If we’re not careful, Christmas can easily become about what we receive, rather than what’s truly important. For me, it’s crucial that my family focuses on spending time with loved ones, sharing gratitude, giving thoughtful gifts, and helping those less fortunate during the holidays. As my kids get older, I’ve tried to find creative ways to teach them about the joy of Christmas.
In our family, we keep Christmas simple by giving just one gift to each person. We also enjoy celebrating Advent, which is a time of waiting and preparation for Christmas. Another tradition we have is celebrating St. Nicholas Day on December 6, honoring the real person who helped brighten the holidays for those in his community.
When my children are grown, I want them to remember all the fun we had together during the holidays, rather than the presents they got or didn’t get. I also want them to have a strong sense of helping others because we already have so much. It’s important to me that we share the joy of Christmas with others.
Teaching my kids about Christmas joy involves a mix of family traditions and actions to spread holiday cheer. One of my favorite ways to encourage this is by having them perform random acts of kindness. Instead of the Elf on the Shelf, we have a Christmas Angel who visits during Advent, suggesting ways they can help someone each day. This inspires my kids to spread love and kindness to others.
Even without a Christmas Angel, you can still do nice things for others. There are many charts on Pinterest that offer great ideas for spreading joy, or you can create your own list of special activities. It’s a fun way to get your kids involved.
Here are some small but meaningful ways to spread holiday joy that we’ve enjoyed in the past:
Another tradition we love is being a Secret Santa for a family in need. We reach out to a local church or shelter to find families who could use some holiday cheer. We get a wish list, go shopping for presents, and deliver gifts along with some food for meals and gift cards. Even without seeing the recipients’ reactions, this experience teaches my kids the joy of giving.
For older kids, volunteering is a fantastic way to spread Christmas joy. In our community, many organizations hold toy or jacket drives, and you can help with organizing donations or assisting during the event. Volunteering at a food bank is another great option; sorting and organizing food donations can be a rewarding family activity. You could even turn it into a scavenger hunt by gathering canned goods from neighbors to donate.
Creating homemade gifts for loved ones is also a wonderful way to learn about Christmas joy. We enjoy getting creative and crafting special items for grandparents, neighbors, and each other, which teaches kids to consider others’ preferences and pour love into their creations.
We love using eco-friendly wrapping paper, made from materials around our house such as old newspapers or butcher paper. Kids can draw or paint on the paper, creating unique and personal gift wrap.
During downtime before and after the holidays, we engage in festive activities like crafting or viewing Christmas lights while sipping hot cocoa. We’ve also created Christmas decorations like salt-dough ornaments and natural garlands, which brighten our home and teach the joy of creating together.
One of our favorite family traditions is spending Christmas day in pajamas. We open presents, hang out, play games, bake cookies, or watch movies, sometimes with neighbors or friends joining in. We also set aside time to go through our belongings, choosing items to donate to others who might need them, reinforcing the spirit of giving.
Creating traditions that bring joy to the Christmas season helps plan special times together. Consider what your city offers during the holidays or how you’ve spent time with family in the past. Teaching our kids the joy of Christmas shows them that the holiday is about more than just gifts. It’s about caring for others and creating lasting traditions, demonstrating there’s more to life than material things.
How do you teach your children the joy of Christmas? What are some ways you give back? What are your favorite holiday traditions?
