Last year I made a takeout box advent calendar. Then for 24 days I scrambled to figure out a gift, verse or activity to put in each box.

This year I am determined to plan ahead. A month or so ago, I began collecting ideas on Pinterest. It’s easy to find cute and crafty calendars, but a little bit harder to find ideas for the contents of those calendars.

I could do candy or a little gift every day, but that’s not really meaningful (and, in the case of gifts, can get expensive). And while I love the idea of Random Acts of Christmas Kindness, I’m not sure we’d be able to keep up with a task a day.

So when my friend Amanda (@oohamanda and @impressyourkids) told me about her Advent ebook, I was excited. Then, after I read it, I couldn’t wait to start it! Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands is a fun way to celebrate Christmas all month long, but it’s also a simple but meaningful way to teach your young children about the meaning of Christmas.

Truth in the Tinsel walks you through a craft a day, based on Scripture, for each day of Advent – complete with supply list and everything. Even if you’re not super crafty, you can do this! At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. And while we may not do every single day of the month, I’m really looking forward to using these simple projects to teach Annalyn that Christmas is about so much more than Santa and snowmen and garland and gifts.

If you have young kids and would like to spend a few minutes each day leading up to Christmas teaching them about the wonderful reason we celebrate Christmas, Truth in the Tinsel is a great resource!

Do you use an advent calendar? How do you get your kids excited for Christmas?

This post contains affiliate links.