Comments on: Teaching Christmas Joy to Children

By: Pamela Grutter

Pamela Grutter — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 12:13:50 +0000

In reply to Cami. Amen, love to hear my family is not alone!!

By: Cami

Cami — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:15:13 +0000

I don’t know how I missed this post years ago! But just for solidarity’s sake, we also don’t celebrate Santa. Our whole advent is about preparation. We need to recognize our sinfulness before we can realize we need to be saved from it. We cannot welcome the Savior before we’ve taken the time to repent and face the truth that we need him. So advent for us is a reflective time, more penitential, and we slowly prepare the house as we get closer to Christmas Day. We celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas (the actual REAL person who lived a virtuous life and is now in Heaven) on Dec 6th by putting out slippers the night before. Our 5 children wake to find chocolate coins, oranges, and candy canes inside. If a child needed new slippers, the old ones are replaced and filled. We eat something tasty like homemade cranberry bread and our oranges for breakfast. We might watch the Saints & Heroes Saint Nicholas Story. I also read aloud a book every day of advent and usually on this day we read The Baker’s Dozen: A St. Nicholas Tale. The Miracle of Saint Nicholas is also a beautiful story. I often read that the following day. It isn’t about Nicholas’ life but rather his intercession in helping a small Russian town bring back their worship after a period of religious persecution. On St. Nicholas day, we emphasize the giving heart of this saint out of his commitment and love for Jesus and God’s people. We love God by loving others. Then Christmas is all about the birth of the Savior. It’s great! We even bake a cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus with a nativity Jesus piece on the cake. People definitely think we are weird for not doing what everyone else does. But we are comfortable being counter-cultural. I don’t appreciate the pressure to focus on Santa so other families can use it as behavior management. ?. Merry CHRISTmas, everyone! ?

By: Gloria Scalise

Gloria Scalise — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 02:54:07 +0000

I love love love this calendar! I will be copying some of these next year. This year I made an Advent Activity Calendar for my 3 yr old. Our favorite activity by FAR was the Petting Zoo. She got to see donkeys and camels that Mary, Joseph and the wise men would have ridden on; sheep that the Shepherds were tending, cows, pigs and other animals that would’ve been present at Jesus’ birth AND a feeding trough (manger) that Baby Jesus would’ve lay in. Seeing these animals for herself really helped make the Christmas Story real in her little mind. I HIGHLY recommend this to EVERY mama!!!

By: Josefin Björnberg

Josefin Björnberg — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 13:48:05 +0000

I love to celebrate Christmas. Every year, I plan to do something different for kids. I like to hear the voice of Christmas song.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 16:07:53 +0000

In reply to Holly.

That is so funny! My dad always says “This song is so discriminatory…why do only the angels named Harold get to sing?” har har har, dad. Another unrelated one he loves to whip out around Christmas time is–“Why does everyone forget about the tenth reindeer? Olive, the other reindeer!” (and then he starts singing “Olive, the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names….”) He, too, is the funniest guy he knows.

By: Holly

Holly — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:57:12 +0000

In reply to Karen. I got a good laugh out of that one! Thank you! hahahaha

By: Caty

Caty — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:09:47 +0000

I am just now expecting my first but this book along with the included sparkle box would make a great tradition. I also love the angel idea instead of the elf on the shelf.

By: Nita

Nita — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 04:40:23 +0000

In reply to Andrea Bowersox. I love this idea and plan to do use it this year. Thank you so much.

By: genie

genie — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:27:33 +0000

Katie,
I dont get stuck into websites … but your energy is quite outstanding!, I love everything you have written and your enthusiasm is just additive!….

i have been sitting here for almost two hours reading and researching and i have only said “hello!’ …..

WOW … ps i had a private message i will try and send you … your welcome to use it if you so choose too xx

SOOOO much love and appreciation from me and my fella and our wee boy! xxx going to have a search to see if you have any fertility boosting tips … we are hoping for another lil one to join our family , i am now 43 years old xxx but 23 in my mind !!!

