With the arrival of the Christmas season Sunday School teachers have a wonderful opportunity to teach children about the birth of Christ, and help them understand the spiritual aspects of this joyous holiday. Use these Sunday School Christmas party ideas to help keep your kids focused on Jesus Christ.
Children love holiday parties, and they look forward to getting gifts at Christmas, so keep these traditions in place for your Sunday School party. You can also be sure to impart the message of Christmas in the gifts you give and the lessons you teach.
Decorations
Traditional decorations are fun and interesting for children. You may choose to have children help you put up a small tree in your classroom, as well as to decorate with wreaths and Christmas ornaments. You might also take this time to set up a classroom Nativity and explain each part and person as a child places them in the proper place. Any decorations you can find which display the message “Jesus is the reason for the season” or share parts of the Christmas story, will be helpful as well.
Activities
Decorate a Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is a symbol of Christ’s everlasting love, and of our everlasting life through him. Thus, the traditional Christmas tree is an Evergreen. As you and the children decorate the tree together, be sure to share it’s meaning, and let children know that Jesus is the “reason” for this season. Children will enjoy this activity immensely.
Ornaments
Child Evangelism Fellowship is a wonderful source for the “wordless book.” The book teaches children the message of salvation through the use of colors. As you and the children hang ornaments, you can present the message of salvation through the colors of the ornaments you hang.
Apples for the Teacher offers wonderful resources for Sunday School and Christmas party crafts, games and activities. These are all Christ-centered activities.
Cake
Have a birthday cake with the children. It should say “Happy Birthday Jesus."
Snacks
- Candy canes (there is a wonderful story about how candy canes came into being. See snopes.com for the whole story.) The candy cane is also the letter J, as in Jesus.
- Decorate Christmas cookies together. Stars, ornaments, and cross shaped cookies offer chances to teach the children the message of Christmas, as well as to enjoy the snack!
Goody Bags
Kids love presents, so be sure to include some take-home treats for them.
- Miniature candy canes
- Puzzle books
- Wordless books (available through Child Evangelism Fellowship, or you can make your own for very cheap.)
- Pocket crosses
- Miniature New Testaments
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