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I love watching my kids faces when they give something that they’re really proud of to someone else! Especially at this time of year, we love finding Christmas service ideas for our family and implementing them.
Our kids have grown up loving to secretly deliver goodies to neighbors throughout the year, and find other ways to serve those around us.
At Christmas time, I try to especially put an emphasis on serving others. I want them to know that while Santa, and presents and everything about Christmas is fun, it’s really about Jesus Christ. And when they’re looking outside of themselves, they feel the true meaning of the season! And that’s what makes Christmas really special!
So here are some of the Christmas Service ideas that we really love this time of year!
Christmas Service Ideas for Families
There are lots of things that you can do as individuals, but we love serving together as a family. So here are the things we have found that we like to do!
Christmas Goodies Doorbell Ditch
We love to make all sorts of goodies and drop them off with cute tags. By this point in time all our neighbors probably know it’s us, but it’s still so fun! I love watching the kids try to sneak up to the door and then run as fast as they can back to the car!
We have a really fun time doorbell ditching goodies through the neighborhood. The kids always look forward to when we are going to go out and deliver goodies.
It’s fun to watch them give away something that they would really love to have, and be happy and excited about it.
We usually let the kids pick where they want to go deliver goodies, thinking about those in the neighborhood who have struggles and could use something uplifting!
They always do a WAY better job than I think they will with choosing people who really need something happy.
This is probably my favorite way to serve as a family because the kids really get to be involved.
You could also do this where you just drop by for a visit and leave some goodies without doorbell ditching. Either way it’s really great to drop off a little dose of happy to someone!
Snow Removal
We were way better at this when we did have as many kids! But it still happens on occasion! When it snows the kids want to be outside playing anyways, so why not grab some shovels and go shovel off a neighbors driveway?
We have little shovels for the kids, and they actually do a great job of it! While simultaneously shoveling the snow into the spaces you have already cleared.
But once they have helped I let them play in the snow and we finish with a nice cup of hot chocolate! It’s a good incentive for a good deed!
And the neighbors who really can’t shovel their own snow for themselves really appreciate this gesture! It’s really one of those pretty simple Christmas service ideas that can have a big impact on one person!
Christmas Breakfast
The first Christmas we moved into our current house we woke up Christmas morning to a brown paper bag on our porch. Inside of the bag was everything we needed to make a nice Christmas breakfast! Eggs, Juice, Sausage and hash-browns.
To this day I still have no idea who had that brilliant and kind idea, but we haven’t ever forgotten how welcome it made us feel in this neighborhood!
Whether there is a real need for a Christmas breakfast or not, the gesture will be appreciated! It’s not something that is super expensive but again, can have a big impact on those who receive it!
Family Dinners
I have to really like someone to want to get out of our bubble and do dinner with them. So sometimes this one can be really difficult for me. Usually once we get into the night and our company arrives I have a great time, and am always glad we had them over.
It can be difficult in the hustle of the season to find an evening that works. But I have found that even a simple dinner, or even dessert with some friends or families in the neighborhood is always appreciated!
We like to invite people who have kids so our kids can play while we spend time with the adults. It’s a great way to get to know people better and to serve them as a family!
We have also done other variations of this and invited other families to join us in making sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, or other Christmas crafts!
12 Days of Christmas
I love doing the 12 day of Christmas. I remember doing it as a kid with my family. I’m sure you have heard of this idea, but if you haven’t it’s basically a countdown to Christmas starting on the 13th of December and counting down. You take different items to the same house for 12 days and count down to Christmas.
These printables just have the days so you can choose what you want to take. And these printables have a cute little poem and ideas of what to take each day.
It’s fun to choose a family in need, grandparents, or friends and take a secret delivery over everyday! It also gives the kids something to look forward to doing every day to help them look outside of themselves!
Giving Tree Shopping
There are lots of variations of the giving tree. Our daughters school has a giving tree for the students who are less fortunate. You can find these in churches, stores, and schools, or look them up online.
We like to choose kids that are similar ages to our kids. Then we take our kids to the store and let them pick our a gift they would really love, for someone else. I love watching them pick out and then really want what they pick.
And yet they always seem to realize that it’s okay for them to give it to someone else! Even though it’s something they would’ve really wanted for themselves.
