Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas. It is a season of waiting, preparation, hope, and joyful anticipation, as families prepare their hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

In the busyness of December, it can be easy for Christmas to become focused on presents, decorations, parties, and wish lists. Advent offers families the opportunity to slow down and intentionally place Jesus at the center of the season.

For parents, Advent is a chance to begin or strengthen traditions that teach children what Christmas is truly about: the birth of Christ, our Savior.

At Marie Madeleine, faith begins at home. The small traditions parents create with their children can plant seeds of faith that remain in their hearts for years to come.

What Is Advent?

Advent is the season of preparation leading up to Christmas. The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival." During Advent, the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world at Christmas while also looking forward with hope to His promised return.

The Catholic Church observes Advent over the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The Advent wreath, with its four candles, is one of the most recognizable traditions of the season—each week, another candle is lit as Christmas draws closer.

For children, this simple tradition makes the meaning of Advent tangible. They can see the candles, count the weeks, join in family prayer, and begin to understand that the family is waiting for Jesus.

Advent Is About Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus

Children naturally understand the excitement of waiting—for birthdays, for vacations, for Christmas morning. Advent teaches them something deeper about waiting: it isn't simply about opening presents, but about preparing hearts to celebrate the greatest gift God has ever given—His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is why Advent can be such a meaningful season for families. Rather than letting December simply happen, parents can intentionally create space for prayer, Scripture, conversation, acts of kindness, and traditions that continually point children back to Christ.

Advent doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't require a perfect schedule or elaborate activities. Often the most meaningful traditions are the simplest ones.

Why Should Families Practice Advent Together?

Parents carry a beautiful responsibility to teach their children about God and help them grow in relationship with Him. That doesn't happen only at church. Faith is also formed around the kitchen table, during bedtime prayers, when children ask questions about Jesus, when families go to Mass together, and when Scripture is read aloud at home.

Advent gives families four weeks to intentionally make room for these moments. Instead of simply telling children that Christmas is coming, parents can help them understand why Christmas matters:

• Advent is a time of preparation.
• Jesus is the reason Christmas is celebrated.
• God promised a Savior.
• Jesus came into the world for humanity.
• Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ.
• The greatest gift of Christmas is Jesus Himself.

These are truths worth repeating year after year.

Simple Ways to Celebrate Advent as a Family

Families don't need to overhaul their routine to make Advent meaningful. Start with one or two simple traditions and let them become something children look forward to each year.

1. Gather Around an Advent Wreath

Make lighting the Advent wreath part of the family's weekly rhythm. Gather on Sunday, light the appropriate candle, and spend a few minutes praying together.

For younger children, explain the wreath simply: "We are getting closer and closer to celebrating Jesus' birth."

Let children help set up the wreath, light candles with an adult, offer a prayer, or read a short Scripture passage. The goal isn't a perfect prayer service—it's helping children experience Advent as a family.

2. Read Scripture Together

Advent is a wonderful time to introduce children to the story of God's plan for salvation through Scripture, a children's Bible, or a family Advent devotional. While reading, ask simple questions:

What happened in this story? What does this tell us about God? How does this lead us to Jesus? Why do you think God sent His Son?

Even a few minutes of reading together can open surprising conversations.

3. Pray for Others

Advent also teaches children that preparing for Jesus isn't only about what they receive—it's about how they love. Choose someone to pray for each day or week: a family member, someone who is sick, someone who is lonely, or someone who doesn't yet know Jesus.

Encourage small acts of kindness throughout the season—a handwritten note, helping a sibling, sharing something, or doing a kindness unasked. These small acts help children understand that preparing hearts for Jesus also means learning to love others.

4. Keep the Nativity Scene Visible

A Nativity scene can become more than decoration. Let children look at it, ask questions about the figures gathered around Jesus, and talk through what happened in Bethlehem: Who is Mary? Who is Joseph? Why did they travel to Bethlehem? Who came to see Jesus? Why was He born in a manger?

The story of Christmas becomes far more meaningful when children understand what they are actually celebrating.

5. Make Time for Family Devotion

One of the greatest gifts parents can give during Advent is time. It doesn't require an hour-long Bible study—even 10–15 minutes can become a meaningful tradition. Turn off the television, put the phones away, gather around the table, read, talk, and pray together. Those small, intentional moments often become the memories children carry with them.

Create a Family Advent Tradition Your Children Will Remember

Children may not remember every present or every ornament on the tree. But they may remember lighting the Advent wreath with Mom and Dad, gathering for a family devotional, hearing the story of Jesus' birth, and praying together as Christmas drew near. They may come to understand that the celebration was never ultimately about what was waiting underneath the tree—

It was about Who was waiting in the manger.

