Does Christmas seem to bring out the “gimmies” in your children? Have coveting and selfishness turned your little angels into green-eyed grinches? Are you disgusted with the attitudes you see, and wondering how you can encourage thankfulness, thoughtfulness, unselfishness and generosity in them?
These ten suggestions helped in our home when raising our now-grown grinches ”angels.”
1) Train your children to say, “Thank you.” (If they add “Ma’am” or “Sir”–even better!)
2) Train them to write thank you notes for gifts and kindness. Be an example, sending them as soon as possible. (The etiquette books say within 24 hours–writing the note within a day or two, while the gift or event is fresh in your mind, is helpful.)
3) As a family, be generous. Give homemade gifts, gifts of your time, the gift of your thoughts, the gift of prayer. When someone’s on your mind, mention it; when you receive a prayer request, gather your family to pray with you right away; have your children help make and wrap gifts, and take your children along when you visit or serve someone.
4) Be a contagious example of thankfulness and thoughtfulness.
5) Keep Christ in Christmas. Read books and stories about Jesus’ birth; listen to Christmas hymns. Buy a Nativity set that younger children can play with. Place it in a central location in your home.
6) Pare down your traditions, keeping those which turn your attention to the real meaning of Christmas. Which ones will you be able to continue until they’re grown? You’ll find it easier to continue traditions that are simple, inexpensive and can be done in your home. Start and keep just a few which produce family togetherness and that are spiritually meaningful.
- Read inspirational stories whose main characters are Godly; that have a moral lesson; that have characters without much of worldly wealth, but who display deep joy and love; which inspire your children to higher and better things. Scan the thrift stores for older Ideals books and Christmas collections of heart-warming short stories.
- Serve, visit, or make cookies for someone who is alone or away from home and family. Invite them to your home for dinner. Share one thing you’re thankful for, or ask them to share about a favorite Christmas when they were a child. Your busy home may cheer them.
- Go caroling as a family in your neighborhood or to a nursing home (get another family or two to join you).
- Host a Christmas Evangelistic Tea or Dessert (children can help prepare food and decorate, play instrumental music, act out or read the Christmas story, and serve guests).
7) As a family, simplify. Make great Christmas memories enjoying simple pleasures together:
- Turn off the TV. Leave a jigsaw puzzle up. Play a game.
- Take time off from Homeschooling, if at all possible, or plan your Christmas preparations to fit into your “school” day.
- Prepare and freeze meals for simplified suppers and additional family time.
- Buy gifts online, or make them, and stay out of stores. Throw away most of the catalogs before they come in the door, especially the Christmas toy catalog. Billions are spent yearly to make you covet and “need” what they’re selling. Take the focus off the gifts your children are going to receive (idea: give them a book, a game or toy, and a pair of pajamas) and focus on what they will give! Talk and think about how to bless others.
Train your children early in life to give gifts to grandparents and special people in their lives. Handmade gifts such as drawings, Bible verses written in their best handwriting, and treats they helped to make, are appreciated.
Character Corner: Have a “Gift Shelf” (a container or shelf filled with inexpensive gifts such as note cards, candy and other small items you’ve purchased on sale throughout the year) from which your children can shop for gifts with money or tickets “earned” by doing extra jobs or memorizing Bible verses.
9) As a family, memorize Bible verses which express gratitude and praise, such as Psalm 105:1-2:
“O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
10) Through books, videos and real people, fill your children’s lives with companions and role models who demonstrate gratitude, generosity and contentment.
Character Corner: During December, write down one thing each person (even the youngest) is thankful for each day. Older children can theme theirs, “Because Christ was born, I’m thankful for…” Write them in a pretty Christmas notebook and leave it sitting out. Set aside a time to share each day or once a week. Add to your thankfulness notebook each year–it will become a treasure as your children mature and their thankfulness grows!
By Wendy Gunn (Faith’s Firm Foundation)
If you haven’t gotten your copy yet of Truth in the Tinsel , it’s not too late. I cannot recommend this e-book enough! And at only $4.99 you can’t beat the price!
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I love the gift shelf idea!!! Thanks for sharing this, Wendy.
Great reminders, Wendy. Thanks for posting! And best wishes to you and your family for a joyous and meaningful Christmas season.