With commercialism running rampant, how can teachers and parents help their children truly embrace the reality and truth of Christmas? Sharing the Christmas story with children should be a wonderful experience. Consider the following suggestions for each age group:
First and Second Graders
Six and seven year olds are like sponges soaking up new information. As they begin to learn to read, give them opportunities to read the Christmas story from their own Bibles. Make sure that your first and second graders know that God sent Jesus to earth because He loves them. Help their young minds to know that Jesus’ birth was part of God’s plan from the beginning. Guide them to discover through Old Testament prophecy that hundreds of years before His birth, prophets told of this event.
Third and Fourth Graders
As children grow older, they become more aware of why God sent Jesus to earth. The true story of Christmas is more than the birth of a baby – it is the birth of God’s only Son. Jesus came to earth in human form, born as a baby, and grew to know what it truly means to be a human. Help third and fourth graders know that Jesus can relate to their lives, struggles, temptations, hopes, and dreams.
Preteens
Preteens are able to understand more complex concepts of Jesus’ birth. Not only was Jesus born and able to understand what it was to be human, Jesus is God in human form. Preteens are also able to understand the miracle of Jesus being born of a virgin. God’s plan for human redemption was placed in motion on that day in human history. Guide your preteens to understand that they, too, are part of God’s holy plan.
No matter the age of your child, Christmas will always be an exciting time. Help your child focus on the truths of the Christmas story in ways that will be the most meaningful to him. Consider ways to incorporate the story of Christmas into your family devotions. If you are not currently doing a family devotion, consider Christmas as a time to begin a family worship time that will help bring your family into a close understanding of the truths that God daily reveals in His word.
This article is courtesy of ParentLife.
