Teaching Your Kids the Spirit of Christmas

By Chris Kullstroem

Christmas time is the best time of year for children. Waiting up on Christmas Eve for Santa to bring presents is one of the best parts of the Christmas season. But if you want your kids to understand that there is more to Christmas than presents and toys, you can get them involved with some activities that teach them the true meaning of Christmas.

1. Get them involved with giving to charities. Working with your child, put together a box of donations for a charity in your area. Fill the box with canned foods, clothes, blankets, hats and mittens. Take your child with you to the shelter to donate your items.

2. Help them see that some people need help with their Christmas. Let your child pick out a toy or two to give to a charity collecting toys for children, or let them help to donate a hot meal to a charity that collects food for the less fortunate.

3. Work together on giving right in your own neighborhood. The two of you can put together a gift basket for your neighbor, one that you don’t know very well or who lives alone. Bake a cranberry bread or banana bread with your child along with some muffins or gingerbread men for a treat for your neighbor.

4. Work a charity drive. Sign your child and yourself up to volunteer one afternoon at a charity drive, soup kitchen or shelter. Invite your child to bring along a friend, as well.

Christmas time is the perfect time to teach your child about the kindness of giving. You’ll get to spend quality time with your child teaching them about the spirit of Christmas, perhaps starting a new holiday tradition for the two of you to share.