After our Santa discussion this week, it got us thinking – what resources are out there to help us focus our kids on the real meaning of Christmas? How do we center our kids, our families, and US on Christ this Christmas?
So we made a list of what we personally use and what some of our mama friends use. This list is not meant for you to feel any guilt if you don’t do any of these suggestions; they are just resources if you are looking for ways to keep your family focused on Christ this Christmas.
FOR MAMAS
We have put together a devotional for busy moms to take a couple of minutes out of their busy day and focus on inviting God into their days. To get the devotional and save it to your phone, go here. We will be sharing more of what we are learning and how it relates to Christmas on our Facebook and Instagram pages starting on Monday!
MOVIES
- Take your children to go see The Star Movie. It is fabulous!!
- Gigi God’s Little Christmas – Dreaming of a Pink Christmas: A Lesson About the Real Treasure of Christmas
- Miss Patty Cake’s Christmas
- Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas
- Owlegories: The Gift and The Star (featuring Jennie Allen)
- A Wowiebozowee Christmas
BOOKS for KIDS
- Truth in the Tinsel – an ebook that centers on Christmas for 25 days in December.
- What is Christmas?
- The Pinetree Parable
- The Sweet Smell of Christmas
- Santa’s Favorite Story
- One Winter’s Night
- God Gave Us Christmas
- The Christmas Promise
- The Legend of Saint Nicholas
- The Other Side of Christmas – An Upside-down Book –
ADVENT RESOURCES
- God Is With Us: A Family Advent Celebration
- Jesus Storybook Bible (Printable Advent Cards)
- Unwrapping the Greatest Gift
- The Wonder of the Greatest Gift – An Interactive Family Celebration of Advent
- Be Merry: How To Advent Without Losing Your Mind
- The Shepherd on the Search Activity Set
OTHER CHRISTMAS RESOURCES
- The Kindness Elves – We use this concept and I write a new kind thing we are going to do each day from the elves. Sometimes it is helping me finish Christmas cards, visit a nursing home, make care bags for the homeless, etc. It’s been a great focus for my girls.
- Fisher Price Little People: A Christmas Story
EXPERIENCES TO TRY
- Allow kids to have a nativity in their rooms. Let them choose a character and imagine what it was like when Jesus was born.
- Make a Birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas and sing Happy Birthday.
- Open up a new book for either the 12 Days of Christmas or the month to talk about the meaning of Christmas. (Use the suggestions of books above!)
OTHER FUN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
- Give ornaments to each child that represents the year.
- Make Fruit baskets for neighbors
- Volunteer at homeless shelter
- Go on a DIY polar express. Make tickets. Get together hot chocolate and snacks. And drive around in pajamas looking at Christmas lights.
- Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day to teach children who St. Nick is.
A special thank you to the Hope MOPS Leadership Team for helping us compile this list. We’d love to hear if you’ve used any of these resources or if you have any additions to add! Please add it to the comments below! ?