Hide and Seek; Find and Follow

Back in the spring I was trying to think of a fun way for families to focus on the real meaning of the season of Advent.  "Hide and Seek; Find and Follow" was born.  Families are invited to search for the star and follow it to the gift of Christmas, just like the Wise Men so long ago.

I asked a church member is he could cut out some wooden stars which were thick enough to stand on their own.  He created these using a cookie cutter as a pattern.  As families arrived, they were given a star an invited to paint and decorate it.  When the decorating was complete, I hot-glued a small clothespin to the back.  Each family was given a set of 30 note cards (3X5 cards cut in half) and an instruction sheet.

Here's how Hide and Seek; Find and Follow is played:  One family member writes a note with instructions for an activity which the family family can complete together.  (The instruction sheet listed 25 samples such as scriptures to read, singing a favorite Christmas carol as dinner grace, cleaning out closets and donating unused clothes to a local charity etc.) After the note is clipped on to the star, the star is placed somewhere in the home.  The next day, as family members go about their routine, they look for the star.  When the star is located, everyone gathers to read what they are to do together.  The person who finds the star hides it the next day.

Special thanks to my friend Ann Boles whose family Elf helped inspire this activity!

The boys and girls who made the stars were eager to share their unique ideas for tasks which will remind them of the good news of Christ Jesus.  They were not willing to share their ideas for hiding places!