Advent Wreath Children’s Craft

Have you ever wanted an advent wreath for your children, but were worried about the flames? Here’s a simple and fun advent wreath craft that will help explain the season of waiting that comes before Christmas Day.

What You Will Need

• Paint
• 1 Paper Towel Roll
• 4 Toilet Paper Rolls
• Scissors
• Letter Stickers
• Yellow & Orange Tissue Paper
• Green Construction Paper
• A Square Piece of Cardboard
• Paint Brushes/Sponges
• Hot Glue Gun

Meaning of the Advent Wreath

Before starting, take a moment to explain to your child what the advent wreath stands for. We found the following explanations from FamiliesInFaith.org to be the most helpful.

1^st Candle – (purple) The Prophecy Candle or The Candle of Hope – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. (Romans 15:12-13)

2^nd Candle – (purple) The Bethlehem Candle or The Candle of Preparation – God kept his promise of a savoir who would be born in Bethlehem. Preparation means to “get ready.” Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD! (Luke 3:4-6)

3^rd Candle – (pink) The Shepard Candle or The Candle of Joy – The angels sang a message of JOY! (Luke 2:7-15)

4^th Candle – (purple) The Angel Candle or The Candle of Love – The angels announced the good news of a Savoir. God sent his only son to earth to save us because he loves us! (John 3:16-17)”

5^th Candle – (white) The Christ Candle – The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! (John 1:29)

Creating Your Advent Wreath

First cut the piece of cardboard into a small circle. Make sure all of the candles can fit. Let your child paint it green. While that is drying trace their hand on the sheets of construction paper, and cut out their hand prints, and let them glue their prints in a circular motion.

 

 

 

 

 

The circle should be fully covered with their hand prints.

Next cut off about 1/3 of the paper towel roll and have your child paint it white with the paint and brushes/sponge.

Then paint 3 of the toilet paper rolls purple and one of them pink. Once they dry place the sticker letters on them to show what the candles represent.

Glue the candles to the base of the wreath with a low heat hot glue gun.

Now it’s time to add the “flame” to your candles. Take your orange and yellow tissue paper and and cut it into 8×6 rectangles.

Stack a different color every other sheet to give it a pretty “flame” effect, and rotate each sheet at different angles.

Place the tissue paper into the candles with the edges facing up, and fold them in so they are not sticking out from the top of the candle. Each week pop the tissue out of the top of the candle to “light” it in celebration of advent. Light the candles in the following order each week:

1. Hope
2. Preparation
3. Joy
4. Love
5. Christ (Light on Christmas Eve at sunset)

Each week you should also say a prayer or read from the corresponding scripture with your child to celebrate the anticipation of Jesus’ return.