It’s especially easy for children to get caught up in the excitement and anticipation of presents during Christmas time. It’s easy for us adults to do the same. It is, after all, a season of joy, gifts and giving. While we may be able to see past the commercialisation and materialism of Christmas, we need to consciously help our children do the same. Here’s how.
Explore its true meaning
Christmas, at its core, is about giving, not gifts. Take time to talk about the birth of Jesus and God’s greatest gift to us: God becoming human, bearing the consequences of our wrongdoing and rescuing us from eternal separation from Him.
Create traditions beyond presents
Children often remember experiences more than things. Baking together, going camping, singing carols or driving around to see Christmas lights can create lasting memories and give children something meaningful to look forward to beyond what’s under the tree.
Limit the wish list
This will encourage your children to think intentionally about what they truly value. It also helps to teach contentment.
Involve them in giving
One of the most powerful ways to shift the focus from “getting” to “giving” is to let children be part of it. This could be helping to choose a gift for a sibling, being part of a charity drive such as Operation Christmas Child or giving to ADRA. Involving children also helps to cultivate in them compassion, empathy and emotional intelligence.
Acts of kindness
Christmas is the perfect time to model kindness to your children. Together, leave thank-you notes for delivery drivers, help out at a soup kitchen or pick flowers for a neighbour.
Practise gratitude
Help your children see the thought and care that goes behind each present—especially the ones they may not appreciate—and why they should be thankful for it. Even better, guide your children to pause and think of something they’re thankful for from the past year. Often, it will be a memory or an experience that extends beyond material stuff.
Keep it simple
The holidays don’t need to be extravagant to be meaningful. Sometimes the pressure to create a “perfect” Christmas adds more stress than joy. Children notice our attitude more than the number of presents under the tree.
Slow down
Holidays can be overstimulating. Show your children the value of slowing down by setting aside moments where they can pause, reflect and reset.
Focus on presence
The fondest memories our children will have are of the times spent together. Make sure to pause from the Christmas rush to spend time with them.
Celebrate people
Christmas gatherings are the perfect time to highlight that relationships matter. Emphasise that the celebration is about who you’re with more than what you receive because relationships bring the deepest fulfilment.
Melody Tan is the project manager of Mums At The Table.
