6 Ways to Teach Your Kids the True Meaning of Christmas
Admittedly, I totally saw this coming.
Christmas, that is.
Hobby Lobby, at some locations, started decking their shelves in mid-July.
Yes, you could pick up yuletide décor in shorts and flip-flops before you’d even thought about whether your son would be Spiderman or Chase from Paw Patrol on Halloween.
So, I can’t explain how Christmas has crept up on me this year. The season is a bit shorter, with a late Thanksgiving. Still, whatever the cause, here we are in the twinkle-lit chaos of one of the busiest seasons for American moms like us. We juggle our hopes, plans, shopping, and the unexpected throughout the season to create a wonderfully warm and memorable family holiday.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas season, and throughout my kids’ lives, I’ve watched them experience the wonder, the joy, and the magic of the season. It’s easy in the craziness to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, though. And if we moms lose that true north, what about our kids?
The holiday takes on a decidedly more grounded, peaceful feel when we stop, take a deep breath, and remember the most essential part of our celebration.
Jesus.
God came to save humanity, humbling Himself to become one of us, starting out just as each of us did – as a baby. If you really stop and ponder that – it’s astounding.
So how can we ensure our children don’t miss it amid holiday hubbub? Elves on shelves, gifts, and wish lists understandably draw them to the commercial side of the festivities. With some creativity and intentionality, you can cast a vision of that first Christmas for your family that could be unforgettable. That’s why we’re sharing six ways to teach your kids the true meaning of Christmas.
1. Bring Bethlehem to Life at Home
The nativity story is the MVP in the long list of Christmas activities, thoughts, and themes. Remember what Linus said after reading that beautiful account in Luke? “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” We couldn’t agree more.
Reading the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20 is standard for many families. We share it in church, Sunday school, or around the tree. To bring that world-changing story to life for your kids, why not add creativity by hosting your own private family Christmas pageant.
Give each child a role (or let them choose), then narrate the story as everyone acts it out. Even the dog could be a sheep or a donkey – the kids will never forget it. You may not have the number of family members to create an entire cast, so maybe Dad is the innkeeper and a shepherd.
Plan it. Think construction paper, tape, bathrobes, towels, and pillowcases. Before you know it, you’ll have Bethlehem-style garb and multi-colored crowns for your wise men. Will your kitchen serve as the overbooked inn? Could your den be the stable? Or maybe the garage? It could be a way to illustrate the difficult setting of baby Jesus’ birth.
You could do this in a million ways – give the kids some creative license. Read and re-read the story so they can help you plan it out, and then set up your phone to video the whole thing for posterity. You will thank me when your five-year-old turns 15.
2. Sights, Sounds, and Smells – A Sensory Christmas Story
Another creative way to experience that passage in Luke is to invite your kids to use their senses to illustrate it.
In our modern comfort, it’s hard to grasp what it might’ve been like thousands of years ago in ancient Israel. Leaning into ideas of sight, smell, touch, and hearing, dig into the Christmas story together in a new way. You could do this after dinner at the table once a week or shorten it for a one-time experience.
For this, quiet works best. No music or distractions.
Start with Luke 2:1-5, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”
Prepare in advance to discuss it by finding out how many miles the couple likely traveled (about 90). Imagine what that might’ve been like. Think of the smell of the donkey, the tired feelings a pregnant woman might have, the dust and dirtiness of a walk that may have taken four or more days if they walked eight hours a day. Have everyone close their eyes as you tell about the aching muscles and weary trek. Was the sun hot? Was the wind cold? Do an internet search to glean more details and help your family picture it in their minds. Then, tell the story in a whole new way – but don’t just talk – ask questions, inviting your kids to imagine the scene for themselves.
Next, take verses six and seven, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
This is a good opportunity for Mom to share with everyone. What would it have been like to have a baby (not the details, of course) in a dirty barn and to set the baby wrapped in cloths, possibly into a bed of rough straw in an animal feeding trough? What was it like for baby Jesus compared to your kids’ snuggly beds. What was the smell of a place where animals were kept? Was it something like the stench of the giraffe or monkey house at your local zoo or a barn at a nearby farm? Think of things your kids can relate to and allow time for them to picture it. Let them make comments and ask questions.
Then, when you get to the following passage about the shepherds and the angel of the Lord appearing, picture how dark and quiet it was before the brightest light ever seen at night caused those poor shepherds to fear and panic because what they saw just wasn’t possible. Were they rubbing their eyes? Were they shaking? You get the idea. Help your family “see”, “hear” and experience the story more vividly by engaging their imaginations.
