Originally Published November 13, 2018. Updated November 18, 2024
Sunday, December 1st (2024) is the first Sunday of Advent. Many people around the world celebrate this time in preparation for Christmas. Celebrations can use an Advent calendar, an Advent wreath, and family prayers. I have printable free Advent calendars for download celebrating the 24 days prior to Christmas. If you want to simply celebrate Advent, make a wreath or calendar and add activities that enhance the season. Print and celebrate the days with family activities like gathering donations to charity, buying gifts for a Giving Tree, baking gifts for others, or reading about the story of Jesus in scripture. For more information on celebrating a simple Advent see my post, Simple Ways to Celebrate Advent: Wreaths, Calendars, & Activities . This simple Advent calendar is available for download there as well as possible scripture readings.
This year I’d like to share two more simple Advent calendars. First is a simple tree-shaped group of numbers from 1 to 24. The colors are black, gold, and pink. It is sized 8″ x 10″. Print it on any paper but card stock would work best. You can mark off the days or cover them with stickers daily as you get closer to Christmas.
Second is a colorful Bears Advent Calendar sized 14″ x 11″. You can print it in smaller sizes too.
One of my favorite things is kindness and doing random acts of kindness. Our world desperately needs kindness, and it costs nothing really. Whether you’re religious or not, make the season a time of giving. May Kindness be shared with all is my motto. So I’m planning my month of kindness to really get into the spirit of Christmas. It’s not really about gifts you know but about sharing God’s love with everyone around us. Plan now for your family activities for the season. Yes, include fun, simple activities like making popcorn garlands as well as a few more involved giving actions such as taking a tag from a Giving Tree, buying the present, and taking it back to the tree. But this year I suggest you try adding simple acts of kindness to your list. Actions that do not always get recognized by others but still can make a difference to the recipient of your kindness. If your kids expect a calendar of chocolate, buy them that calendar. I just suggest you consider adding a few acts of kindness this year.
If you’d like to join me in my Advent Acts of Kindness, I’ve developed tools for you to use for yourself and your family. Choose what works for you. Are you a list person? Do you like to pull notes out of a mason jar? Perhaps you like calendars to check off each day. I’m made something for everyone. Everything can be printed on a plain page of 8.5″ x 11″ paper. Easy Peasy.
A. I made a list of suggestions for 25 days of kindness.
I do believe our young military personnel around the globe are under appreciated. You can find multiple sites that give you information on writing or even sending a care package to the men and women in the service. I personally don’t want to forget those vets who came home with physical and mental disabilities due to their service. There is a list of organizations at the end of the post under Resources. Some of my suggestions may make you uncomfortable like volunteering in a soup kitchen. Perhaps you’d rather volunteer at the VA Hospital or a local animal shelter. There are more needs than I can ever list.
B. You can add and delete what works for you.
Repeat acts that make you happy. Remove those that don’t work for you. Here is a blank Advent Acts of Kindness list for you to personalize with your own choices.
C. Get the kids involved.
I made a page of notes with the suggested actions. Print on 8.5″ x 11″ paper and cut in to rectangles. Put them in a basket or mason jar. Pull one out each day. I tried to make these suggestions kid-friendly and simple. Again change or add your own ideas.
D. Use a December calendar for your kindness acts.
Here is a December 2024 calendar with my suggestions for random acts of kindness.
E. Fill in your own calendar or let the kids write their own suggestions.
Wishing you a holiday filled with love and kindness. I send you all my positive, warm feelings and extend a mental hug to you all. God Bless!
RESOURCES
A Million Thanks – Send a Letter
AnySoldier.com
Write Letters to a Soldier — Doing Good Together™
Write Letters – Operation Gratitude
Writing Letters to Military Personnel – Operation We Are Here
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what a lovely idea, count me in. I’m not sure which I’ll do yet, but I’m going to print off a blank list and fill it in with things I am capable (being disabled and relatively housebound makes some things a little difficult.) I can certainly write letters and bake cookies though. Oh, I can’t wait to get started on my list now, thank you xx
I understand – with my arthritis I don’t get around like I used to but as you said there are always things we can do. Thanks for coming by and I’m so happy you like the idea. You made my day.
I love this idea, Carol. And yes, a lot of us are struggling to do it all with what energy and physical abilities we have but we can all do SOMETHING!
I agree – each little kindness is a pebble in a pool. Have a great day Jeanie!
There are some great ideas for acts of kindness there, I try to do something on a regluar basis throughout the year. Child 4 of 5 is in the military and I send care packages out to him when he’s based in the Falklands or iraq #keepingitreal
I’ll keep him in my prayers.
