It's the season for families and fellowship

by Becky Smith Gallops

Christmas becomes more commercialized every year, and parents are left struggling with how to teach their children the true meaning of the holiday. Taking the time to create traditions for your children is time well spent.

Decorations and Ornaments
Every year you can choose an ornament for each child that reflects their current interests. Daughters might get an ornament featuring a ballerina or a sport she's involved with. Boys might like an ornament that depicts a baseball player or even a character like Spiderman that he has been "into" that year. Having the ornaments personalized and dated will give your children lasting memories that they will carry into their own homes someday.
When it is time to decorate the tree, make it a family affair. Set up the tree, ensure the lights are in working order, and let the kids put any garlands or ribbons on it. Enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies while decorating the tree together, and everyone can hang their personal ornaments.

Gift Wrapping and a Movie
It's a twist on the "dinner and a movie" concept! Spend a chilly winter afternoon with a holiday movie while having a gift-wrapping marathon. Grab the family's favorite holiday movies, pop some popcorn, gather up your gifts and wrapping supplies and go to work. You and your older children can wrap gifts, while the younger children can help with easier tasks like taping or handing you supplies. It offers a perfect opportunity to teach kids more about the joy of gift giving.

Be an Angel
Take your kids to the mall and choose an "angel" from the community tree. In many communities, the Salvation Army, as well as local churches and other social service agencies, sponsor these. Going over the angel's wish list can help your children learn about budgeting and being charitable as they do the shopping for their angel child.

Handmade and Heartfelt
Unfortunately, gift giving is often defined by the size or the price of the gift given, but you can teach your children that a gift they have made themselves can be just as valuable (if not more valuable) as something that was purchased. Schedule a Saturday during the holiday season specifically for crafting and baking. The children can start creating handmade Christmas cards; mom and dad can prepare a batch of cookies that the little ones can decorate later. Once everything is finished, put together a gift bag with cookies, candy and attach the cards to it. Then you and your kids can visit friends and neighbors, deliver these special gifts, and celebrate the joy of giving from the heart.

Candlelight Services
To highlight the holiday season, you and your family may want to attend a candlelight service. The beauty of a service lit only by candles is breathtaking. Many parents discover this is the perfect time to start an awe-inspiring tradition that their family will look forward to every year. It's also a wonderful time to fellowship with friends.
By starting traditions like these, you are showing your family that the true meaning of Christmas is not "how much stuff can I get?" You are showing them how to pass love along throughout every holiday season by participating in traditions with family and friends and by sharing your own good fortune with others.