It casts a new light on the shiny, clean nativity carefully arranged in your living room.
3.Faith-Forward Christmas Movie Fun
You’re probably already watching Christmas movies – Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, and around our house, a handful from Hallmark and Great American Christmas. Why not take one night a week during the season to enjoy a faith-based title pointing to the advent of Christ?
Pop some popcorn, throw marshmallows into your hot chocolate, and settle in for a faith-based flick. Be sure to consider the age of your children as you choose, then let the fun begin. After it’s over, take a few minutes after to talk about the movie together. What did each family member like about it? Was anything unexpected? Do you think it accurately portrayed history or a more creative retelling of the nativity? Or was it simply a faith-affirming story?
Here are a few to consider:
Journey to Bethlehem
A Charlie Brown Christmas
I Heard the Bells
The Star
The Nativity Story
The Christmas Candle
The Ultimate Gift
The Little Drummer Boy
Veggie Tales: The Best Christmas Gift
Saving Christmas
Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers
Note: If you aren’t familiar with some of these, take a moment to Google each movie trailer to see if it looks like something your family will enjoy. Also, check out movie reviews on PluggedIn.com to decide if they are age-appropriate for your kiddos.
4. Give and Serve Together
Look for opportunities to serve as a family. Jesus came to the world in a most unwelcoming environment. When you serve, you are not just blessing the individual but honoring God.
It could be as personal as helping a neighbor who is all alone this Christmas. Get the kids involved by providing gifts, maybe some goodies, and you could even invite the person to join you for your Christmas Eve service and dinner.
When we can, our family serves at our church’s annual event called “Giving Hope.” Families in need throughout our community can “shop” for gifts for their families. The goods provided, of course, are all free, and shopping carts overflowing with gifts are taken to wrapping stations. Other church members load them into their cars so that they can surprise their children on Christmas morning. The setting is festive and honoring – with each parent as they wait to shop, hosted by caring congregants in a bedecked lounge area with tables and chairs, Christmas music, and complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies. I’m not one of the organizers, merely a volunteer; however, whoever plans this each year deserves a tip of my Santa hat.
Does your church host something for the community – a living nativity, carols at a local retirement center, or a Christmas concert? Is there a way your family can plug in? It’s a hands-on experience to help our kids see service as a joy and people as beloved. Which they are.
5. Homemade Nativities and Christmas Creativity
We shared this in a previous blog, but it’s one of my favorite projects we undertook when our kids were younger. Gathered around our table, our family created our own nativity out of clay. Each of us, from youngest to oldest, crafted different parts of the nativity out of modeling clay. The artistic skill ranged from pretty good to “uh-oh,” with a sheep and a wise man looking a little alien-like (thanks to our then-four-year-old). It brought laughter, fun, memories – and a discussion of all the characters present at the first Christmas. It also proved to be a wonderful focal point of our décor that year.
Plenty of other ideas include angel crafts, paintings, baking a birthday cake for Jesus, and a thousand other Pinterest-worthy artistic endeavors. Most importantly, in the flurry of creativity, host an ongoing conversation about the art and its significance.
God is the ultimate craftsman – having fashioned our entire universe – so when you get the creative juices flowing in your family, you are also celebrating a gift straight from the creative hand of God.
6. Christmas Eve Celebration
Christmas Eve is the perfect time to refocus the family on the birth of our Savior. Many enjoy reading the Christmas story in the glow of the tree just before bed. Others attend candlelight services at church together or host family gatherings.
Whatever you do, take a moment to go around your table and talk about what you are each grateful for this year. It’s a Thanksgiving tradition that is appropriate all year long, especially as you celebrate the greatest gift of all.
Before the packages are ripped open and stockings emptied on Christmas morning, consider making Christmas Eve a time of reflection for your family.
Anchoring your family’s Christmas to the central figure of the holiday, Jesus Christ is one way to take the crazy and the chaos down a notch or two – while bringing joy and peace to the center of your celebration.
Podcast Note: In the spirit of the season, we spoke with our dear friend Sam Sorbo on this week’s podcast about the Christmas 40 Days Devotional that she and her husband, Kevin, wrote together. She also shared exciting details of her brand-new Parents’ Guide to Homeschooling. You won’t want to miss her thoughtful insights and ideas.
***
