Christmas: A Family Celebration

Written by Ginna Ashby

Christmas is such a joyous time of year. It is a time filled with wonder and excitement. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, parents are challenged to keep their focus on the true meaning of the season—the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

As teachers, share with parents ideas for creating special family Christmas memories. Remind parents that one of the greatest gifts they can give their child this season is the gift of their time. Caution parents to plan celebration times when their child is not tired. Mention to parents that too many activities can lead to holiday stress.

Choose some of the following celebration ideas to suggest to parents:

Sing Christmas Songs

• Play Christmas tapes or CD’s and sing along with the music.
• Play the music while driving in the car or after dinner for a family sing-a-long.
• Make up your own Christmas songs by using tunes to familiar songs. For example, to the tune “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” sing: “Jesus was a baby boy, Baby boy, baby boy. Jesus was a baby boy, a special baby boy.”

Play with a Nonbreakable Manger Scene

• Choose a manger scene with figures that do not pose a choking hazard for preschoolers.
• Encourage your child to look at and handle the figures.
• Name the figures as your child is playing with the scene.
• Pray, thanking God for Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Make Christmas Gift Wrap Paper

• Use plain shelf paper or large grocery sacks to make gift wrap paper.
• Purchase Christmas stamps and washable stamp pads at your local craft or discount store.
• Buy stamps that depict the Christian symbols of Christmas such as a star, an angel, or an Advent wreath.
• Guide your child to press the stamp on the pad and then onto the paper or sacks. White paper lunch bags can be used to make gift bags.
• When stamping an angel design, tell your child, “An angel told the shepherds that Baby Jesus was born.”

Make an Edible Christmas Tree.

• Gather the following ingredients: sugar ice-cream cones, green frosting, candy-coated chocolate pieces, and marshmallows.
• Place a cone upside down on a plate. Guide your child to cover the cone with green frosting, using a plastic knife. Decorate the cone with the chocolate pieces, then top each cone with a marshmallow.
• Talk about the beautiful colors on the Christmas tree. Say: “I’m glad we can have fun at Christmas. At Christmastime we think about the special gift God gave us—Jesus.”
• Make an additional edible tree to give to a neighbor or elderly friend.

Play Out the Christmas Story.

• Open the Bible to Luke 2 and tell the Christmas story.
• Let your family dress up in robes and play out the story.
• Use a shoe box for the manger and a doll for Baby Jesus.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Cake Bars
Use this recipe to make Christmas cookies with your family. While you are baking the cookies, talk with your family about ways you can trust God.

What you need:

1 roll of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
8-ounce package of cream cheese
1 egg
1/2 cup of sugar

What to do:

1. Pat out half of the dough in a 9-inch square pan.
2. Mix egg, sugar, and cream cheese until smooth. Spread over dough.
3. Spread remaining cookie dough on top.
4. Bake at the temperature and for the time recommended on the dough package. Extra doneness test: When a toothpick comes out clean, the cookies are done.
5. When cool, cut into 12 bars.

Ginna Ashby is director of preschool ministries at Fruit Cove Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida.

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