The Meaning of the Nativity Story for Children

Christmas time is an exciting time for young and old. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, the holiday lights and the family get-togethers, take a moment to pause with your kids to remember the reason for the season. As the holiday becomes increasingly commercialized, it's more important than ever to teach your children the true meaning of Christmas -- the story of the Nativity.

  1. Joseph and Mary

    • Mary was a young woman who was engaged to be married to a carpenter named Joseph. One night, an angel visited Mary and told her that she would miraculously become the mother of God's son. An angel also visited Joseph in a dream and explained to him that Mary's baby was the son of God. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem while she was pregnant. When they arrived in Bethlehem, most of the people of Bethlehem wouldn't make room for a young couple with a baby on the way. The only place they could find for Mary to give birth was in a stable with animals.

    Shepherds and Angels

    • While Mary was giving birth to Jesus, the son of God, angels appeared to shepherds who were taking care of their sheep in the fields. The angels sang songs offering praise to God and comfort to people. They told the shepherds that a baby was being born in Bethlehem, who would be the Christ. The shepherds knew that God had said that the Christ was someone God had promised to send to teach his people and to save them from their sins, so they went to see the baby. God could have chosen anybody to be the first to know about the birth of his son, but he chose simple, hardworking, poor shepherds.

    Wise Men

    • God placed a special star over the place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Wise men who understood that the star meant that a new king had been born followed the star to the place where Jesus and his family were. They brought gifts of gold and valuable spices with them for the baby king. When the wise men found Jesus, they gave him their gifts and worshipped him. To this day, Christians give gifts at Christmas, partly to commemorate the gifts given to Jesus by the wise men.

    Baby Jesus

    • The focus of the Nativity story is God's greatest gift to mankind -- the gift of his son, who came to teach people, to save them for their sins and ultimately, to die on a cross in their place. Jesus is the centerpiece -- the most important part -- of the Nativity story. Even when he was a baby, Jesus was worshipped as the son of God who came to save mankind by angels, shepherds and wise men. Today, all people are invited to worship him, both at Christmas time and throughout the year.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Meet a Boyfriend's Children
      Whether youre a mom or not, meeting your boyfriends children may make you anywhere from slight uneasy to super stressed. According to HealthyChildren.org, roughly 20 percent of kids who are living in two-parent homes are part of blended families. If
    • How to Divide Chores Using a Card Game
      If your youngsters are spending so much time battling over who has to pick up those old socks or who spilled the milk on the floor that no chores are getting done, it’s time to shake things up a little. Make cleanup time less of a rotten task b
    • The Best Toys for a 5 Year Old Boy
      At the age of five, play is not just play for boys. Play is learning and exploring. Many of the simple games boys play at the age of five can teach them valuable lessons about personal interests and socializing. There are also many games for this age