How to Teach Children Christmas Spirit

Most people love the Christmas season, children especially. It's hard for them not to be greedy when relatives keep asking them to name the toys and electronics they want. The true spirit of Christmas, the birth of Christ, the heart-warming feeling of giving to those not as fortunate as themselves, and just being kind to one another, gets overlooked. Parents and adults can teach kids the true Christmas spirit without removing the gift-giving factor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Practice what you preach. Children watch your actions and day to day interactions even more than they listen to your words. If you show the true Christmas spirit--gratitude, charity, faith and forgiveness--in front of them in your daily routine, so will they, even when you are not around.

2. Talk with your family, not at them, about what Christmas means to each one of them personally. Some may speak of faith, others the warm feeling of being together as a family, and others just dig the gifts. There is no wrong answer, as it is what they truly feel, and it gives you an idea of what to emphasize.

3. Spend some time volunteering with your family. Helping serve food at the local church soup kitchen or sorting donations at a Christmas donation center is a great way to show your own children that some people are not as fortunate as they are.

4. Include the kids, young and old in the decorating and celebrating traditions. Letting them take part allows them enjoy the events rather than dreading something else they can't partake in.

5. Tell the children your view on the true Christmas spirit and then have them make a list of what they are grateful for before making the list of what they want for Christmas and have everyone can share both lists over hot cocoa or dinner. Say a prayer together at the end of the evening or event; it is the perfect way to wrap it up. This is a great tradition to start as soon as the children are talking.

6. Show your true Christmas spirit to those you know and love. Invite family, friends and neighbors, especially those who don't have anyone to spend the holidays with, for a potluck to celebrate the good fortune of being in each others lives. No gifts are necessary to show your love and appreciation for these good people.

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[moneylover]

on 3/8/2008 Christmas is not about giving.Only poor people volunteer.Who cares about anyone other than your spouse and kids.The point of christmas is to exchange gifts and get them!!!!

[joyjohnson]

on 9/11/2007 The TRUE meaning of Christmas is in it's pagan roots. Neither Jesus, nor the disciples, or any 1st century Christians celebrated Jesus' birth (early Christians banned it). In fact, the Bible does not state when Jesus' birth was (it was definetly not in Winter), nor does it tell us to commemorate it. Not until hundreds of years after Jesus was on this earth did people began to do so. In an effort to convert pagans, religious leaders adopted December 25th (as it was the date of the ancient Roman pagan festival of Saturnellia celebrating the return of the sun and the sun god's birthday) as the day of Jesus' birth (the son "sun" of man). They hoped to "Christianize" this pagan holiday. Many of the pagan traditions, though, survived. The Christmas tree, giving of gifts, and the yule log to name a few. Even Santa Clause is a combination of a Catholic saint and a pagan Norse god - Ogden.