By: Meg

Meg — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 03:58:43 +0000

I just want to say thank you so much for everything you post on your website. I researched the facts that you put in a couple articles to check the validity of what you were saying and all I can say is thank you for providing your readers with such well thought out research and advice. I was living what I thought to be a healthy lifestyle before reading your articles but your website has truly been such an inspiration. I have made the body lotion, deodorant, and lip chap so far and all have been great successes. I am also celiac so I love your recipes. I just wanted to let you know you are brilliant and thank you so much for posting the knowledge you have on so many different topics. I can tell you are an awesome mommy. God bless!

By: Michelle Davidson

Michelle Davidson — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 00:24:17 +0000

We just got our Christmas angel today 🙂
We are a bit late but I am going to blend her in with the Truth in the Tinsel we are already doing.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 21:00:49 +0000

We don’t do Santa either! Would much rather focus our hearts and minds on the real reason for celebrating Christmas–the birth of our Savior! I have a 2 year old and I am doing Truth in the Tinsel with her this year. I have enjoyed the opportunity to make the crafts with her and focusing on the coordinating Scripture passages that lead up to the birth. I love the Christmas Angel idea though, so maybe we’ll try that next year! Thanks for sharing! (even though I know this post is old) 🙂

By: Sandra

Sandra — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 19:36:16 +0000

I was wondering if you have a list version (word or pdf)? Thanks so much.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 03:26:41 +0000

It is encouraging to know other families don’t focus on Santa either. We do 12 days of Christmas. Our kids get one simple gift each day up until 3 Kings Day. Then they get a nicer gift on Jan 6. It’s pretty unpopular with everyone but it works for our focus to be on Christ not Santa.

By: Andrea Bowersox

Andrea Bowersox — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 05:31:00 +0000

I love this! My kids are 3, 2, and 1, and I didn’t want to do elf on the shelf because we don’t focus on Santa either. Now, I have some great ideas for next year. We also only do 3 gifts per child, and explain to them that Jesus received 3 gifts from the wise men. I got the idea from a friend and really liked that even at “gift time” the focus could be on Jesus.

By: claudia

claudia — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Great that you focus on the birth of Jesus rather than “Santa”. We do the same. I enjoy your web site very much. Read your post on why canola oil is bad for you, and glad I did. I am puzzled about your articles on grains though. Even bread made from sprouted whole wheat is bad for you? How about the Lord’s prayer…”give us this day our daily…bread!”. Ancient civilizations used grains…

By: Cori

Cori — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:17:00 +0000

Our family also focuses on Christ during Christmas and we do not do Santa. We have caught a lot of flack from this over the years from friends and family alike. I’m so glad to see that others feel the same way. I love your ideas! We have recently had our first child (he is 7 months old) and I am already trying to find ways to instill giving and selflessness during the Advent season. We have our Advent wreath and Advent calendar with scripture reading each day. I am also planning on adopting a child through World Vision that has my son’s exact birth date so that as he grows, he can learn about someone else just like him growing up in a very different life situation. Perhaps he can even write to him as he grows. Prior to Christmas, we also participate in the Shoebox program through Samaritan’s Purse.

By: Guate

Guate — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:31:00 +0000

I’m so glad you wrote this post! We do an Advent calendar (a sweet little wooden cabinet with doors for 25 days where I store the messages) with a similar focus on service. Here are some of our favorite activities:

Write a letter to a friend who moved away. Have friends over for a holiday baking party. Send holiday card to member of armed services. Donate Heifer International animal to family in need. Make Christmas crafts for teachers. Make backpacks for people who are homeless and deliver them. Take cards and gifts (like hand lotion) to elderly people at an assisted care facility.

By: Celia

Celia — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:48:00 +0000

thank you for this article! I’ve been looking for something like this for my kiddos!

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:09:00 +0000

In reply to Annie. This was prewritten and scheduled before that news broke… my heart breaks for them! Absolutely horrible… many thoughts and prayers for everyone involved…