A couple of weeks ago, I shared one of our family’s Advent traditions. If you missed that post, click here.
Today I wanted to share a few other ideas for “teaching Jesus” to our children during this Christmas season.
1. Names of Jesus Chain (by SpellOutLoud): In homeschool this month, we are studying the names of Jesus. Click here for a printable that includes each of the names. You print them out onto paper, making a chain with one name per loop of paper. Hang up the completed chain and each day during Advent, you discuss that name and remove a link from the chain.
2. Advent wreath: We also like to do the traditional Advent wreath during the season. This tradition has been celebrated since the ninth century. A wreath of greens encircles four candles. In the middle of the four candles is one white candle. Each Sunday of Advent a different candle is lit, with the final candle being lit on Christmas Eve. We use a devotional that provides passages of Scripture to read while lighting the candles. We use this one: Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration
3. Learn about Christmas songs: Pick a few of the traditional Christmas carols and discuss with your children what they mean. Perhaps learn about the people who wrote them and what motivated them to write the song. Listen to different versions of the song.
4. Christmas stories: Read a different Christmas book each day of Advent. We’ve been collecting them over the years and have a few favorites including: The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth
, The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights)
, The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book
and A Charlie Brown Christmas (Peanuts)
. I keep a big basket in the living room filled with the books so my children can look at them throughout the season.
5. Gingerbread manger scene: Instead of the typical gingerbread house, make a manger scene out of gingerbread. We tried this last year and had fun with it. Marshmallows make great sheep, graham crackers make a nice manger, and toasted coconut works well as hay.
6. Attend a live nativity: This has been a tradition for our family since my oldest son was little. Various churches in the area host a live nativity where people act out the story of Christmas. Some churches will have it as a drive through and others as a walk through. It’s especially fun if they have a petting zoo. Another idea would be to have your children act out the story on their own.
7. Make ornaments: We make ornaments every year. Some years we’ve made candy cane ornaments and talked about what the candy cane represents (red as Jesus’ blood, the white as the purity we have because of Christ, it was by his stripes that we are healed, etc.). Another fun way to make ornaments is with Shrinky Dinks-remember those? Your child can write a favorite Christmas verse or draw a favorite symbol representing some part of the Christmas story onto the Shrinky Dink plastic. You cut it out in a shape that would work well for an ornament and punch a hole at the top. After baking, it shrinks down and hardens. A ribbon can be threaded through the hole, making it an ornament.
8. Paper nativity: Last year I came across this cute printable nativity that you color, cut out, and tape together so they can stand up. So cute! Click here for the printable.
And now, a giveaway! We are reading Tabitha’s Travels: A Family Story for Advent
during the Advent season and one reader will win a copy of this book. Just leave a comment below to be automatically entered. Random.org will select a winner on December 3 at 8:00pm EST.
Update: Maria is the winner of the book giveaway. Congratulations, Maria!
Do you have any ideas to share on ways to “teach Jesus” during the Christmas season? Please share!
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These are great ideas, Christina! Thanks so much for sharing them. I really like the ring of names idea. My kids love to make rings like this to count down to events. This would be a fun way to make it more meaningful.
As always great ideas! The Christmas cookie is one of my faves as well
Great ideas, Christina! My daughters are still really small — the oldest is only two — so our pointing to Jesus is very simple. The first time we walked in a store that sparkled and smelled like Christmas I bent over and whispered in her ear, “Do you know why there are so many shiny, pretty things? Because baby Jesus was born at Christmas. We are so excited we are going to have a party!” And as we make cookies and see Christmas lights I ask her why they are there. She’s figured out that the answer is always, “Baby Jesus.” And I follow up with, “Yes! Baby Jesus was born at Christmas. And we are so excited we are having a party!”
Our family is celebrating Advent for the first time this year- we are excited! I’ve been searching hi/low for activities and ways to make learning about the coming of Christ inspiring for our children. Thank you for all of your great ideas
These are great! I can’t wait to use some of these ideas. Thanks!!!
Great traditions! We’ve just gotten out the Christmas stuff this past week….the tree is up, and the Advent wreath is out….ready to be lit. Although last I over-heard, baby Jesus was kidnapped by a donkey and the wise men were dancing to princess music. We may need to re-work our nativity set….:)
What great ideas! I think we will use ours as a countdown - discussing the names each day.
Always love to have new ideas! I really like the paper chain w/the names of Jesus! Thanks!
thanks for the ideas! I hope I win the book
we’ve done the names of Jesus advent chain before - I learned a ton from it- so I’m sure my kiddos did too! Thanks for the list!
Love this site, great ideas! Thank you!
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What fantastic ideas! Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness in sharing these Christ-centered ideas. I plan on printing the names of Jesus to use with my boys.
I am so very inspired! This will be our first year celebrating Advent in our home and I’m gathering ideas and can’t wait to start! Thank you!
Maria, I sent you an email to tell you that you won the book in my giveaway. I just need your address!:)
Thankyou for sharing your creative ideas on how to teach Jesus this Christmas. I am always looking for great ideas for our family, as we try to make the focus all about HIm and less about us. Merry Christmas!!
We will b using the “Truth in the Tinsel” it will b our first year so we are excited. I did a muffin pan with magnets that cover each hole that has a treat and scripture and we will do a craft. Each magnet it decorated and has a numer on each one counting the days till christmas..my two kids which r 3 and 7 will enjoy and look forward to this!
Fabuloso post, friend! Thanks for making my activities easy for me ; ) I am doing the advent chain this year, too. And I just printed out the paper nativity-how fun! thank you!
AND I added some of those books to our request list at the library. I’m set!
I love it!!! I was looking for
Ways to reach my children about Christmas and to add traditions to our home! Thanks so much for sharing. I’ll be using many of these.
Where do you find all the little Jesus related items for your advent box?
Some we made. Some are mini ornaments for tiny Christmas trees. Some are even little toys.
We are doing the Truth in the Tinsel this year, but I love the book idea you are doing. I am trying to get more prepared for each year so that I know our focus stays more on Jesus and less on Santa. Thanks for sharing.
So how does her idea compare to truth in the tinsel? How are they different? And how are they the same? How similar are they or are they not at all similar cause I was thinking about getting that book too.
So how does your idea compare to truth in the tinsel? Is it similar? The same or very different? I was thinking about getting that book as well or are
The two very similar? I love your ideas.
I haven’t read Truth in the Tinsel so I’m not sure. Sorry:(
Thank you for all your insightful ideas. This is my first year doing advent with my children my daughter is 3 and really excited about Christmas so I am hoping to make the most of the excitement and teachable moments along the way. Your ideas have given me something to work with and get started.