What does Christmas mean for children?
For children, Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year, if not the most exciting! It is the time when the family takes center stage and in which, with many customs and rituals, one can experience the magic of Christmas can. Children love the many lovely things Advent brings. They want to bake cookies with you, decorate the house, decorate the Christmas tree and of course look forward to many great gifts on Christmas Eve. At the same time they want to spend as much time as possible with mom and dad and feel secure, because Christmas time is family time!
Enjoying Advent with children
Not only children look forward to Christmas: Also in Christian understanding, Advent is all about (lat. adventus for 'arrival') preparing for the arrival of Jesus Christ on earth. Advent is above all a time of waiting – and who waits more eagerly for Christmas Eve than children? Let's make the the wait for Christmas into something special by consciously enjoying Advent, the festive atmosphere and the many small and large Christmas customs with the family consciously enjoy.
How is Christmas celebrated in other countries?
Christmas is celebrated by Christians around the world and yet every country has its own Christmas customs and traditionsDid you know that in Iceland no fewer than 13 mischievous Santa Clauses bring the presents after causing mayhem in people's homes for almost two weeks?
Or do your children know, why the Swedes put a bowl of porridge on the windowsill on Christmas Eve and in which country a Christmas witch brings the gifts? Use Advent to learn about international Christmas customs!
Enjoying the pre-Christmas excitement with children
Big and small Christmas fans look forward every year to the special highlights of the Christmas season — which vary from family to family. Family rituals at Christmas are simply part of it and increase the little ones' anticipation of the holiday. In some families, making Christmas crafts together is very popular; in others, baking cookies or a shared movie night with Christmas classics is part of a contemplative Christmas. With us you'll find inspiration for each of these lovely Christmas highlights!
Christmas crafting with children
Wintertime is craft time! Sitting together comfortably and crafting is especially enjoyable during the dark season. When it's cold outside and a hot cup of tea is on the table inside, young and old can really look forward to Christmas while cutting out, gluing and decorating.
Atmospheric Christmas decoration
When you and your children slowly start getting into the Christmas spirit, of course the festive decoration in the house must not be missing. Besides store-bought Christmas ornaments, homemade decorations also look great in your home – and are in most cases child's play to make! Whether Christmas garlands, colorful felt ornaments, imaginative window pictures or winter candle holders – the craft ideas last for the entire Advent season!
Craft beautiful Christmas stars
As one of the most important Christmas symbols, the star is found everywhere around Christmas: on the top of the Christmas tree, above the stable roof of the nativity scene, on tablecloths, wrapping paper and as a chocolate star in the Advent calendar. And of course as a craft motif – from star-shaped tealight holders to a star ornament for the window, you can create stars from a wide variety of craft materials.
Make your own Christmas cards
Christmas cards are traditional and in many families the Christmas mail is lovingly laid out or hung up to enjoy the many colorful cards with Christmas motifs to enjoy.
Homemade Christmas cards are especially personal – and there are many ideas you can implement with your children. A few pre-cut folding cards made of cardstock and some craft materials are enough to get creative.
Make your own Advent calendar
The Advent calendar is one of the most exciting Christmas traditions in every household. With each little door, Christmas Eve draws nearer and the anticipation grows.
An absolute classic is the Advent calendar with chocolate. If you want a real one-of-a-kind, craft the calendar yourself and choose the filling entirely according to the children's tastes: whether small gifts, vouchers or sweets – you decide what goes in!
You have no time to craft? Here you'll find Advent calendars that will make your kids very happy:
Get and decorate a Christmas tree
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree – Like many other customs, for children the Christmas tree to the celebration. Take your children along to choose the most beautiful tree – then the little ones will be all the more delighted when the decorated tree then stands in your home. It becomes even more exciting when you cut down the tree yourselves and your child can be there.
Traditionally, the Christmas tree is only decorated on Christmas Eve and remains standing until the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Ideally, you should get the tree a few days earlier and set it up at home so that the branches can unfold.
Decorating with the family is the most fun – there are no limits to what you can do. Let your child help and be creative. It's best if your child decorates the lower part of the tree, that is everything that is within easy reach. The adults can decorate the upper part. But also let your children show you where each decoration belongs.
Tip: Explain to your children (depending on their age) that they must not play with the Christmas tree, so that your beautiful store-bought or handmade Christmas decorations don't get damaged and they don't hurt themselves. With all the colorful, dangling decorations that can be tempting, so it's best to address it right after decorating to avoid any nasty surprises.
Tips for Christmas gifts
Gifts are a must at Christmas and surely your little ones are already very excited about what awaits them under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. As parents, make sure in good time to think about suitable gifts, so that you don't get stressed shortly before Christmas and can look forward to the celebration with the whole family in a relaxed way.
