Teaching Your Kids About The Christmas Season

The time between Thanksgiving and the first day of the new year can be confusing and a lot of fun for children. The Christmas season is one of the busiest of the year, and some families are even busier because birthdays or other special occasions that most do not have could be thrown in there on top of everything else. As busy as you may get, do not forget to talk to your children about what this time of year is really about and what it means to your family.

Your idea of what the Christmas season is about is going to be different from the family down the road. If you leave your child to learn about this time of year from what they see around them, they are going to think December is one of the most materialistic times of the year, and perhaps they would be right. However, if you do not let them know what the Christmas season really means to you, they are going to think that is all that this time of year represents. If you want a time to convey what is important to you to your children, this is the time.

The Christmas season to many is about Christ. Though they say that Christ was not really born on December 25th, this is when most major Christ based religions choose to celebrate his birth. At times, the religious aspect and the original reason for a holiday at this time of the year gets completely lost. If you are a religious family in any way, you have to remind your children why you celebrate Christmas and that the rest is just for fun. Relay what is important to them early on so they never forget.

If you are not particularly religious, there are still plenty of great reasons to talk to your children about the Christmas season. You can tell them why many celebrate Christ, and then you can talk to them about why you do not. For some, the Christmas season is about family whether they practice religion or not. This could be the one time of the year when an entire extended family takes the time to be together to appreciate those that they love. If this is what this time of year means to you, share this with your children. The important thing is to make it about something more than just gifts and shopping.

If you are of a religion that does not recognize the Christmas holiday at all, the Christmas season can be confusing to your children. Make up your own traditions and let them know about your different religious views, even if you are not actively participating in anything. You can make the Christmas season special for your children in other ways. Make it a time of the year to give back and do things for other people, even when December is nothing more than another month in the year to you.