Complete Parents' Guide: Christmas Tips for Teaching Children How to Give Gifts

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Any Family Can Make Christmas Shopping and Gift-Giving a Teaching Experience

Every child and every family knows that receiving gifts is part of the Christmas experience. But did you ever consider that Christmas presents (no pun intended) a golden opportunity to teach children (and others) how to give gifts?

After all, the gifts of the magi are (or should be) mentioned every Christmas. Those gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh (as mentioned in Matthew 2) form the very basis for the tradition of giving and receiving gifts. So why not capitalize on that aspect of our Christmas celebrations to help children learn from the magi’s example the importance, blessing, and “best practice” for gift-giving? Here are four:

Teach Kids to Plan Their Giving

Clearly, before the magi even left their home country in the east, they had to have planned ahead. Back in those days, there wasn’t a Wal-Mart or Walgreens on every corner, and no truck stops on their route. They had to have planned their gifts ahead of time before they left home...perhaps a year or more in advance.

So perhaps, while you’re helping children compile wish lists for themselves, coach them also—even the youngest ones—to plan what gifts they can give family members, friends, classmates, teachers, and neighbors. You might also coach them, while in a planning mode, to ask, “Do I know anyone who’s likely to get neglected this Christmas? Someone who might be forgotten? Someone who might be alone?” Adding such people to their plans can make a huge impression.

Teach Kids to Personalize Their Giving

The gifts of the magi the Bible mentions are insightful, personalized gifts. Gold was a gift fit for a king, as Jesus is. Frankincense—incense—was a perfect gift for a priest, as Jesus is. And myrrh was a spice used in burial, appropriate for the one sent to suffer and die for the sins of the world.

Not that the magi actually grasped the whole story of who the baby in Bethlehem was, but whether on purpose or by divine intervention, they gave personalized gifts to the Christ child. So, use them as a model and teach your children to give in a way that says, “I know you, I care about you, I’ve paid attention to what you like, and I love the way God wired you.”

Teach Kids to Pay an Appropriate Price

The magi’s gifts, of course, were not from a clearance bin at the Dollar Store; they were precious. They may even have financed the family’s flight to and sojourn in Egypt (though again, the magi couldn’t have known that).

That doesn’t mean teaching children that gifts have to cost an arm and a leg. Part of the planning involved in teaching kids about gift-giving can be some age-appropriate lessons in money management. But it should also include teaching them that the best gifts are more often creative than expensive. They’re not always material. And they should be consistent with Biblical stewardship.

Teach Kids to Pay Attention to Presentation

The magi got their presentation right. The Bible says, very specifically, that before they presented their gifts to Jesus, “They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh” (Matthew 2:1-11 NIV).

They didn’t just send their gifts Camel Express or leave them on the doorstep. They intensified the effect of their gifts by how they presented them.

So teach kids that we don’t just toss our gifts at one another but take care to lovingly and thoughtfully present them, perhaps saying something like, “I hope you like it; I chose it just for you.” Or even, “I want you to know why I am giving this particular gift to you.”

And wouldn’t it be something if we all started a new tradition in our homes, before we start the mad exchange and the tearing of wrapping paper, and the yelling and screaming, if we would pay a little attention to presentation and say, “Hey, before we give our gifts to each other, we’re going to spend a few moments giving our humble worship to the ultimate Gift-Giver, and to the reason we celebrate this day. We’re going to take a few moments and remind ourselves that before we ever gave or received our first toy or trinket at Christmas, God put on a gift-giving clinic by giving his one and only Son to accomplish forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life for all who trust in him (see John 3:16)?

Let’s let God’s thoughtfulness and love—and that of the magi—fuel our gift-giving this Christmas, and on every special occasion to come.

Consider TruPlay Games in Your Christmas Plans

Have you discovered the entertaining and biblical Christmas content in the TruPlay Games app? Did you know there are Christmas videos and comics in the app? Families can turn to the TruPlay Games app to help children experience the full meaning of Christmas. Among the many unique features of the TruPlay app is a series of short videos that depict Rhymverse characters such as Maple the tiger bunny and Oliver the biblical fox talking about “How to Christmas,” “The Best Gift Ever,” and more, including an Action Bible digital comic book telling the story of Jesus’ birth.

TruPlay's website (TruPlayGames.com) clearly details the app's offerings, and free downloads, trials, and gift subscriptions are available in both the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Explore the following links to unlock a richer Christmas experience for your kids:

● https://www.truplaygames.com/games-more

● https://www.truplaygames.com/user-registration

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