Don't forget: write your wish list
The wish list has its firm place in the Advent season. For children, because it's important to them, to tell Santa Claus or the Christ Child their Christmas wishes. And for you parents it's practical because it's the shopping list for your Christmas shopping is. Whether the wish list is hung up at home or sent by post to one of the Christmas post offices, what's important is that it is written with lots of love and lovingly designed.
Homemade Christmas gifts
Giving homemade gifts yourself is almost as nice as being given something. Children know this too and are enthusiastic when it comes to painting and crafting for family and friends. Besides the classic homemade Christmas gifts such as handmade Christmas decorations and colorfully designed picture frames with a child's photo in addition, there are many other gift ideas that even the little ones can make.
How many presents should you give children?
There is no set number of gifts and also no right or wrong. How many gifts you give your child, is best decided by gut feeling and past experience. Too many gifts can overwhelm especially small children quickly, because they don't exactly know what to play with first. The more gifts you give, the less important each individual gift becomes. So consider whether you'd rather give many small delights or fulfill your child's big heartfelt wish. If you decide on fewer gifts, sweets and nuts as an extra are always well received by the little ones.
Avoid sibling quarrels during gift opening
When everyone has unwrapped their presents, among siblings the feeling may arise that the brother or sister got the better gift. The actual, material value of the gift usually doesn't matter to children and is, depending on age, not comprehensible – but that's precisely what makes it so difficult for parents to to gift siblings 'fairly'.
Rather, it depends on what the little ones wish for. Either a heartfelt wish comes true for both or for neither. If both get a long-awaited present, everyone is usually satisfied and it doesn't matter how much the gifts cost.
Recipes for cooking and baking with children
The Christmas season is full of delicious scents and aromas. Gingerbread and evergreen boughs, candles and holiday roast make the celebration what it is: a delight for the senses. Children enjoy the Christmas season even more when they are allowed to help with baking, cooking and crafting.
Delicious Christmas recipes for children
Of course cookies and gingerbread are not the only treats that Christmas has to offer. From delicious homemade sweets to fragrant baked apples to the warming Christmas punch for the cold days is the Advent season full of wonderful aromas that only exist at this time of year. A wonderful opportunity to try out delicious Christmas recipes together. The little ones can help and in the end it's delicious!
Christmas baking – twice as nice with children
The baking together is the most wonderful part of the entire pre-Christmas season for many children. It is usually a bit chaotic and tidying up takes a little longer than usual, but in return there is plenty of kneading, tasting, cutting out and decorating to your heart's content. Of course we also have the right tips for you, how Christmas baking can be stress-free for everyone involved and what to keep in mind.
The best Christmas movie classics for kids
In the weeks before Christmas it gets colder outside and really cozy inside – especially if you've planned a relaxed movie night with special Christmas classics! How about one of the following family films to set the mood for the peaceful Christmas season?
Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella
The Grinch
Kevin – Home Alone
Frozen
The Polar Express
Elliot, the Littlest Reindeer
3 tips for a relaxed Christmas
Christmas can be wonderful – and sometimes quite stressful. To prevent that from happening, we have 3 tips for a relaxed Christmas ready for you:
Plan together:Discuss with the kids how a wonderful Christmas for everyone could look – great ideas come together and everyone can share their wishes.
Assign tasks clearly:The success of your Christmas celebration doesn't have to rest on one person. If everyone has a task, for example decorating, the Christmas meal, or tidying up, things get done more easily and quickly, it helps prevent some Christmas chaos and no one is left alone with a mountain of work.
Agree on family time and alone time:It's nice to spend a lot of time together during the holidays. For that, you can set fixed times, which also increases anticipation. But moments alone — for adults as well as for children — are also important to recharge your batteries during the holidays. Consider such times when planning family meals, activities, and the like.
How to organize the gift-giving with children?
After the family Christmas dinner it is necessary to bridge the time until the gift-giving. A short winter walk is a good idea. One parent should preferably stay at home to prepare the gift-giving and put the presents under the Christmas tree. If it's snowing, you can even go sledding on the way or build a snowman before heading back home.
For the children, the excitement is now almost unbearable and the joy is huge when the presents are under the tree. A little bell rings to herald the gift-giving - and then unwrapping can begin. Often the little ones can hardly be restrained. But do let your child unwrap one present after another and take enough time so that no present gets lost. Then the new toy can be tried out in peace and you can enjoy the time together as a family to the fullest. Read Christmas stories together and enjoy the shared family time under the Christmas tree.
Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas with Children
At what age do children understand the background of Christmas?
How long have children believed in Santa Claus and the Christ Child?
Why are there presents at Christmas?
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Image credits
Child in front of Advent calendar © ninelutsk - stock.adobe.com
Children holding candles © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com
Two toddlers painting Christmas cards @ sweetlaniko - stock.adobe.com
Child decorating Christmas tree © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com
Mom and child nibble cookie dough © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com
Child with gift in arms © Irina Schmidt - stock.adobe.com