it through our Cheerios before tearing into our advent calendars.

Our chocolate-filled Christmas advent calendar was fun, and I enjoyed the countdown to Christmas. But I want Advent to mean something more to my kids.

I want Advent to mean something more to your kids too. I bet you feel the same way.

Advent Readings

For Christians, Advent is a season of expectant waiting while we anticipate celebrating the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus, God the Son, took the form of a servant and was born as a man. He humbled himself in ministry to his own creation, dying for us. God has glorified the Risen Son and one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:1-11)

WHOA.

Just take that in for a moment. That's amazing.

You and I want our kids to celebrate the Advent season for real. We want them all to understand the wonder of the God who became man and died for their sins. I put together 24 Advent readings for children that will help kids understand:

• The Christmas Story
• Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus' Birth
• Jesus as God the Son

And I put those readings on a beautiful printable Christmas Advent calendar you can assemble and use to decorate your home. The Advent calendar has a Scandinavian design in honor of my maternal grandparents. God Jul! (That means Merry Christmas in Swedish.)  

Printable Advent Calendar for Kids

I often get asked how to print Thinking Kids resources. Here's my very best advice. Take it and adapt it for your own good uses.

• Sometimes readers are concerned about using colored ink. If this is the case for you, there should be a setting on your printer that allows you to print in black and white. Printing in grayscale will still use some color, but it will come out prettier than black and white. (The colors on this are so pretty though!)
• Print these duplex (double-sided) and have them flip on the long side.
• I recommend printing on white cardstock so the banners will be more durable and they'll stand up. 
• You can find purchase links to the supplies needed to make your advent calendar and step-by-step details here.

Display Your Christmas Advent Calendar with Your Advent Readings Facing In

Take a picture of your Christmas Advent Calendar and share it on social media with the hashtag #BibleRoadTrip. You can tag me as well! I'd love to reshare it. I'm on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also share it in the Bible Crafts for Kids community on Facebook.

Beginning December 1st, turn over one banner a day to reveal that day's Scripture readings. Have your kids help you locate the Scriptures in the Bible. Take turns reading a paragraph each and discuss what you learned about the Incarnation of Christ that day!