I have found that when they go with us to do the shopping for the giving tree and pick something they would love it means so much more for them to give.
Neighbor Gift Delivery
We like to do a gift for our neighbors that live near us and throughout the neighborhood. We like to let the kids help us decide what to do, assemble or make it, and then deliver it.
Usually we knock on people’s doors and let the kids greet them and tell them Merry Christmas, and our kids LOVE it!
They look forward to delivering our neighbor Christmas gifts every year. And I love watching them catch the Spirit of Christmas!
Light the World
I love this calendar of service for the month of December! The Light the World Initiative is just a calendar of really simple ways you can serve each day to help “Light the World.”
Most of the things take just a few minutes, but help to bring joy to others! You can print out the calendar or sign up for daily text message reminders! They are great little Christmas Service Ideas!
It’s fun to get together as a family in the evening and discuss how you found a way to complete that days act of service! Especially with little kids, it’s so sweet to see the ways they find to serve!
Family Christmas Traditions involving Service!
Beyond serving those around us, it’s important to me to teach my kids to serve each other. Fortunately there are lots of reminders during Christmas that allow them to serve more frequently. These are the Christmas Service Ideas we have used in our home!
Fill the Manger with Hay
We have a little manger similar to this one. We also have a movie called The Last Straw that is pretty cheesy, but does a good job of explaining and illustrating how to use the manger.
There are lots of different ways to do this, but the whole idea it to do random acts of kindness for your family members. And every time that you serve someone in your family you get to put a piece of hay into the manger.
As a family you try to fill the manger before Christmas Eve so there is a soft bed for baby Jesus. It’s a really fun way to measure the acts of service your kids (and you) do for each other. And really adds meaning and purpose to the Christmas season within your own home!
Giving Star
In my home growing up we had a “Giving Star” that would show up at the beginning of December. And who ever started with the giving star would go do something for someone else, like make their bed. Then they would leave the giving star on their bed. Or wherever they had done their act of service.
The Giving Star would travel through the family and to different areas of the home as one person looked for opportunities to serve another.
It was always so fun to walk into your room to find it cleaned and the giving star. Or to see your chore was finished with the giving star. And then to try to think of something you could do for someone else so you could give them the giving star.
Christmas Book Tradition
One of our favorite family Christmas Traditions is to read Christmas Books every evening. While it isn’t really a way we are serving each other, it’s so uplifting to read Christmas stories and hear the beautiful stories of Christmas.
You can read all about this Family Christmas Tradition here.
We all look forward to our time together each evening reading wholesome and happy Christmas stories!
Kids Gift Exchange
Another great way to teach kids to look outside themselves during Christmas is to have them exchange gifts with their siblings. Whether they buy for all of their siblings, or choose just one, it’s a great way to have them look outside of themselves.
I have heard of families that have their kids do chores to earn the money to purchase the gifts for their siblings.
In our family we give our kids a limit and take them to the store individually to choose a present for one another. I love watching them contemplate what their sibling likes and choosing a gift they think will be perfect for them.
Christmas morning my kids are always so excited to do their sibling exchange. And as fun as it is to watch them get presents from one another, it’s more fun to watch the sibling who is giving the gift. They’re always so excited and can’t wait to see the reaction of their sibling.
Secret Santa
Christmas morning is already pretty overwhelming at our house, so another fun way to do a gift exchange with siblings it to do a secret Santa. Where they get to leave little treats and gifts for one another. Or do acts of service for one another.
This is typically done by choosing one name and then being that person’s secret Santa. You could even switch people for each week in December, so you get to serve more than just one person.
This is fun to see the different ways that kids think the other person feels loved and appreciated.
Find other Service Opportunities In Your Area
If you’re looking for some other service activities you can do individually or as a family, check out justserve.org where you can type in your location and find lots of different opportunities to serve in your area all year around, not just at Christmas time!
It’s so rewarding to watch your kids serve someone else, and love it! I love the time we get to serve others together as a family. I feel like it helps our family grow closer together. And teaches our kids to appreciate things!
In addition, I love the Spirit of Christmas that it brings into our lives as we provide meaningful service to others. While they have something to gain from our service, we have so much to gain too!
These are just a few Christmas Service Ideas, but they are meaningful and have an impact on those who you serve! So good luck this Christmas season, I hope you find some special way for your family to participate in service together!
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