Tell Your Children The Christmas Story

Cover of The Story of Jesus (Little Golden Book)

As part of your Christmas celebrations this year, why not set aside some time to tell your children the Christmas story, even if you have done it before? We can never talk too much about how God sent His only begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins. It's a beautiful story and one which we need to keep in the forefront of our children's minds.

The simplest way, of course, would be to sit them down and tell them the story, but for younger children you may have to be a bit more creative. If you feel inadequate to doing this, here are a few hints to make this task not only easier, but fun.

1. Buy your child a picture book that depicts the story of Christmas and read it to him/her. A good choice is The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson. It has beautiful artwork and colors that will appeal to a young child.

2. You and your child can build a nativity set using fabric, felt or even decorating bottles to represent the Holy Family. For the enclosure, use a box, some straw, fabric, markers, snow and whatever else you fancy and let your imagination, and your child's, run wild.

3. Now that your child knows the story and you have made your nativity set, the whole family can dress up in costumes - you don't have to buy these, sheets and scarves will do - and re-enact the Christmas story on Christmas Eve night or whenever you choose. By the time you get through, the story of Jesus' birth, it will be indelibly impressed on your child's mind. This may become a family tradition.

Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me:  for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19: 14).