What a truly heart warming post Carol. You are so lovely! If only everyone had the same mindset as you on this. You can totally count me in.
Thanks so much for sharing with #MMBC. Enjoy the rest of your week.
It makes me so happy you like it. I almost didn’t write the post cause it’s kind of a “Pollyana” post, but I do honestly believe kindness makes a difference.
Hi Carol, many acts of kindness may go unacknowledged, but it’s that one (or two) kind acts that make a difference to someones day that make it worthwhile. Wouldn’t it be lovely to live in a world domnated by kindness? They do say that kindness breeds kindness!
Tank you for popping by and sharing with ‘keepingitreal’.
xx
what great ideas , I jotted few down to do with kids during December. Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you found ideas you liked. Thanks for visiting!
What a lovely way to approach advent #keepingitreal
I think this is a fantastic idea, Carol! Sharing, including scheduling on the H&S Facebook page early next week. Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Happy Thanksgiving!
thank you for the shares – I liked your Thanksgiving in England post – Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Oh I just LOVE this idea! My boys have been using these cheap chocolate advent calendars for years and while I still want to keep the advent tradition going I have been looking for something else besides candy to motivate them. This is perfect. Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Happy Holiday link Party. Pinned!!
thanks for the kind words and pin – I hope your acts of kindness bless your holidays.!
You post was picked as one of my featured favorites today. Thanks again for sharing with us.
Thanks for the feature – you made my day!
What a lovely resource. Several years ago I made a giant one on the wall and children in my class had to try and do that good deed at some point. x It took a while to get them to think of them and to move away from wanting to give gifts but it was lovely how many parents said the children were determined to complete them. #christmaslinky
Ah, great minds think alike my friend! I think I’ve found a kindred spirit. I’m so glad you find it helpful. Merry Christmas!
This is a wonderful idea! Thanks so much for sharing these printables–a great way for us to keep on track as we follow your suggestions. I just love the notion of sharing the joy of this season in tangible ways.
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
I am thrilled to be featured. Thanks for the kind words – I’ll be at today’s party!
We do something similar but we call it light the world. All about doing acts of kindness. Helpfully all year long. Found you on Wednesday AIM Link Party.
I love that – light the world. I’m so glad you told me about it. Hope your day is great!
Thanks so much for partying with us at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty and Giveaway! We hope to see you at our next party on Dec-19-2018.
Great ideas for practicing kindness. Happy to have you join us at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty and Giveaway
Your free advent calendars are lovely!
Thanks Lisa = I hope you have a great week!
Such a great idea! I actually enjoy Advent time more than the X’mas.
me too – appreciating the real “gift” of the season is the special time.
Your post has a loving and thoughtful ideas–Christmas spirit! Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I love this Carol! What fabulous ideas for Advent Calendars, and you have provided so many helpful printables to make things easy. The idea of sharing an act of kindness every day of Advent is Wonderful. This is such a brilliant post – I’ll be featuring it at the December Edition of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for your support and for the feature of the post. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
I love, love, love this, Carol! Great ideas. Pinning! Thank you for sharing this post with us at the Will Blog for Comments #52 linkup. We hope to see you back sharing more during our linkup #53. (It will be on a holiday schedule, open Dec. 2 – Jan. 2 while we take a break during the week of Thanksgiving.)
I’m so glad you like the post. Thanks for the pin. Happy Thanksgiving!
Carol,
This post is super inspiring. I love all of it. The advent calendars that you are sharing are wonderful and Your ideas and suggestions for giving what the season is all about.
Thank you so much for your kind comment. It means a lot to me when I spend a lot of time on a post. I think you just did a kindness for me and it is a great gift.
I am a big believer in random acts of kindness. Your advent calendars are awesome and so are your many ideas. Thank you for these Carol and I wish for you many acts of random kindness from others, and a very happy and blessed holiday season.
I’m wishing you a fab holiday season too. God Bless!
The Advent Acts of Kindness sounds like such a sweet idea and the printables are just fab! x
Thanks Kim; you say the nicest things.
I love the idea of Advent Acts of Kindness. It’s so much nicer to give than to receive 🙂
#MMBC
Carol, such a great idea! One of my features for this weeks SSPS, thank you so much for sharing with us. We all appreciate it. Melynda @scratchmadefood!
thanks so much for your support and the feature of my Advent post. I’ll come by your blog tomorrow! Happy Thanksgiving!
Great ideas I downloaded 3 of them. Thanks for sharing at #aclwcc. Pinned.
Thanks for the downloads and for being a supportive friend here in blogland. I appreciate your visiting and commenting.