Families have lots of different Christmas traditions, and these are good things to have. They help the family establish a rhythm and build memories together. As you spend time with your kids this Christmas, realize that more important than the toys will be the experiences. More memorable than the gifts will be the time you share with your kids. And because many parents have some extra days off work around Christmas, it is a great season to spend time with and pour memories into your kids.
Over the last two years, we have found several activities we enjoy with our kids and this Christmas will be no exception. Here are a few you may want to consider:
- Make s’mores: This will be our third year to make s’mores around a campfire on Christmas Eve, and the kids are excited about the time together.
- Watch a family Christmas movie: We pick out a few kids Christmas movies ranging from Frosty the Snowman, to Boz, to stories about the birth of Jesus.
- Read the Christmas story: We read the Christmas story each year as a family before we open gifts and remind ourselves that Jesus gave Himself for us. This year, The Gospel Project for Kids Family App is a real blessing in teaching our kids the gift of Jesus.
- Attend church together: We look forward to singing, reading Scripture, and reflecting on the Incarnation alongside our church family.
- Go look at Christmas lights: We drive around and look at lights together. The kids love it.
- Attend a local event: We try and find a fun Christmas event in the city. This year, we will be hitting the Opryland Hotel for some kids events, and I am taking Eden to see The Nutcracker.
- Serve someone else: We try and serve someone else, with our kids, in a tangible way each Christmas season. This year we are serving lunch and decorating cookies on Christmas Day with some elderly folks in an assisted living/ Alzheimer’s home down the street from where we live.
So, build some meaningful memories with your kids this Christmas and establish some traditions they may carry on in their own families. You’ll find it is time well spent.
