December is here and there will be the buzz of activities that come with the Christmas season. The flow of hampers will soon start, schools will hold Christmas plays, bazaars, and carols. Christmas is mostly about giving and receiving gifts, parties, and food. This season has become quite commercial but it is possible to celebrate Christmas with children and focus less on presents.
Here are our top 5 tips on how to celebrate christmas differently this year
- Focus on Giving – There are so many people who do not have enough to eat or drink during this festive season. You can focus on giving to people around you instead of focusing on buying more things. Consider your domestic staff, consider the orphanages and other less privileged people. Christmas is a season of giving and you can start teaching your children to care about other people around them. I like to have the children pick out toys that we can give to orphanages in our neighborhood.
- Be Thankful – This is a great time to practice being thankful. You know the song “count your blessings, name them one by one”? There are so many things to be thankful for and rather than ask for more or focus on what they don’t have, encourage them to be thankful this season. Make it a date to sit and discuss all the things that God has blessed you and your family with this year.
- Goal Setting – Focusing on goals is a good way to plan for the next year. There is a difference between new year resolutions and goal setting. Goal setting is more deliberate and it is about deciding what every member of the family wants to achieve and then set specific steps to achieve them. Children will do so well to learn about goal setting early with your help.
- Spend Time Together – The average family spends very little quality time together between the time spent apart at school and work, plus the various social events. Older children will be on holiday and want to hang out with their friends, social events will pile up. Make it a priority to spend time together as a family this season. Do things that you enjoy together, perhaps start a family tradition you will all look forward to.
- HomeMade Gifts – We mentioned giving to the needy earlier. Christmas is about giving and showing love but rather than buying store presents you can encourage children to make gifts themselves. They can be encouraged to make home made cards, sing Christmas carols onto a cd, bake cookies or find other creative ways to make gifts for loved ones. It is the thought that counts.
As we celebrate Christmas this season, focus on making it about love, sharing and caring. Let us remember the reason for the season, the “Christ” in Christmas!
How To Celebrate Christmas With The Children Click To Tweet
Are there some other ways that you celebrate Christmas?
