Teaching Children the True Meaning of Christmas
What’s Wrapped Beneath the Wrapping?
Christmas morning. The house hums with excitement as little feet hit the floor, rushing to the tree like moths to light. Wrapping paper tears, shouts of joy echo—and then it’s over. A pile of toys sits in the corner, untouched after an hour. “What’s next?” your child asks, a tinge of boredom already creeping into their voice.
Something about this feels hollow, doesn’t it? Like we’ve wrapped something precious in so much glitter that we’ve forgotten what’s inside.
Christmas was never meant to be just a day of indulgence. It’s a collision of heaven and earth, the moment eternity split time to offer humanity a gift so profound it redefined reality itself.
This isn’t just about teaching your kids a lesson. It’s about reclaiming something sacred.
Part 1: The Crisis of Christmas in a World of Consumption
What Are We Really Celebrating?
In 2023, Americans are projected to spend over $1 trillion on Christmas. Yet, for many families, the season ends with stress, debt, and a vague sense that something was missing.
C.S. Lewis once warned us about this: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.” Isn’t that Christmas today? We’ve traded the infinite joy of Emmanuel—God with us—for fleeting pleasures wrapped in red bows.
Why This Matters for Your Kids
Children are intuitive theologians. Long before they can articulate it, they absorb what you value most. If Christmas becomes a shrine to consumerism, they’ll learn to worship things. If it becomes a celebration of God’s greatest gift, they’ll learn to worship Him.
So ask yourself: what sermon are your Christmas traditions preaching to your kids?
Part 2: The Incarnation—The Greatest Story Ever Told
God in a Manger
Imagine this: the Creator of galaxies, the One who breathed stars into existence, choosing to enter the world as a fragile, crying baby. Born not in a palace, but in a stable. Greeted not by kings, but by shepherds—the outcasts of society.
This is the scandal of Christmas. Philippians 2:6–7 reminds us:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
This isn’t a sentimental story. It’s a revolution. It’s the beginning of a rescue mission to redeem humanity, a moment that flips every earthly value on its head.
Why This Story Must Anchor Christmas
When we teach our children that Christmas is about Jesus, we aren’t just giving them a story. We’re giving them the foundation of their identity: you are so loved by God that He came for you.
Part 3: How to Make the Profound Palpable for Children
1. Engage the Imagination
Kids don’t learn through lectures—they learn through stories, rituals, and wonder.
Reimagine the Nativity: Ask your kids, “What would it have been like to be a shepherd? A wise man? Mary?” Encourage them to step into the story.
Create Sacred Space: Set up a nativity scene together. As you place each figure, explain their role in the story.
This isn’t just an activity—it’s a way to help your children see themselves in the narrative of God’s love.
2. Connect Their World to God’s Gift
Ask your kids:
“What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?”
“What if that gift was from someone who loved you so much they gave everything to make you happy?”
Then share the truth: Jesus is that gift. He isn’t just a figure in a story—He’s the God who stepped into history to meet them personally.
3. Introduce the Power of Giving
Kids are naturally self-focused. Teach them that giving reflects the heart of God.
Service Projects: Volunteer as a family—serve meals at a shelter, or buy gifts for children in need.
Giving Challenge: Encourage your kids to give away one of their gifts to someone who might appreciate it more.
Generosity isn’t a buzzword; it’s a reflection of God’s heart.
Part 4: The Counter-Cultural Call of Christmas
Resisting the Cultural Drift
If you want your kids to see Christmas as sacred, you’ll have to push back against the cultural tide.
Jordan Peterson once said, “To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life with eyes wide open.” As Christians, we are called to stand against the tide—not angrily, but joyfully—declaring that Christmas isn’t about us. It’s about a King who came to serve.
Teach Them to Look Beyond Themselves
The world preaches self-fulfillment. The Gospel preaches self-sacrifice. This is the heart of Christmas: “He became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Show your kids that life isn’t about collecting things—it’s about reflecting Christ.
Part 5: Transforming Your Christmas Traditions
1. Rethink Your Gift-Giving
What if every gift under your tree pointed back to the ultimate gift?
Write a note with each gift explaining why it reflects God’s love or His blessings in your life.
Limit the number of gifts, and instead, focus on gifts that encourage creativity, connection, or worship.
2. Celebrate Advent with Meaning
The Advent season is a perfect opportunity to slow down and prepare your hearts.
Family Devotions: Light candles, read scripture, and pray together.
Daily Gratitude: Each day, write down something you’re thankful for and connect it to God’s provision.
3. Replace Consumption with Connection
Instead of spending the season in malls or glued to screens, spend it in conversation, creation, and service.
Bake cookies for neighbors.
Invite friends to a Christmas carol night with hymns that tell the Gospel story.
Part 6: The Long-Term Impact of a Christ-Centered Christmas
Years from now, your children may not remember every toy they received. But they’ll remember the warmth of gathering around the Bible to hear the story of Jesus. They’ll remember the joy of giving, the sacredness of Advent, and the unshakable truth that Christmas isn’t about what they get—it’s about who God is.
As parents, we’re not just decorating trees or filling stockings. We’re shaping hearts.
Conclusion: Reclaiming the Wonder
The true meaning of Christmas isn’t an abstract idea. It’s an invitation to marvel at the lengths God went to be with us.
This year, dare to go deeper. Challenge your kids—and yourself—to see Christmas as the greatest rescue story ever told.
Here’s your challenge: Create one new tradition this year that points your family back to Jesus. Maybe it’s a nativity reading, a giving project, or simply a quiet moment of gratitude on Christmas morning.
And don’t stop there. Visit FaithLabz for tools, devotionals, and inspiration to make your family’s faith stronger year-round.
Because Christmas isn’t just a holiday. It’s the start of a revolution.
