23 Comments to “What are some ideas on how to keep my young children focused on Christmas being about Jesus?”
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Isis said:
On May 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Get a Christian Advent Calendar. each day you open a little window and get to tell them a part of the Bible story. There are little treats with each one too (make sure each kid gets one)
Julie F said:
On May 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Don’t put a big focus on Santa (but still a little bit just for fun). Make sure that your children understand that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because it is Jesus’ birthday.
nanny4hap said:
On May 24th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
GO TO A CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE FIND BOOKS THAT HAVE THE “JESUS” STORY. READ TO THEM OFTEN, TALK TO THEM. PUT UP A NATIVITY SET, TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT. DON’T BUY TONS OF GIFTS. MAYBE DONATE AND VOLUNTEER AT YOUR CHURCH AS A “GIFT” TO JESUS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY
lovktr said:
On May 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
read them the christmas story, take them to church services, mostly just communicate what you want them to know with your children and explain what is important.
girlisrad said:
On May 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Have a birthday party for Him! Bake a cake, sing Happy Birthday. Decorate with balloons and all the fun stuff! Not only will they enjoy it, they will be reminded what Christmas is!
Spencer K said:
On May 30th, 2008 at 8:36 am
take them to church, do bible studies, go christmas caroling.
pelenpuppy said:
On June 1st, 2008 at 10:10 am
Community service projects are the best way to get children to understand the world is not only about them. Take them to help feed the homeless, take them to the local orphanage and have them shop for children who leave their wish lists on the trees in the mall.
Take them to church, talk about the birth of Jesus, tell them why you celebrate the birth of Jesus. Talk to your friends and family about cutting down on gifts at Christmas and giving to the needy. Let your children know that Jesus was a wonderful man who helped the poor and downtrodden and it is your duty as a Christian to live your life in his image. Teach them what giving means and how they can celebrate the birth of Christ by helping others in need. Because that is what Jesus would do.
SweetOne said:
On June 3rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Do various activities with them… Read stories… Have them donate toys and food if you can… Explaine to them that this is what Jesus would want you to do… Just keep reinforcing it… They may be to young to understand now, but they will later… Just keep mentioning Jesus… Pray alot and not about what the kids want for x-mas but for ppl who don’t have… Just keep Jesus a focus… And have a Merry Christmas…
Rwebgirl said:
On June 6th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Take them to church and don’t overdo it on the presents!
jonjon418 said:
On June 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
No. Because Jesus isn’t the focus of the season, nor should he be. The holiday we celebrate as “Christmas” began as a pagan festival of the solstice, later was appropriated by the christians as the date of Jesus’ birth, in order to further meld the new religion with the other pagan cults from which it was drawn and against which it was still competing; now in recent centuries it’s devolved into a celebration of the new religion of capitalism, for which Santa is a much more appropriate figure than Jesus.
Now vote me down. I’m sorry, but these are the cold facts. “Jesus” is a myth suited to the deep-seated hopes and fears of adults, just as “Santa” is suited to the hopes and fears of children. “Be good for goodness’ sake!” Both are crutches for people who can’t be trusted to behave without some system of supernatural threats and rewards.
Shalom said:
On June 8th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
My folks would keep talking to us about it….that the season isn’t just about fun….they’d keep telling us abt its meaning. So in one way, I guess it kind of grows on you if you keep hearing it from childhood. They’d also tell us to look around….at ppl who were suffering, or are poor….tell us to be grateful for the fact that, while we’re not rich, we have enough for ourselves, that we could go to school, play etc…basically be thankful for small mercies.
Also, we’ve always spent Christmas with family….we’ve never partied or anything….so in that way, my folks led by example, or practicing what they preached….which I can tell you (from the point of view of someone who remembers being a kid) is very important: kids are much smarter than most ppl give them credit for, so if you say one thing and do something else, they’ll catch on to the fact tht ur just hot air & nothin else.
But its good to know u want ur kids to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas….so good luck, and Merry Christmas!!!
Jack said:
On June 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Point out Santa is an anagram of Satan.
