Over the last couple of years, I have really focused on teaching about Christ’s birth during the Advent season. We’ve read stories, colored pictures, and done activities to instruct the children about Christ’s birth.
This year was different.
Because of our move to the states that really mostly took place during the Advent season, I didn’t teach and we didn’t do those activities with the kids.
Sure, we mentioned that Christmas was Jesus’ birthday and that’s the real reason we celebrate.
But we didn’t teach and reinforce with activities.
We were too busy with moving and settling into our new home before Christmas came.
I realized the err of my ways as we were sitting in a Christmas Eve service.
As we were singing Christmas carols, pictures from the story of Christ’s birth were shown on the screens in front of us.
When MC saw a picture of the nativity scene, she began to get so excited.
She called out to me, “Mommy! Mommy!! Look it’s baby Moses!!”
I leaned over and told her, “It’s baby Jesus, honey. Baby Jesus was born on Christmas.”
I promise I’ll be doing a better job during Advent season next year.
Do you have a tradition of teaching your children the meaning of Christmas during the Advent season? Are there special activities that you do?
Note: This post is being linked to the Backwards Edition of Works for Me Wednesday where we’re all asking for special help instead of offering advice this week and to the new blog carnival Friday Fails hosted by My Blessed Life.
LifeAtTheCircus says
Well, just b/c life was too busy in December this year, doesn’t mean you couldn’t still dedicate some time to it in Jan, if you wanted. 🙂 An advent calendar might be hard, but you would read some books, watch the movies, color pictures, etc for the Jan month and I don’t think it would be weird at all. (of course last year I did gingerbread houses in Jan, pumpkins in Nov…) 🙂
We have an advent calendar that has little felt people/animals from the nativity store and one goes up on top for each day from Dec 1-24… the last being baby Jesus. Then on Dec 1 we read Luke 2:1, Dec 2, Luke 2:1-2… when Luke 2 ends, we finis with Matthew 2 (account of wisemen) by mid/late Dec the kids are able to recite many of the portions of the passage b/c they hear it every night. We also sing one or two Christmas carols that we focus on that year. Each night a different kid gets a turn at putting the figure up. I will tell you though that we didn’t get to it every single night… in fact more than once, all three kids were getting to put something up as we had skipped 2 nights.
Linda@cookingtipoftheday says
I always taught my son that Christmas was Christ’s birth and the celebration was His…. we made it a tradition to give gifts to those in need instead of giving “birthday presents” to the person with the birthday (Christ)… each year from a very young age … my son would help shop for and wrap the anonymous gift… when he was a bit older and had an allowance… he paid for it…
We always read the story of His birth… he attended Sunday school and we followed the lessons from there always discussing it at home…
He also attended a parochial school which also reinforced the story.. I know it’s more difficult for you since you home school… but if you set aside some time each day to read a children’s bible .. they will love to read it as much as you do
.-= Linda@cookingtipoftheday´s last blog ..Recipe: Nachos =-.
dj says
Yes, it’s always important to be following Deu. 6 and be talking with our kids about God, but my first reaction to your post is I think it is ‘excellent and worthy of praise’ that she knows AND is excited about Moses even if she didn’t recognize the artist’s interpretation.
Thanks for your honesty in your post and reminding us that we all learn well from repetition of going over the scriptures again which motivates me even more to continue The Bible in 90 days.
Myra says
Monica! That’s hilarious! Totally made laugh! My son is only 1 year old, but I preparing myself for the stuff he’s gonna say! 🙂
Thanks so much for linking up to Friday Fails!
.-= Myra´s last blog ..A Clean Filter – Friday Fails =-.
myra says
Totally made *me* laugh! Duh!
.-= myra´s last blog ..A Clean Filter – Friday Fails =-.