How To Teach Your Children the Value of Christmas Spirit

Christmas is all about gifts, right? That’s what any child would say. But at these formative years, it is essential to teach them Christmas is about giving gifts as much as it is about getting them. Also, as a parent, you have a sweet challenge coming your way: teaching your kids what makes this season a period of joy, family bonding and keeping the traditions alive.

So, here are essential ways to help your children cultivate Christmas spirit.

Help your children understand not everyone is as privileged to have the perfect Christmas as they are.

The first step to raise their awareness about this issue is to openly talk about it.

Let them know some people will spend Christmas in the streets, some of them don’t have a family to share the Christmas joy with. Even some children, possibly in their environment, can only dream of gifts they really want.

Let them know Christmas is the perfect time to help those people.

Here are some ways you can include your children in helping:

• Volunteer as a family.
  Local homeless shelters, orphanages and other institutions helping people in need could always use a helping hand, especially during holidays.
• Donate presents.
  When you go shopping, ask your kids to help you choose some extra items and arrange them in little gifts you will later donate to people in need.
• Donate money.
  Find a local charity or a website where you can donate money intended for Christmas gifts for people of different needs.
• Organize a charity event.
  You can initiate a charity in your community. If your child knows someone from school lives in difficult conditions, maybe you can host a charity event at their school.
• Donate clothes and toys. Your child probably has a lot of clothes that don’t fit them or toys they don’t play with anymore. Choose the items together, donate them, and you will make someone’s Christmas.

Insist giving is important and it doesn’t have to cost a thing.

Your children may be too young to have their own money. Their piggy bank might still be too modest to provide your child with gifts for everyone. Yet, there are ways they can give gifts, and you are the one who should encourage them to do so.

Here are some suggestions:

• Inspire them to craft their gifts.
  See what kind of craft supplies you have around your house, do some googling and introduce your children to some creative ideas. Inspire them and help them to make some unique presents for the entire family and their friends. If you find some crafts that are also practical, you’ve hit the bingo.
• Create DIY cards.
  Even a simply drawn card can be precious to those who receive it. Inspire your child to get artsy, write some beautiful Christmas wishes and send it out to your relatives.
• Encourage your kids to share food.
  During the holidays, we all usually cook and bake more than our family can actually eat. If your kid is going on a playdate, encourage them to bring some of those delicious cookies and share them with their friends.

Establish family traditions.

When it comes to family holiday traditions, the sky is the limit.
Any activity that feels right for your family can become a beautiful tradition your children will teach their children one day.

In case you need some ideas to expand your holiday to-do list, here are some suggestions:

• Read by the Christmas tree. If you also have a fireplace, you got yourself a holiday idyll. Find some classical Christmas fairy tales, equip with cookies, turn on the Christmas lights, and enjoy the magic of holiday literature.
• Organize a movie marathon. Christmas films are fun even if you watch the same films year after year. Almost every family does it, it doesn’t seem like anything special, yet, it can be if you make it so.
• Sing Christmas carols in your neighborhood. I know this tradition seems a bit outdated, yet, it is virtually magical. For me, it is the very essence of bonding in the community during the Christmas season. The chances are you will meet some new great people living near you!

You should have in mind that every Christmas is a little investment in your children’s future. The way they spend their Christmas today will probably model the way they will spend every next Christmas, so make sure to insist on teaching them what Christmas spirit should really imply beyond getting gifts.

How do you help your children understand Christmas spirit better? If you have an interesting Christmas tradition, feel free to join the discussion in the comments!