If you want more evidence he is evil consider the fact he brakes into houses and likes children sitting on his knee.
d4cav_dragoons_wife84 said:
On June 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
We make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas day and when we decorate the tree we play Christmas songs by people like Mercy Me, Jars of Clay, Steven Curtis Chapmen, you know songs centered around the birth of Christ and we tend to keep Santa Clause out of the house. We don’t leave milk and cookies on Christmas Eve because our son knows that we give the gifts. We make our children aware of what other kids might be saying so they know what to expect from the world and we don’t look down on people who do Santa Clause, but we choose not to because he isn’t what Christmas is all about. We also have told our son right from the beginning about Jesus so he knows the true meaning behind the holiday. Volunteer at a homeless shelter to serve food or give gifts or go give gifts to sick kids in the hospiatl. Get them involved in christian based organizations that do charitable things for the less fortunate. It reiterates the giving part of Christmas just as Jesus was given for us. After all, Jesus was the best gift ever given!
rtrdnhppy said:
On June 13th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
The best way is to downplay gifts for them. Read them the story of the nativity, and explain that people give gifts at Christmas because the wise men brought gifts to Jesus. Then try focusing their attention on getting a gift for someone who needs it, and if they are old enough to grasp this concept, you are halfway there. Explain that they will get something, too, but that’s not what Christmas is all about. Take them to Christmas plays if possible, and put up a nativity scene in the house or yard. Keep focusing their attention on Jesus in the manger.
robin rmsclvr25 said:
On June 17th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Read them the Christmas Story in Luke in the bible. Show them a Nativity Scene if you have one, and go over each aspect of each figure in the Nativity Scene.
artimis said:
On June 19th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
My children know the story of Jesus’ birth and every year we retell it. In the days leading up to Christmas we talk about different aspects of the season. (the journey to Bethlehem, the wise men etc…)
I also remind my children that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday and the whole celebration surrounding it is like his birthday party. The presents given are like presents at a birthday party except that Jesus wants us to have them. (God gave his son…) It is also a time to follow his example– We can give gifts and food to the less fortunate.
My children are young so this has worked to keep him in their minds. As they get older I can explain further.
ballet girl said:
On June 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
i have grown up in a Jesus filled home
and every Christmas we read a book called:
jothoms journey
ore there are two others called:
Bartholomew’s passage
Tabbitha’s travels
all three of these are great books
they tell the story of Jesus as if you were there
some times kids get bored with reading the bible over and over again i know i did
so these books make it fun!!!
also kids love to decorate the Christmas tree
so have them make paper Christmas ornaments
that are all about Jesus
Barbi said:
On June 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
It might sound silly (I thought it was when I was younger), but we always had a birthday cake for Jesus. And yes, we did have to sing Happy Birthday to him.
I thought it was crazy back then, but now, I think it’s awesome. I am definitely making it a tradition in my home now that I have started my own family.
Teri E said:
On June 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I hear you! ! At this day and age it is so difficult to achieve that…
My suggestion would be to read lots of books about Jesus to them. There are so many children’s books out there on Jesus and Christmas. Go to your local Christian book store, and even the Dollar Tree, (if you have one), has great books on the subject.
That and going to church and talking with your pastor.
Every Christmas I like to read out of the Bible for my kids….
Good luck! !
CF_ said:
On June 24th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
you do realize that Christmas isnt really about Jesus dont you?? its actually a Pagan holiday that the early Christians tried to cover up.. all the traditions (from the tree to the gifts) have pagan origins.. look up SATURNALIA and you will learn the truth about Christmas.. heck Easter was a pagan holiday too.. for the Godess Eastre…
also Jesus was born March 17 and this has been proven… so ummm ya celebrate if you want to but learn the facts first…
IF you want the focus to be Jesus.. DONT give presents.. then the focus becomes GREED
Greg P said:
On June 27th, 2008 at 3:54 am
You think this is hard, try teaching kids Hannakuh isn’t Jewish Christmas .
Seriously though, taking him to services is one of the best things you can do. Also, although slightly a Jewish custom, consider, along with presents, making a donation to a charity.
disneychick said:
On June 27th, 2008 at 7:28 am
First thing we do is to keep the gifts to a minimum and ask our family to do the same for our 4 year old. She’s the only child in my family as well as my husband’s and her first Christmas was insane and she was only 2 months old. So we have to remind everyone to keep it in check or we’ll be opening presents for a week. Second thing we do is our advent calendar. A couple of years ago I made a manger out of Popsicle sticks, wrapped a little wooden figure in a piece of cloth, drew a little face on him, and put him in the manger. Next I got a piece of brown construction paper and wrote “For unto you in born this day, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11″ Glued a piece of ribbon to it so I could hang it on our Christmas tree, then at the bottom of the paper I numbered it 1-25 then cut in between the numbers, like a flyer on a bulletin board where you pull off the phone number to call about the advertisement. Every day before Christmas we pull off a piece of “hay” to put in the manger for baby Jesus to have a soft bed. Then after we sing Away in a Manger, my daughter kisses baby Jesus and puts him back in the manger on his soft “hay”. She looks forward to it every day and with the birthday party for Jesus they have in Sunday School, I think it really helps her to understand what Christmas is really about.
