THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS
By Liz Hansen
The preschool years are an incredible time to incite wonder in the heart of a child. Wonder at a Creator who cried out,
“Let there be light!”
God made beauty.
He made mystery.
He is both.
And he hard-wired our kids, in varying ways, to respond to it.
Christmas provides an especially rich opportunity to encourage that wonder in your preschooler:
1. Offer lots of hands-on experiences.
Frankly, it’s hard to let a preschooler “help.” It takes at least 3.7 times as long. It’s
exponentially messier. But something amazing happens when you set the stage, and then allow
your child to lead the way.
very different circumstances.
2. Create beautiful things.
Well-crafted stories can reflect the beauty and imagination of the incredible True Story
that God is telling. Music and art can do the same. Find ways to introduce your preschooler,
whether it’s through reading preschool versions of the Christmas Story or listening to different
genres of Christmas music in the car.
watch their eyes to see the wonder unfold.
For more blog posts
and parenting resources, visit: ParentCue.org
By Liz Hansen
The preschool years are an incredible time to incite wonder in the heart of a child. Wonder at a Creator who cried out,
“Let there be light!”
God made beauty.
He made mystery.
He is both.
And he hard-wired our kids, in varying ways, to respond to it.
Christmas provides an especially rich opportunity to encourage that wonder in your preschooler:
1. Offer lots of hands-on experiences.
Frankly, it’s hard to let a preschooler “help.” It takes at least 3.7 times as long. It’s
exponentially messier. But something amazing happens when you set the stage, and then allow
your child to lead the way.
- Let your preschooler select and package gifts for a child in need. Encourage your
very different circumstances.
- Invite your child to decorate with you. Put them in charge of ornaments for the lower
2. Create beautiful things.
- Your child is made in the image of the God who beautiful things. So give them a
- Christmas cookies! Whatever your method, don’t let your child miss the flat-out miracle that all those various ingredients mix together into a glop that somehow turns into a delicious cookie with an overdose of sprinkles.
- Turn on the lights. Tap into a child’s delight in anything that glows or lights up. Make a Christmas wonderland of their bedroom by stringing up multi-colored lights or do bath time in the (mostly) dark with red and green glow sticks.
Well-crafted stories can reflect the beauty and imagination of the incredible True Story
that God is telling. Music and art can do the same. Find ways to introduce your preschooler,
whether it’s through reading preschool versions of the Christmas Story or listening to different
genres of Christmas music in the car.
- When you read the Christmas story, explore and ask questions. How do you think Mary felt about being so far from home when she had Baby Jesus? What do you think it was like for the shepherds when all those angels showed up?
- Grab a few electric candles or flashlights and go sing your child’s favorite Christmas songs for the neighbors at dusk.
watch their eyes to see the wonder unfold.
For more blog posts
and parenting resources, visit: ParentCue.org