Guest Blogger Deb del Villar serves as Director of Communications for the Legacy Coalition, a grandparenting ministry deeply committed to helping grandparents pass on their faith so multiple generations of their family will follow Christ. She is a follower of Christ, devoted wife, mom of three adult children, fourteen grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
CHRISTMAS IS UPON US—that wonderful season that seems to arrive earlier every year! Stores display garlands and ornaments right alongside fall pumpkins and leaves. I try not to rush ahead of the calendar, reminding myself to pause and enjoy each season as it comes.
But I’ll admit—when it comes to Christmas music, my resolve weakens. I love the songs of Christmas! The title of this post, Do You Know What I Know?, is a little play on one of my favorite carols, Do You Hear What I Hear?
As the season unfolds, I find myself reflecting on how to make it truly meaningful—not just for me, but for my grandchildren. How can I intentionally share the real story of Christmas with them? What do I want them to know—deep in their hearts—about what we celebrate?
Our grandchildren range in age from eleven to twenty-two, with two great-grands under five. That’s quite a spread! But no matter the age or stage, my desire is the same: that they would truly know the true meaning of Christmas. The way I share it changes with their age, but the message never does.
- Use Words to Tell the Story
Let’s start with the simplest and most powerful tool we have—our words.
For the littlest ones, I love to bring out a sturdy nativity set that’s safe for small hands. As they play, I tell the story of Jesus’ birth. What a joy it is to watch them cradle baby Jesus and carry Him around! One grandson even insisted on sleeping with baby Jesus one year.
As the grands grow, we move from play to reading Scripture and even memorizing parts of Luke 2 together. Our Advent wreath sits in the center of our dining table, and each evening we light a candle, read a verse, and pray together. Over the years, the grands have loved dressing up and acting out the Christmas story—it brings the truth of that night in Bethlehem to life.
And then, of course, there’s the music! The carols we sing are full of rich theology—messages of hope, redemption, and love. Play them in the background while baking cookies, wrapping gifts, or decorating. Let those truths fill your home and their hearts.
If your grandchildren live far away, technology makes it easier than ever to stay connected. Send a quick Marco Polo or Zoom message to share a verse or short encouragement. If they’re in a Christmas concert or pageant, let them know you’re praying for them, and follow up afterward with a call.
For older grands, try texting a verse a day leading up to Christmas—or just for the 12 days of Christmas. You could even record yourself reading the Christmas story and send it as an audio or video message. Little touches like these remind them that they are loved, both by you and by Jesus.
- Use Visual Reminders
Sometimes the most powerful messages don’t require any words at all.
Throughout our home, you’ll find nativity scenes—large, small, handmade, and gifted—all constant reminders that “God loved us and sent His Son” (1 John 4:10). Outside, our Christmas lights shine as a reminder that Jesus is the Light of the World.
Take a nighttime drive with your grands to look at Christmas lights, and talk about how light shines brightest in the darkness—just as Jesus did when He came to earth.
Try eating dinner by candlelight during the Advent season. The soft glow invites reflection. For little ones, make a “star-themed” meal with food cut into star shapes. Talk about the star that led the wise men to Jesus. For older grands, challenge them to find other places in Scripture where stars appear and discuss what they represent.
Another meaningful tradition is gifting an ornament or decoration each year. When we downsized, we let our grands choose from my nativity collection or Grandad’s lighted village houses. As they picked one, we shared the story behind it. These keepsakes become visual reminders of both family love and God’s faithfulness.
- Plan Activities that Reinforce the Message
While children might be focused on their wish lists, we can gently redirect their attention to Emmanuel—God with us.
One of our favorite traditions is the Advent activity calendar. Each morning, the grandchildren open a little door to discover that day’s activity—something fun or meaningful we’ll do together. It might be building a puzzle, baking cookies, serving at a food pantry, or attending a live nativity.
The key isn’t the activity itself—it’s the togetherness. Those shared moments open doors to talk about God’s faithfulness throughout the year.
Games can also become faith-builders. Try Christmas-themed charades, Scattergories, or Pictionary using words and phrases from the nativity story. The laughter that follows often leads to deeper conversations.
Younger grandchildren love scavenger hunts like The Shepherd’s Treasure or Manger in Danger. You can even make your own by writing parts of Luke 2 on slips of paper and hiding them around the house. As they find and arrange the verses, the story unfolds. For toddlers, use pictures or small objects that represent each part of the story.
Another favorite is making story stones—small rocks painted with symbols from the Christmas story. Each year, the grands add to their collection. It’s a joy to see their creativity and hear how they interpret each symbol.
- Bridge the Distance
If you can’t be with your grands in person, don’t let distance keep you from connecting.
Send a “Flat Grandma” or “Flat Grandpa”—a photo cutout of yourself—to your grandchildren and invite them to take pictures of “you” joining their Christmas activities. Older grands might even journal about your flat alter ego’s adventures! You can do the same with their photos on your end. (This creative idea comes from Long-Distance Grandparenting by Wayne Rice.)
You can also make and mail a Scripture countdown chain with 24 links, each containing a verse or simple activity. Encourage them to remove one link each day leading up to Christmas. It builds anticipation while keeping Christ at the center.
- Pass It On
Deuteronomy 4:9 reminds us: “Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” That’s our sacred calling as grandparents—to pass on our faith and the story of God’s love. So as the sounds, smells, and sights of Christmas surround you, take time to share the why behind the celebration. It will outlast any carol, cookie, or twinkling light.
My prayer is that our grandchildren will not only know about Emmanuel, God with us, but come to know personally Emmanuel, God within them.
May your Christmas be filled with joy, peace, and moments of holy wonder as you make Jesus known to those you love most.
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