And to those who say that Christmas isn’t the time of year when Christ was actually born and it’s really a pagan holiday, that may be true, but it’s the time of year we stop and celebrate Jesus’ birth. Does it really matter when we celebrate as long as we celebrate? If you don’t believe, that is your choice and someday we will all have to answer for the choices we have made, but don’t spread hate and cynicism just because it isn’t something you choose to believe in. Merry Christmas!
party_pam said:
On June 27th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Make a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas day.
On May 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Get a Christian Advent Calendar. each day you open a little window and get to tell them a part of the Bible story. There are little treats with each one too (make sure each kid gets one)
On May 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Don’t put a big focus on Santa (but still a little bit just for fun). Make sure that your children understand that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because it is Jesus’ birthday.
On May 24th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
GO TO A CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE FIND BOOKS THAT HAVE THE “JESUS” STORY. READ TO THEM OFTEN, TALK TO THEM. PUT UP A NATIVITY SET, TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT. DON’T BUY TONS OF GIFTS. MAYBE DONATE AND VOLUNTEER AT YOUR CHURCH AS A “GIFT” TO JESUS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY
On May 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
read them the christmas story, take them to church services, mostly just communicate what you want them to know with your children and explain what is important.
On May 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Have a birthday party for Him! Bake a cake, sing Happy Birthday. Decorate with balloons and all the fun stuff! Not only will they enjoy it, they will be reminded what Christmas is!
On May 30th, 2008 at 8:36 am
take them to church, do bible studies, go christmas caroling.
On June 1st, 2008 at 10:10 am
Community service projects are the best way to get children to understand the world is not only about them. Take them to help feed the homeless, take them to the local orphanage and have them shop for children who leave their wish lists on the trees in the mall.
Take them to church, talk about the birth of Jesus, tell them why you celebrate the birth of Jesus. Talk to your friends and family about cutting down on gifts at Christmas and giving to the needy. Let your children know that Jesus was a wonderful man who helped the poor and downtrodden and it is your duty as a Christian to live your life in his image. Teach them what giving means and how they can celebrate the birth of Christ by helping others in need. Because that is what Jesus would do.
On June 3rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Do various activities with them… Read stories… Have them donate toys and food if you can… Explaine to them that this is what Jesus would want you to do… Just keep reinforcing it… They may be to young to understand now, but they will later… Just keep mentioning Jesus… Pray alot and not about what the kids want for x-mas but for ppl who don’t have… Just keep Jesus a focus… And have a Merry Christmas…
On June 6th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Take them to church and don’t overdo it on the presents!
On June 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
No. Because Jesus isn’t the focus of the season, nor should he be. The holiday we celebrate as “Christmas” began as a pagan festival of the solstice, later was appropriated by the christians as the date of Jesus’ birth, in order to further meld the new religion with the other pagan cults from which it was drawn and against which it was still competing; now in recent centuries it’s devolved into a celebration of the new religion of capitalism, for which Santa is a much more appropriate figure than Jesus.
Now vote me down. I’m sorry, but these are the cold facts. “Jesus” is a myth suited to the deep-seated hopes and fears of adults, just as “Santa” is suited to the hopes and fears of children. “Be good for goodness’ sake!” Both are crutches for people who can’t be trusted to behave without some system of supernatural threats and rewards.
On June 8th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
My folks would keep talking to us about it….that the season isn’t just about fun….they’d keep telling us abt its meaning. So in one way, I guess it kind of grows on you if you keep hearing it from childhood. They’d also tell us to look around….at ppl who were suffering, or are poor….tell us to be grateful for the fact that, while we’re not rich, we have enough for ourselves, that we could go to school, play etc…basically be thankful for small mercies.
Also, we’ve always spent Christmas with family….we’ve never partied or anything….so in that way, my folks led by example, or practicing what they preached….which I can tell you (from the point of view of someone who remembers being a kid) is very important: kids are much smarter than most ppl give them credit for, so if you say one thing and do something else, they’ll catch on to the fact tht ur just hot air & nothin else.
But its good to know u want ur kids to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas….so good luck, and Merry Christmas!!!
On June 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Point out Santa is an anagram of Satan.
If you want more evidence he is evil consider the fact he brakes into houses and likes children sitting on his knee.
On June 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
We make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas day and when we decorate the tree we play Christmas songs by people like Mercy Me, Jars of Clay, Steven Curtis Chapmen, you know songs centered around the birth of Christ and we tend to keep Santa Clause out of the house. We don’t leave milk and cookies on Christmas Eve because our son knows that we give the gifts. We make our children aware of what other kids might be saying so they know what to expect from the world and we don’t look down on people who do Santa Clause, but we choose not to because he isn’t what Christmas is all about. We also have told our son right from the beginning about Jesus so he knows the true meaning behind the holiday. Volunteer at a homeless shelter to serve food or give gifts or go give gifts to sick kids in the hospiatl. Get them involved in christian based organizations that do charitable things for the less fortunate. It reiterates the giving part of Christmas just as Jesus was given for us. After all, Jesus was the best gift ever given!
