Redeeming Holidays with our Children Facebook
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Redeeming Holidays With Our Children

Redeeming Holidays With Our Children As parents, we desire to be intentional in living out Christ in front of our children in every way, including redeeming holidays with our children or using the opportunity of celebrating a holiday to show them Christ. So when our children were little, my husband and I talked about how we had celebrated holidays in our families growing up and what traditions we might want to share in our own family. We asked ourselves why we observed each holiday and talked to Christian friends about their traditions at holidays.  Also, we read Treasuring God in…

Image of a sheet of music with the words Hallelujah at a diagonal below the music. There are blue bars across the top and bottom of the image and at the top are the words 7 Reasons Why Your Family Should Investigate Messiah Oratorio
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Journey into Joy: 7 Reasons Why Your Family Should Investigate Handel’s Messiah

Could a centuries-old oratorio captivate the hearts of children? Handel’s Messiah most certainly can! In the world of classical music, George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah stands as a timeless masterpiece. Written in just 24 days in 1741, its first performance was in Dublin, Ireland in 1742 as a charity event, and later, it made its way to Covent Garden in London. It has become a standard work performed during the Christmas season. Beyond its beautiful melodies, there are compelling reasons to introduce children to this classical gem, from cultural enrichment to family connections. Here are 7 reasons why parents should…

Image of red background with out of focus lights and stars. In a white rectangle across the image are the words "The Best Classical Christmas Music for Kids."
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The Best Classical Christmas Music for Kids

The Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year. So goes the song. And when it comes to finding engaging classical music to study with your children, there are definitely some wonderful and familiar pieces from the Christmas season which will help your children to fall in love with classical music. The ideal place to start with classical music is with short listening pieces. Here is the best short classical Christmas music for kids. Most of them are pieces from longer works, which are all worthy of listening to in their entirety when you and your child are…

Image of a fan with an American flag print and confetti above it. A red rectangle at a diagonal is in the left hand corner with the words, "Patriotic summer music activities for kids."
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Patriotic Summer Music Activities for Kids

Patriotic Summer Music Activities for Kids Since we have several patriotic holidays over the summer, you can bring a little structure and fun to your days by doing patriotic summer music activities with your kids. Sing patriotic songs, learn a little history, add in crafts, and you will have a fun America-themed unit study for even just 15 minutes a day. Where to start: A great place to start is to learn some of the American songs of the past and their history, like The Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, My Country ‘Tis of Thee, and Yankee…

Image of stack of books with the top book open to pictures of a shepherd and a nativity scene with title Best Christmas Books for Kids
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Best Christmas Books for Kids

Christmas is coming, and as intentional parents seeking to point our children to Jesus in every holiday, one way of enjoying the holiday, teaching its meaning, and creating memories is through reading the many wonderful Christmas books for kids as a family. These are the best Christmas books for kids that keep the focus on Christ or tell the legends of Saint Nicholas, candy canes, and cookies or teach valuable character lessons. Retellings of Christ’s birth: The Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt The Tale of Three Trees (Hardcover) By Angela Elwell Hunt Featuring the wonderful illustrations of Tim Jonke,…

Picture of white numbers on red stars and clipped to bags of an Advent calendar with title 7 Reasons to Start an Advent Calendar Devotional Tradition
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7 Reasons to Start an Advent Calendar Devotional Tradition

Advent calendars are a popular way to count down the days to Christmas. I have seen a variety of them, such as boxes with doors to open each day to get a piece of chocolate, Lego calendars, garlands, etc. But most of the Advent calendars I see in big box stores focus on the arrival of Santa at Christmas rather than on the arrival of Christ. While it is a clever commercial tactic, Advent is actually a church tradition. What is Advent? Advent (adventus) is a Latin word meaning arrival or coming. In the liturgical calendar of the church, Advent…

Picture of 3 children wearing turkey headbands and holding Thanksgiving crafts
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Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

As we seek to redeem every holiday with our children by pointing them to God and all He has done for us, Thanksgiving is a terrific holiday for making crafts which teach gratitude, while some are just fun for fall! Here are some of our favorite easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids! Fun Crafts for Thanksgiving 1. Thanksgiving Turkey Headband Our kids love to dress up, so we have a pilgrim hat, a native costume, and for super cute pictures, each child has a Thanksgiving Turkey Headband. Get the pattern here. 2. Turkey Placemats We often make crafts as decorations for…

picture of books and Pilgrim girl with title Favorite Thanksgiving Books
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Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids

Thanksgiving is an especially valuable holiday to pause and remember our history and to thank God for all He has done for us. As we seek to redeem every holiday with our children by pointing them to God, one way of enjoying the holiday and teaching its meaning is through the many wonderful Thanksgiving books for kids. History of the Thanksgiving holiday The history of Thanksgiving is of a people who desired to venerate God in every aspect of their lives, so we can start by teaching our children the history of the Pilgrims, the journey on the Mayflower, and…

How to make a Resurrection Garden for Easter
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How to Make a Resurrection Garden for Easter

If you are looking for Christ-centered activities for Easter to do with your children, you will love learning how to make a Resurrection garden for Easter. A Resurrection garden is a life-filled visual lesson of the empty tomb. If you plant it several weeks before Easter, it can be a decorative conversation piece for Easter day, or plant it while telling the Easter story during Easter week. As parents who want to be intentional in teaching Christ at every holiday, we love planting a Resurrection garden! RESURRECTION GARDEN SUPPLIES Directions: 1. Place the small clay pot on its side in…

How to make Resurrection Rolls for Easter
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How to Make Resurrection Rolls for Easter

Are you seeking Christ-centered activities for Easter to do with your children? Learn how to make Resurrection rolls for Easter. Resurrection Rolls are a fun object lesson combined with a yummy treat. This simple recipe uses Crescent rolls and a disappearing marshmallow for a roll that oozes with all the deliciousness of a cinnamon roll! As parents who want to be intentional in teaching Christ at every holiday, we love these Resurrection Rolls! Ingredients:  Additional Materials:  Directions: 1. Prep the ingredients If using a devotional, make the first roll to demonstrate and talk your kids through the devotional. Then the kids…

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