Jesus is the Reason for the Season

You've heard it before - - and you've been searching for ways to instill this in your children.  Well, look no further!  Here are some ideas of how you can keep Christ the center of Christmas!!

Make a Birthday cake for Jesus

• Here are some ideas for your birthday cake
• Put a candle in your normal Christmas morning breakfast and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus - - an easier way to celebrate during the craziness of the Christmas season

 

Read the Christmas story from the Bible (Luke 2) before opening any presents

 

Make an Advent Calendar together to be used every year. This is a set of things to read/do each day of December leading up to Christmas. Make them Christ-centered!

 

Put up a nativity set

• For younger kids: use toys!!  Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set
• Make a felt one for the wall, kids can peel off and put back up
• Gingerbread Nativity instead of a gingerbread house
• Simple Cardboard Nativity
• Recycled Nativity
• Dress-Up Nativity
• Nativity ABC Matching Game
• Try a printable nativity set that your kids can color
• Make these blocks!
• Magnetic Nativity (DIY)

Christmas Activities

• Click here for Christmas counting activities and an ABC book

 Do a service project together

• Have your kids give away ten gently used toys
• Homeless Blessing Bags
• Sing Christmas carols at a nursing home
• Ring bells for the Salvation Army (sign up at church this weekend!!)
• Host a Christmas dinner for a few people from the church
• Send Christmas cards to the military overseas
• Leave a Christmas card and small treat for your mailcarrier
• Pay for someone else at a restaurant
• Donate books to your local library, or to our Rest Area (as long as they're Jesus-related)
• Donate coats to Goodwill or Salvation Army
• Invite someone to join you for your Christmas feast who might not have somewhere to go otherwise
• Give a gift to Jesus

When decorating the tree, hang hand-made and other sentimental ornaments that show kids that they are a part of the Christmas story.  Talk to them about how other people might not know the true meaning of Christmas.  What can you do to help them?

 Decorate Christmas cookies to be baby Jesus, manger, angel, etc. that have to do with the true Christmas story!

Do you have any other ideas for us?  Share them here!!