Family Christmas traditions can create many special memories, but they also teach your children to share with others less fortunate. If you feel your children get just a little bit more self-centered each Christmas that rolls around, use this tradition to teach your children compassion and caring.
Family Christmas traditions of sharing
As parents, we always want the best for our children. Because we love them so much, we get sidetracked, lose our focus, and give in to their constant stream of “I wants.” This is especially true at Christmas.
Family traditions at Christmas can help you combat this by providing the opportunity to share with others. Do this in several ways.
Serve Christmas dinner
Instead of having the usual Christmas at home, you could start new family traditions at Christmas by opening gifts and having your big dinner on Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas morning, your entire family can volunteer at the local homeless shelter or food kitchen and serve Christmas dinner to those less fortunate.
By doing this, you still have your family time together, but you can teach your children to selflessly give their day to help others.
Donate Christmas gift money
A very nice family tradition for Christmas is that of donating part of your Christmas money for those in need. If you have a Christmas budget, and you should, sit down with your children and explain that your family has “X” amount of money for Christmas, but, because you have so many nice things, you have decided to give part of the money away.
It helps if you point out to your children beforehand the needs of others. Begin pointing out homeless people, or people in other countries who live at a much lower living standard. When you talk to your children about donating the part of the money, remind them of these people.
You can also have on hand a brochure or catalog of the charity you are going to donate to. Some organizations will send farm animals or farm tools and clothes to poor people in other countries. Let your children play an active part in choosing the gift they would like to donate or how they would like to help.
Family Christmas traditions at Christmas are easy to start. Before the holiday season gets too hectic, take some time to choose an organization to help and gather the information. Then set aside the time to discuss it with your children. It may take your children a little while to get used to the idea, but it will become one of your favorite family Christmas traditions.