That is the tradition worth creating.

Two Ways to Make Advent Meaningful for Your Family

The Marie Madeleine Advent Collection was intentionally chosen to help families bring the meaning of Advent into their homes. Two resources are especially helpful for families who want a hands-on, Christ-centered Advent.

Buildable Advent Wreath for Kids – A Hands-On Way to Learn About Advent

Children learn by participating. This wooden and buildable Advent Wreath for Kids gives little ones a hands-on way to learn about the tradition of the Advent wreath and the four weeks of preparation leading up to Christmas. The solid wood wreath includes 16 pieces children can build and interact with, becoming part of family prayer, Advent lessons, homeschool, or simply a quiet activity that opens the door to conversations about Jesus.

Instead of simply telling children, "It's Advent," parents can give them something they can see and touch. Each Sunday, gather around the wreath, talk about the week of Advent, pray together, and let the child participate. Then offer a simple reminder:

We are preparing our hearts for Jesus.

Because the wreath is reusable, it can become a family Advent tradition that returns to the home year after year.

The Advent Storybook: A Family Advent Devotional From Creation to Christ

For families who want to make prayer and Scripture part of their Advent routine, The Advent Storybook offers a simple way to gather everyone together. This four-week family Advent devotional begins with Creation and walks through Scripture toward the birth of Jesus, helping children understand that the Christmas story is part of God's greater plan. Each devotion includes Scripture references, a read-aloud, discussion questions, and opportunities for family conversation, along with weekly candle-lighting prompts, family activities, a memory verse, bonus resources, and a Christmas Day devotion.

This is more than reading a story each night—it's an opportunity to sit together, ask questions, listen to children's thoughts, pray together, and help them see how the stories of Scripture ultimately lead to Christ.

For families with children of different ages, it can become a simple rhythm throughout the four weeks of Advent: gather, read, talk, pray, and prepare.

Make Advent About More Than Counting Down

There is nothing wrong with the excitement of Christmas. Children should experience the joy, wonder, music, decorations, and celebration that make this season beautiful. But underneath all of it, there should be something deeper.

Jesus.

Advent teaches children that Christmas isn't simply something that happens on December 25—it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and Advent gives the time to prepare for that celebration.

So this year, don't worry about creating a perfect Advent. Instead, create a faith-filled Advent:

Light the wreath. Read Scripture. Pray together. Talk about Jesus. Serve someone who needs love. Visit Jesus at Mass or in Adoration. Set up the Nativity. Sing Christmas hymns. Make a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" cake. And most importantly, make room in family life for Christ.

Planting Seeds of Faith During Advent

Parents have a beautiful opportunity to plant seeds of faith in little hands. The traditions established while children are young can become reminders of faith as they grow: a wooden Advent wreath, a family devotional, a bedtime prayer, a Nativity story, a candle lit each Sunday, a family gathered around the table.

These may seem like small things. But faith is often built in the small things.

The Marie Madeleine Advent Collection exists not simply to give families something to do during December, but to offer meaningful tools and traditions that help them keep their eyes on Jesus, make room for Him, and teach children the true meaning of Christmas.

Because the greatest gift of Christmas isn't something that can be put under the tree.

It is Christ Himself.

This Advent, gather the family, slow down, and prepare hearts for the coming of the Lord.

Make room for Jesus.

Frequently Asked Questions About Advent for Families

When does Advent start in 2026?

Advent begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026, and continues through Christmas Eve. Advent includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and is a season of preparation, hope, and joyful anticipation as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

For families, November 29 can be a wonderful opportunity to begin your Advent traditions together. Light the first candle of your Advent wreath, begin an Advent devotional, read Scripture, and talk with your children about why your family celebrates Christmas.

How do I explain Advent to a toddler?

Keep it simple! Toddlers don't need a complicated explanation of Advent. You can tell them:

"Advent is when we get ready for Jesus. We are waiting and getting our hearts ready for His birthday."

Use simple, hands-on traditions to help your toddler understand. Light an Advent wreath together, read a short Bible story about Jesus, sing a Christmas hymn, look at the Nativity, or pray a simple prayer before bedtime.

You can also give your child something they can see and touch, such as a children's Advent wreath or Advent calendar. Each day or week becomes a small reminder that Christmas is coming and we are preparing for Jesus.

Most importantly, don't worry about making Advent perfect. For toddlers, faith is often learned through repetition, participation, and the example of their parents. When they see you praying, talking about Jesus, attending Mass, and preparing your home for Christmas, they begin to understand that Jesus is at the center of the celebration.