This cardboard roll advent wreath is a wonderful Christmas craft for kids to make at home or Sunday School. Children can light the cardboard candle with the paper flames each Sunday as they count down the weeks to Christmas.
See all of our Sunday School Christmas Crafts here.
What is an Advent Wreath?
An Advent Wreath is a Christian tradition symbolizing the passing of advent – the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
Nestled into the wreath are 4 candles (3 purple and 1 pink) which symbolize hope, love, peace and joy. A 5th candle sits in the center of the wreath. This candle represents Christ and the light that Jesus brings to the world.
On the first Sunday of Advent the first coloured candle is lit. Each Sunday after, another coloured candle is lit, with the white candle in the center being lit on Christmas Day.
Our Child-Friendly Advent Wreath
Our kid-friendly Advent wreath provides young children with a way to participate in the tradition with pretend cardboard candles they can “light” every Sunday as they man the lighting of the advent candles as they mark off the weeks leading to Christmas.
See all of our bible-based Christmas Crafts here.
Our wreath is comprised of a tissue paper base which mimics the look of an evergreen wreath, and cardboard roll candles topped with paper flames.
Have your children light a new candle each Sunday during the 4 weeks of Advent, and the 5th on Christmas Day.
You can read more about the purpose and meaning of the Advent wreath here.
Light the Advent Candles in this Order:
- Week 1: HOPE (purple candle)
- Week 2: LOVE (purple candle)
- Week 3: JOY (pink candle)
- Week 4: PEACE (purple candle)
- CHRISTMAS DAY: CHRIST (white candle)
You may also like our cardboard roll nativity set for preschoolers.
Cardboard Roll Advent Wreath Craft for Preschoolers
Supplies:
- piece of cardboard (for base of wreath)
- green and red tissue paper, cut into 3 inch squares
- 5 cardboard rolls
- paint (purple, pink and white)
- paintbrushes
- yellow and orange card stock or construction paper
- glue/glue gun
- scissors
Instructions:
How to Make a Cardboard Roll Advent Wreath
- Make Base
Cut a “donut” out of a piece of cardboard. Ours measures 10 inches across.
- Paint Cardboard Roll Candles
Paint three cardboard rolls purple, paint one pink and one white.
- Make Flames
Cut 5 flames out of orange card stock and 5 larger circles out of yellow card stock. Glue the orange flames to the yellow circles.
Cut 2 slits into the top of each cardboard roll. This is where you’ll insert the flames.
- Glue Candles to Wreath
Squeeze a bit of hot glue to the bottoms of the cardboard rolls, and glue them to the cardboard wreath in the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions). No glue is needed for the white candle as it will stand free in the cut out center of the wreath.
- Cover Wreath with Tissue Paper
Crumple the green tissue paper squares and glue them all over the cardboard base. Add a few crumpled pieces of red tissue paper (berries) here and there.
- Paint Words on Candles
With a fine liner brush and white paint, write the words HOPE, PEACE and LOVE on the purple candles, and JOY on the pink candle.
Place the white candle in the center and display your advent wreath on your family’s dinner table, a mantel or some other special place in your home or Sunday School classroom.
Each Sunday during the 4 weeks of advent, have your child put a paper flame into a candle to “light” it, and reflect together about what that candle symbolizes.
RELATED POSTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY:
- Cardboard Roll Menorah for Preschoolers
- Cardboard Roll Christmas Candles
- Tissue Paper Christmas Wreath
- Christmas Wreath Christmas Ornament
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
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