Part of becoming a parent is realizing you don’t know the answer to millions of “dumb” questions. Or you do, but it’s hard to explain.
Mom, what makes it rain?
Mom, how do they know who wins a war?
Mom, where does the poop go after the toilet?
(Etc. etc.)
I think the concept of Christmas is in this category. Of COURSE I know what Christmas is about. But somehow, I about break a sweat and get a migraine trying to fully explain it to my little ones. I mean, guys, it’s Christmas!!! You know, it’s about Jesus! His birthday! Get it, guys?!
I realized we might have a problem this year when I casually asked Ty (who is 4), Ty, what happens on Christmas.
“Um…Santa comes????”
Nice. Mom score. (ps, we don’t really even “do” Santa, so I love how that is what he has clung to about Christmas.)
That’s when I came up with these questions, to sort of guide him through the meaning of Christmas. We rehearse these a lot.
Perhaps you don’t share my sentiments. But if you are like me, and sometimes “draw a blank” trying to explain the obvious about Christmas, and even Christianity itself, then perhaps they will be helpful to you, too. As you’ll see, you can reuse again at Easter. This is a very simple explanation of both of these, in a way that kids will hopefully remember and understand.
Here’s how we do it.
First, you need a prop. I think the Jesus Storybook Bible works best. Question one.
- “Ty, what happened on Christmas?”
You point to a picture of the manger scene to try to get the answer: “Jesus was born!” Great! Now.
2. Before Jesus was born, do you know where he was? He was in heaven! And it was perfect and wonderful up in heaven!
You go over these two questions until they have them down. Then ask the next one.
3. “Ty, heaven was so wonderful, and so nice. Why in the world would Jesus want to come down here?”
At this point I found a picture of Jesus dying on the cross. I pointed to that, and said, he came to die on the cross. I wouldn’t want to die on the cross, but that’s why Jesus came. To die on the cross.
Then, question 4.
4. Did Jesus do something wrong that he died on the cross? Was he getting punished? No. He didn’t do one single thing wrong.
5. Who did something wrong? Whose punishment did Jesus take? Answer: He took our punishment. He came down at Christmas to die for our sins.
I told this little story to draw this point home: Ty, imagine that you and Sam were bouncing the ball in the house, and I came in and said, guys, do NOT bounce the ball anymore. Imagine if I left and you DID NOT LISTEN, and you bounced the ball AND BROKE A GLASS OF MINE. If I came back, what would I say? Well, imagine that Sam said, Mom, don’t punish Ty. I want you to punish ME instead. And imagine that Sam got a spanking instead of you. Could you imagine that?
That is a little bit what Jesus did. He took the punishment that we deserved. That’s why he came at Christmas! I am so glad that he came, aren’t you? This is his birthday that we celebrate! Do you think we should have a big party? Etc. etc.
If you have any other tips or tools you use to talk to your kids about Christmas, please share them below!
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These are great Jessica! Totally know what you mean about too many questions making your head hurt. I get that way everyday between 3 and 6pm.
In our home, we focus a lot on having frequent, short conversations throughout the whole year about the gospel and questions they have. We try to introduce truths into little moments and daily life. It seems to make it less overwhelming than trying to sit down and have long theological discussions after dinner. 😉
Thanks for this! I think I would change the story a bit though. Saying both kids were playing with the ball could give a child the idea that Jesus did do something bad. I’d maybe have one kid playing ball and the other reading. I think I’ll use this layout though!
Thank you I’m saving and trying this! We did decide to do Santa but I try to teach about Jesus. Obviously since you can see Santas everywhere it is what sinks in for them. I have questioned whether the Santa thing is okay as well.
Just my opinion, and absolutely no offense meant for people who don’t do Santa; but I think Santa is important. Santa teaches kids about the value of giving – Here’s a guy whose entire reason for being is to give! And as kids grow and understand the truth about Santa, they can learn that they can be Santa too. I think it’s easier to get kids excited about giving, if they’ve grown up with this mythology of giving – if they look up to Santa it’s easier to get them excited about being Santa themselves. Santa’s also magic, and kids need magic and pretend-play. It’s important for their emotional development. Which is not to say that parents who don’t do Santa are going to have kids who are not emotionally developed; there are lots of different ways to do pretend play and there’s nothing wrong with not doing Santa! He’s just a very easy way of incorporating imagination.
A small story to illustrate just how wide-spread Santa is – I have two nieces and a nephew who are Muslim, whose father is a fundamentalist. (Ah, the joys of celebrating Christmas with a guy who thinks Osama bin Lade was a stand-up fella!) He does not let his kids get Christmas presents – in fact if we try to give his kids presents he yells at us (or in my case, at my husband, since he refuses to talk to me since I’m a woman) and forces us to take them back. But the idiot forgot to tell his kids that Santa isn’t real. So, for several years, these little kids would search under the tree for presents, and then emerge sad and empty-handed and say, “I guess I just wasn’t good enough this year.” The bastard let them go through this, year after year. So – If you don’t do Santa, that’s fine. But for heaven’s sake tell your kids the truth, don’t let them think they’ve been naughty!
Love this! Thanks for breaking it down for us!
Love the catechism-esque approach to this. The only thing I would change is the wording of the first question…. I would say something like, “What do we celebrate at Christmas?” (But I’m a stickler for historical accuracy.)