12 Day Activity Advent Calendar for Kids This Christmas (with Scripture)
Here is the story of Jesus’ birth broken up into 12 days. I have included the scripture as well as a translated “toddler version” that will be easier for my kids to understand. I am including this scripture into a 12 Day activity advent calendar for my kids this holiday season. Some of the activities I’m including with the scripture are:
Hang ornaments on the Christmas Tree
Write letters to Santa
Paper bag snowflake craft
Make Christmas treats
Wrap presents and put them under the tree
Deliver Christmas treats to neighbors
Watch Elf with popcorn for a movie night
Build gingerbread houses
Drive by Christmas lights in the car
Learn a Christmas carol
Bake Santa cookies
Kids recite the Christmas story and we read The Night Before Christmas
I hope this can help you create your own advent calendar to get your family in the Christmas spirit!
12 Day Christmas Story
Day 1
Verse
Background: God’s people were sinning and rebelling against the One who made and redeemed them. Isaiah instructed them to turn from sin to obedience. He announced God’s just judgment on them because of their sin. Then God revealed His future restoration of the people.
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
Toddler Version
God made the Earth and all of the people, and the people lived on Earth. But the people began to make bad choices. They started to disobey God and turn away from Him. God warned Isaiah, and Isaiah told the people to stop making bad choices and to start obeying God. And he told them God’s plan to bring love and peace back to His people. He said “The Lord will give us a sign. A woman will get pregnant and have a son, and he will be God with us.”
Day 2
Verse
“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Toddler Version
“A baby will be born and given to us. He will be King and be even more powerful than the kings on Earth. He will be called Wonderful, Mighty God, Father, and Prince of Peace. He will be in charge of all the land and he will rule forever. He will be good. God will do this for us.”
Day 3
Verse
“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient ties. Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace…” (Micah 5:2-5)
Toddler Version
“The one who will rule over the land will be born in Bethlehem. She who gives birth will give birth to a baby who will grow up to stand with the people and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord. They will be safe with him. He will bring them peace.”
Day 4
Verse
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you’. But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of this father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this be?’ The angel replied to her: ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:26-35)
Toddler Version
Years later, God sent an angel named Gabriel to a town called Nazareth. The angel was sent to speak to a woman named Mary, who had plans to marry a man named Joseph. The angel came to Mary and said, “Greetings, special woman! God is with you.” Mary was startled by the angel. The angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for God loves you. Now listen, you will be pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will make him King of all the land. He will reign as king forever.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you and the power of the Most High will cover you. Therefore, the baby will be the Son of God.”
Day 5
Verse
“In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: ‘Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!” (Luke 1:39-45)
Toddler Version
Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah to see her cousin Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby jumped inside her tummy, and Elizabeth became filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed, “Blessed are you, Mary! And your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? You see, when you came in, the baby leaped with joy inside me. Blessed is the person who has believed that God would fulfill what he has spoken!
Day 6
Verse
“And Mary said: My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.” (Luke 1:46-49)
Toddler Version
And Mary said, “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked kindly on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, I am blessed and will leave an impact for generations, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
Day 7
Verse
“The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21)
Toddler Version
When Joseph heard Mary was pregnant, he thought about leaving Mary. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the Holy Spirit has given her a baby. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
Day 8
Verse
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.” (Luke 2:1-5)
Toddler Version
The King Caesar Augustus wanted to count all of the people in his Kingdom, so he told everyone to return to the town they were from to be registered. Joseph began a journey back to Bethlehem, the city of David, because he was of the family line of David. He was to be registered along with Mary who was engaged to him and was pregnant. They went to Bethlehem together.
Day 9
Verse
“While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7)
Toddler Version
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth. She gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them in the town.
Day 10
Verse
“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger. Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!” (Luke 2:8-14)
Toddler Version
Nearby, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them and said, “Don’t be afraid, for I bring you good news that will bring joy to all the people. Today in Bethlehem a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. You will know you’ve found him when you find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger. Suddenly, more angels appeared and began singing praises for God, saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all of His people!"
Day 11
Verse
“When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:15-18)
Toddler Version
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they began to spread the news of this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Day 12
Verse
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born… Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.’ After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was - the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route. ” (Matthew 2:1-4, 7-12)
Toddler Version
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star rising and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was deeply concerned, as he did not want anyone else to be named a King. So he called all of the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born. “In Bethlehem,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written”… Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” After hearing the king, they wen’t on their way. And there it was - the star they had seen at its rising. It led them on their journey until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and give him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.