26 Days of Christmas Activities
Posted by Holly Nelson on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Under: Tip of the Week
I started this tradition about 10 years ago. With all the busyness Christmas can bring I wanted my kids to appreciate the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas. It is easy to get caught up in the decorating and shopping, but that's not what it is about. So, every day in the month of December until the 26th we do a little activity to keep the Christmas spirit up.
I will post everyday a more detailed example of what we are doing.
December
1- Make salt dough ornaments
2- Start Christmas puzzle
3- Start Jesus Tree
4- Make Jesus' birthday present box for under the tree with Matthew 25:40 (More details to come)
10. Paint ornaments. When dry tie bible verse on ornaments.
11- (Seth's b'day) Seth's laser tag and party
12- Starry Nights at Shelby Farms
13- Singing Christmas Tree at Bellevue Baptist Church, Tn
14- Make Christmas candies
15- Make snowflakes
16- Make breads
17- Make cookies
18- Parties at school/Watch Christmas movies/ Home movies and favorites. Drink hot cocoa and eat popcorn
19- Make gingerbread houses
20- Drive around looking at Christmas lights, drink hot cocoa and eat cookies
21- Christmas craft
22- Christmas Games- word search, etc...
23- Take ornaments and candies to neighbors and friends
24- Make Jesus' birthday cake and Christmas food
One other thing I started 10 years ago is the "3 gifts per child". I noticed even as young children they had so many presents to open. They would just tear through one and fly to the next. Then toys would be broken within a matter of days. But to them, it was okay because they had another new toy they could play with. It shouldn't be like that. I wanted them to be appreciative of everything they received, even if they didn't like it. So we buy them three gifts that represent Jesus' gifts- Gold, Incense( frankincense), and Myrrh.
A really nice toy or gift represented Gold. Such as : a new bike, new doll, something a little more expensive than most
A "want" represented the incense. Such as: a book series they have been wanting
A "need" represents the myrrh. Such as: clothing or shoes. I like to put a little something special, like a car, in the pockets to make it seem more surprising.
When I first thought about doing this I worried that I would be depriving my kids the extravagant, "magic" of Chirstmas. But I will say, they have learned to not be so needy, focus of giving to others more than receiving, and they know they REAL reason for Christmas!
I will post everyday a more detailed example of what we are doing.
December
1- Make salt dough ornaments
2- Start Christmas puzzle
3- Start Jesus Tree
4- Make Jesus' birthday present box for under the tree with Matthew 25:40 (More details to come)
5- Take Christmas books and coloring books and crayons to the St. Jude children./Start Christmas cards
6- Make salt-dough and cinnamon applesauce ornaments. Use cookie cutter that represent Jesus Tree
7- Make bible verse chain. word on each paper chain link of ! John 4:10, Matthew 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 2:1, Colossians 1:3. *You could also do this as a countdown chain
8- Mark Luke 2 in Bible, lay open by nativity scene
9- Treasure hunt to nativity scene6- Make salt-dough and cinnamon applesauce ornaments. Use cookie cutter that represent Jesus Tree
7- Make bible verse chain. word on each paper chain link of ! John 4:10, Matthew 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 2:1, Colossians 1:3. *You could also do this as a countdown chain
8- Mark Luke 2 in Bible, lay open by nativity scene
10. Paint ornaments. When dry tie bible verse on ornaments.
11- (Seth's b'day) Seth's laser tag and party
12- Starry Nights at Shelby Farms
13- Singing Christmas Tree at Bellevue Baptist Church, Tn
14- Make Christmas candies
15- Make snowflakes
16- Make breads
17- Make cookies
18- Parties at school/Watch Christmas movies/ Home movies and favorites. Drink hot cocoa and eat popcorn
19- Make gingerbread houses
20- Drive around looking at Christmas lights, drink hot cocoa and eat cookies
21- Christmas craft
22- Christmas Games- word search, etc...
23- Take ornaments and candies to neighbors and friends
24- Make Jesus' birthday cake and Christmas food
25- Open "Happy Birthday Jesus" box, and read before opening presents
26- Write and mail thank you cards- before all the presents are opened and played with!One other thing I started 10 years ago is the "3 gifts per child". I noticed even as young children they had so many presents to open. They would just tear through one and fly to the next. Then toys would be broken within a matter of days. But to them, it was okay because they had another new toy they could play with. It shouldn't be like that. I wanted them to be appreciative of everything they received, even if they didn't like it. So we buy them three gifts that represent Jesus' gifts- Gold, Incense( frankincense), and Myrrh.
A really nice toy or gift represented Gold. Such as : a new bike, new doll, something a little more expensive than most
A "want" represented the incense. Such as: a book series they have been wanting
A "need" represents the myrrh. Such as: clothing or shoes. I like to put a little something special, like a car, in the pockets to make it seem more surprising.
When I first thought about doing this I worried that I would be depriving my kids the extravagant, "magic" of Chirstmas. But I will say, they have learned to not be so needy, focus of giving to others more than receiving, and they know they REAL reason for Christmas!
In : Tip of the Week
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Mom to 6 Sons // Saved by Grace // Lover of Chocolate, Laughter, Love, Nature, Camping, Simplicity,and Family
