Family Feature

Love One Another This Christmas

Here is an article originally published in the College Campus Newsletters, reproduced here for your reflection and inspiration.

The Christmas and summer holidays are a beautiful window of time each year. School slows down, routines soften and families finally have room to breathe again. Yet for many parents, this season can also slip past in a blur of busyness, overspending and exhaustion.

This year, I would like to encourage our Waverley Christian College families to pause, reset and intentionally make memories that celebrate what Christmas is truly about—the birth of Jesus, the gift of God’s love and the blessing of family. Here are some simple, meaningful and low-cost ideas to help you connect with your children and make this holiday season one they will remember.

1. Create Unhurried Moments with Each Child

Every child longs to feel seen. These holidays, try setting aside short, individual pockets of time with each child—even just 20–30 minutes at a time.

Some simple ideas:

Go for a slow neighbourhood walk together and ask gentle, open questions
Sit outside with a cold drink and talk about what they’ve enjoyed this year
Invite them to show you something they love—art, a game, sport, music, books
Bake something together (even packet muffins feel special when it’s one-on-one)

Ask questions like: 'What made you proud this year?' 'What was hard?' 'What are you dreaming about for next year?' These small moments often lead to big conversations and deeper connection.

2. Make Jesus the Centre of Christmas

Children remember the traditions we weave into Christmas. Here are some easy ways to bring Jesus into the season:

Read the Christmas story (Luke 2) by the tree on Christmas Eve
Light a candle and take turns sharing one thing you’re grateful to God for
Create a family 'kindness calendar', doing one act of kindness each day in December
Make a birthday cake for Jesus and pray together before you eat it
Choose one toy to donate to bless another child—teach generosity in action

These gentle rhythms help children understand the heart of Christmas: God with us.

3. Make Memories Without Spending Money

Some of the best holiday moments cost nothing at all:

Build a cubby house out of sheets and have a family movie night inside
Picnic at a local park and bring a ball or frisbee
Visit the beach early or late for a quieter time together
Make homemade icy poles or fruit smoothies
Go on a 'Christmas lights walk' in your local streets
Have a water-balloon afternoon (cheap, fun and unforgettable!)
Create a family photo scavenger hunt

Children rarely remember what we bought. They remember how we made them feel.

4. Start a Family Reflection Tradition

Holidays give space to look back and look forward. Try one of these:

'Roses, Thorns, Buds' – Everyone shares a Rose (highlight), Thorn (challenge), and Bud (something they’re hopeful for)
Family Prayer Time – Once a week, pray for each other by name
Blessing Words – Parents speak a short blessing over each child—it builds identity and security

5. Slow Down and Be Present

Sometimes the greatest gift you can give your children is your attention. Try this:

Put your phone away for one hour each day
Let your child choose what the family does for an afternoon
Say 'yes' to something fun—even if it’s messy!

Presence communicates love more powerfully than perfect plans.

6. Celebrate Who God Made Each Child to Be

Each child is unique. The holidays are a wonderful time to discover (or rediscover!) their God-given personality, strengths and interests. Try:

Asking, 'What makes you excited?' or 'What do you feel God is growing in you?'
Encouraging them in ways you’ve seen them reflect Jesus this year—kindness, courage, honesty, compassion
Writing a short note of affirmation and leaving it on their pillow

These small gestures speak deeply into a child’s identity.

A Final Encouragement

As parents and grandparents, we don’t need to be perfect. Our children don’t need expensive outings. They need us—our presence, our attention, our laughter, our warmth, our love and our faith.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may our homes be filled with peace, joy, togetherness, and moments that grow into lifelong memories. From all of us at Waverley Christian College, we pray your Christmas season is blessed, restful and full of God’s goodness.

Mrs Kathy Scott

Campus Student Chaplain (NWS)