Welcome to Thriving Family's 2011 Advent Activity Calendar!

This year, Advent begins on November 27 and lasts 28 days. Twenty-eight days is the longest time frame for any Advent calendar. The days of Advent are set each year by counting four Sundays back from Christmas day. That's why Advent varies in length from year to year.

This year, you get to choose how to use Thriving Family's 2011 Advent Activity Calendar in a way that best fits your family's lifestyle:

Advent calendar booklet in Thriving Family magazine (U.S. subscribers only) — digital version
Advent Activity Calendar on the Web
Advent Activity Calendar for your iPad
Facebook posts beginning November 27, the first day of Advent
Print version (text only)

And beginning November 27, U.S. subscribers can win great products by taking part in daily contests related to the Advent calendar.

Advent calendar booklet in Thriving Family magazine. Current U.S. subscribers will receive a full Advent calendar booklet in their December 2011 issue of Thriving Family. If you don't already have one, you can get a free subscription to this magazine for the coming year. If you don't have a subscription, you don't have to miss out on this booklet. Download the digital version.

Advent Activity Calendar for your iPad. You can download a free Thriving Family app. This iPad/SmartPhone subscription is free, and you will get the October/November 2011 issue and the Advent Activity Calendar. When other issues are available, the app will let you know.

Facebook posts. Both Facebook.com/ThrivingFamily and Facebook.com/FocusOnTheFamily will make daily activity posts so you have a reminder of what you can do with your children each day during Advent. Become a fan of either page and, beginning November 27, you'll find these daily reminders on Facebook. This is a great place to interact with other parents who are doing the same activities!

Advent Activity Calendar on the Web. Want to try something new? We have weekly Advent calendars. Instead of children opening an Advent calendar door each day, they can click on the "more" link for each date of the Advent calendar and find an activity that you can do together. These parent-child activities have been created to help you keep this Christmas season focused on Christ!

There are many ways for you and your family to keep your focus on Christ this Christmas. Don't miss out on this opportunity to explore the true meaning of Christmas and draw closer together as a family!