I have been working in children’s ministry at our church for a long time, and before that I was a preschool teacher. I also have two busy boys (5 and 8) and a baby girl on the way. So I’m always on the lookout for ideas where fun and creativity meet Jesus.

To start off, get a jar and decorate it (there’s a cool template you can get if you download this Advent guide). Then fill it with Advent ideas on craft sticks or colored paper.

Each day, have the designated special helper pull an Advent idea out of the jar, and do the activity together. Activities can range from simple service ideas and conversation starters to ones that are a little more involved. What I love about this is that it’s as much of a commitment as you want it to be.

Here are just a few I thought up with my husband, but you’ll want to come up with a bunch on your own. That’s half the fun! Tailor your ideas to best suit the ages of everyone involved.

12 starter Advent adventure activities:

• Bake and deliver a treat to a neighbor you haven’t met yet
• Buy a gift for a family or kid in need
• Offer to untangle your neighbors Christmas lights
• Make Christmas cards and spend time passing them out at a local nursing home
• Go through toys and clothes to donate
• Take items from your pantry to the local food bank
• Deliver some Starbucks hot chocolate to your local fire station or homeless shelter
• Pay for another family’s meal when you go out to eat
• Everyone name the best/worst Christmas gift they’ve received
• Everyone share their favorite Christmas memory
• Read Luke 2:1-20 together
• Read Matthew 2:1-12 together

Here’s the twist (besides that you twist the top off, I know): Create jars for friends and family and give them away at Thanksgiving so others can enjoy your fun idea. Or create a jar with your Sunday School class, putting in 10 or so age-appropriate activities. You’ll only end up doing three or four, but it’s fun to have a large jar of ideas to pick from.