“Christmas magic is silent. You don’t hear it – you feel it, you know it, you believe it.”-Unknown

While Christmas is the most magical and special time of the year, it can also be the most greedy when you have kids.

Have you ever noticed that all of a sudden, every commercial that comes on TV is a different toy and your kids literally want every single one of them? I can’t be alone on this!

It is so important to me that my daughter learns what Christmas is all about and that she is lucky to have all the things she does. This time of the year is about so much more than the stuff that we get and the money that we spend.

Since she was little, every chance we get we donate toys, clothes and other things that we have that we no longer want or need. She helps us put the items in bags, choose what we are going to donate and she goes with us to the donation bins.

I try to always explain to her that we have so much and are so blessed and there are people in the world who don’t have what we do. That there are children in our area who don’t have toys or books.

I want her to be grateful for our beautiful life and to realize that we can help others.

A few years ago, when my daughter was about three years old, we were talking to her about Christmas and the true meaning of the holidays and all about Santa.

On Christmas Eve, before going to bed, she came out of her room with one of her Barbie dolls. She told us that if Santa was going to bring her a gift then she wanted to leave him a gift too. I couldn’t believe that this little person had come up with that idea all on her own. (Proud mom moment!)

We set out cookies and milk for the big guy and wrote him a note. In the note, she had me write to Santa that the treats were for him and to take the doll that she left under the tree.

The next year, she did the same thing and left another Barbie under the tree.

When she was five years old and Christmas rolled around again, she wanted to do something a little different. She decided that since she gets so many toys for Christmas, that she wanted to give Santa a Barbie to take and bring to a little girl who doesn’t have any Barbies.

It was the most beautiful and innocent thing I have ever witnessed, embodying what Christmas is all about.

Since then, we have done this every year and we have named it our “One Gift To Santa” tradition. It is by far my favorite part of the season.

This tradition reminds us, each Christmas, that the holidays aren’t about the gifts. It is about giving back and sharing our blessings. Christmas is about spreading kindness all over the world and taking the time to reflect on all the beautiful things around us.

If you are looking for a way to teach your little ones about the true meaning of Christmas, try the “One Gift To Santa” tradition this year!

Here’s How It Works:

The week before Christmas, have your kids pick one toy that they leave under the tree for Santa to take to a little boy or girl who may not have as much.

Talk to them about why it is important to give back and how amazing it is to share their toys. It may not be easy for them to give something away at first, but eventually it will become something that they can feel proud of doing.

Then, on Christmas Eve, sit down together and wrap the gift. Write a note to Santa telling him about the gift and that he can find it under the tree.

Before the kids go to sleep on Christmas Eve, help them place it under the tree for Santa to take!

Year after year, even as your kids get older, keep this tradition alive and donate a toy to a child in need. It is, honestly, what it is all about!

Do you have any traditions that help you remember the meaning of Christmas?