Catholic Advent Activities to Print and Share at Home or in the Classroom

A few crayons on the kitchen table. A quiet moment before a class begins. A grandchild asking about Mary and Joseph. Advent gives us so many small opportunities to help children get to know the Christmas story.

I created my Printable Catholic Advent Activity Pack for Children Ages 4–7 to make those moments a little easier to begin. There are 40 activities in five themed sets, plus a bonus Nativity coloring page. Each set opens with a coloring page, a simple explanation, and a little prayer, followed by seven activities that help children spend more time with the theme.

Five themes to explore together

The five sets are The Advent Wreath, Mary Says Yes to God, St. Joseph Gets Ready for Jesus, Mary Visits Elizabeth, and The Journey to Bethlehem.

After the opening coloring page and prayer, each set includes shadow matching, tracing, Count and Find, Find the Match, Find It!, Spot the Difference, and a maze. The bonus “Jesus Is Born” coloring page includes a simple prayer, too.

You might begin with the Advent wreath, then choose a set about Mary or Joseph another day. There is no need to complete everything in one sitting. Start with the opening picture and prayer, add an activity your child enjoys, and let a question or conversation set the pace. Younger children may need an adult to read the directions.

At home, with grandparents, or in a class

These pages can be a starting point for homeschool time, a visit with grandparents, Catholic preschool, CCD and parish faith formation, or children’s ministry. A familiar picture gives you something to talk about together; a tracing page or maze gives little hands something to do while the theme stays close by.

For a class or group you personally lead, you can choose one set to go with your Advent lesson and print copies for the children in that group. The permission included with the pack is explained below.

What you receive and how to print

This is a digital download from Etsy; no physical book or supplies will be mailed. You receive a complete 43-page PDF containing the optional cover, printing and permission guide, 40 activities, and bonus Nativity page.

You also receive a ZIP folder with separate PDFs: five eight-page themed sets, the one-page Nativity bonus, the cover, and the guide. The complete PDF and the ZIP contain the same activities, so choose whichever format is easiest for you. You do not need to print both.

Print just the pages you want, one themed set, or the whole pack on US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 inches), single-sided at Actual Size / 100%. The activities are black and white, the color cover is optional, and there are no blank backs in the files. Ordinary printer paper works well. These are ready-to-print PDFs, not editable templates, and answer keys are not included.

Copying permission: one household or one class or group

Your purchase includes permission to print and reprint for your own household or for one classroom, homeschool group, CCD/religious education class, or church group that you personally teach or lead.

Please do not share, resell, redistribute, or upload the digital files. Additional teachers, classrooms, or groups should purchase their own copy. This is permission for one class or group, rather than a school-wide or parish-wide license.

Find the Printable Catholic Advent Activity Pack on Etsy.

Prefer a book to keep beside the crayons?

If you would like a ready-to-use paperback, read about my Catholic Advent Activity Book for Children Ages 4–7 on Amazon. It brings the five Advent themes and their activities together in a bound book. The Etsy download is the option for choosing individual pages and printing copies within the permission described above.

For a book children can bring to Mass throughout the year, meet Louis and Lily in LOOK UP! at Mass. Its full-color activities invite children to use their fingers, eyes, and ears, then look up to discover what is happening in their own church.

My hope is that these Advent pages make room for little conversations, time together, and a growing love for Jesus—at the kitchen table or with the children you teach.

The same hope for little moments of faith and discovery inspired another of my books. Read how going to Mass with my grandchildren led to LOOK UP! at Mass with Louis and Lily.

With blessings,
Sandra
Sandra Rose Designs