On June 13th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
The best way is to downplay gifts for them. Read them the story of the nativity, and explain that people give gifts at Christmas because the wise men brought gifts to Jesus. Then try focusing their attention on getting a gift for someone who needs it, and if they are old enough to grasp this concept, you are halfway there. Explain that they will get something, too, but that’s not what Christmas is all about. Take them to Christmas plays if possible, and put up a nativity scene in the house or yard. Keep focusing their attention on Jesus in the manger.
On June 17th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Read them the Christmas Story in Luke in the bible. Show them a Nativity Scene if you have one, and go over each aspect of each figure in the Nativity Scene.
On June 19th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
My children know the story of Jesus’ birth and every year we retell it. In the days leading up to Christmas we talk about different aspects of the season. (the journey to Bethlehem, the wise men etc…)
I also remind my children that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday and the whole celebration surrounding it is like his birthday party. The presents given are like presents at a birthday party except that Jesus wants us to have them. (God gave his son…) It is also a time to follow his example– We can give gifts and food to the less fortunate.
My children are young so this has worked to keep him in their minds. As they get older I can explain further.
On June 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
i have grown up in a Jesus filled home
and every Christmas we read a book called:
jothoms journey
ore there are two others called:
Bartholomew’s passage
Tabbitha’s travels
all three of these are great books
they tell the story of Jesus as if you were there
some times kids get bored with reading the bible over and over again i know i did
so these books make it fun!!!
also kids love to decorate the Christmas tree
so have them make paper Christmas ornaments
that are all about Jesus
On June 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
It might sound silly (I thought it was when I was younger), but we always had a birthday cake for Jesus. And yes, we did have to sing Happy Birthday to him.
I thought it was crazy back then, but now, I think it’s awesome. I am definitely making it a tradition in my home now that I have started my own family.
On June 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I hear you! ! At this day and age it is so difficult to achieve that…
My suggestion would be to read lots of books about Jesus to them. There are so many children’s books out there on Jesus and Christmas. Go to your local Christian book store, and even the Dollar Tree, (if you have one), has great books on the subject.
That and going to church and talking with your pastor.
Every Christmas I like to read out of the Bible for my kids….
Good luck! !
On June 24th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
you do realize that Christmas isnt really about Jesus dont you?? its actually a Pagan holiday that the early Christians tried to cover up.. all the traditions (from the tree to the gifts) have pagan origins.. look up SATURNALIA and you will learn the truth about Christmas.. heck Easter was a pagan holiday too.. for the Godess Eastre…
also Jesus was born March 17 and this has been proven… so ummm ya celebrate if you want to but learn the facts first…
IF you want the focus to be Jesus.. DONT give presents.. then the focus becomes GREED
On June 27th, 2008 at 3:54 am
You think this is hard, try teaching kids Hannakuh isn’t Jewish Christmas
.
Seriously though, taking him to services is one of the best things you can do. Also, although slightly a Jewish custom, consider, along with presents, making a donation to a charity.
On June 27th, 2008 at 7:28 am
First thing we do is to keep the gifts to a minimum and ask our family to do the same for our 4 year old. She’s the only child in my family as well as my husband’s and her first Christmas was insane and she was only 2 months old. So we have to remind everyone to keep it in check or we’ll be opening presents for a week. Second thing we do is our advent calendar. A couple of years ago I made a manger out of Popsicle sticks, wrapped a little wooden figure in a piece of cloth, drew a little face on him, and put him in the manger. Next I got a piece of brown construction paper and wrote “For unto you in born this day, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11″ Glued a piece of ribbon to it so I could hang it on our Christmas tree, then at the bottom of the paper I numbered it 1-25 then cut in between the numbers, like a flyer on a bulletin board where you pull off the phone number to call about the advertisement. Every day before Christmas we pull off a piece of “hay” to put in the manger for baby Jesus to have a soft bed. Then after we sing Away in a Manger, my daughter kisses baby Jesus and puts him back in the manger on his soft “hay”. She looks forward to it every day and with the birthday party for Jesus they have in Sunday School, I think it really helps her to understand what Christmas is really about.
And to those who say that Christmas isn’t the time of year when Christ was actually born and it’s really a pagan holiday, that may be true, but it’s the time of year we stop and celebrate Jesus’ birth. Does it really matter when we celebrate as long as we celebrate? If you don’t believe, that is your choice and someday we will all have to answer for the choices we have made, but don’t spread hate and cynicism just because it isn’t something you choose to believe in. Merry Christmas!
On June 27th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Make a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas day.