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We like the whole giving-and-receiving tradition of Christmas because it celebrates God’s greatest gift – His Son, bringing His grace — and face it, it’s just fun! But sometimes we get discouraged at not just the commercialization of the holiday, but how thoughtless and mechanical that gift buying can become. This episode we’ll talk about how you make this tradition more meaningful for the giver and the receiver alike.
In “Pop the Popcorn & Watch a Christmas Movie,” episode #246, Meredith Curtis suggests Christmas movies for the whole family. At our house, we love to curl up under a blanket and watch a Christmas movie with the whole family. Some are inspirational, others funny, and all wholesome and entertaining. Let’s admit it. We all watch movies – a lot – so choose wisely and spread a little Christmas cheer. 😊
Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!
At our house, we have family favorites that we watch year after year. All are packed with festive holiday cheer and music that makes the troubles of the world seem distant for a short time. As Christmas rolls around again year after year, we find ourselves wanting to see these old favorites once again.
So, pop the popcorn, heat up the hot chocolate, and get ready to hear about some wonderful Christmas movies that the whole family will enjoy!
It’s a Wonderful Life never grows old. It is the timeless story of a man who feels like a failure but is actually a true success! Step back in time and watch George go through high school, college, the Great Depression, World War II, and finally come to a breaking point on Christmas Eve. But, the love of family, friends, and an angel named Clarence pulls him though. I laugh and cry every time I watch this movie.
I grew up on Peanuts cartoons and always felt so sorry for Charlie Brown. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, though, Charlie Brown nails it at the end of the movie when he reads the Christmas story from the Bible. A very sweet movie for all ages!
I love this movie! The Nativity Story is the story of Mary and Joseph as they find out their world has been turned upside down. There is a tenderness to this movie that is so heartening and inspiring. I love the characters of Mary and Joseph. Really well-done movie!
A Christmas Carol is my husband’s favorite movie, and his favorite version is the one with George C. Scott. This classic tale by Charles Dickens has been made into numerous movies, even cartoons. Its timeless message shines through in this version of a “Scrooge” who is converted from selfishness to genuine love for his fellow man.
So many adaptations of this story/movie. The Muppets and Disney have children’s versions. Scrooged is an example of a version for adults.
A Christmas Less Traveled just came out last year. From Great American Family, it has become a favorite. An old audio cassette left by her father sends a woman on a journey (in his truck of course) to retrace her family’s special moments. On the way, a man joins her to find a way to close the most important deal of his life.
A Christmas … Present is another heartwarming movie that just came out last year. From Great American Family, it has become a favorite because the message is so timely for homeschool moms like me. Real Estate Agent Maggie Larson and her family will be spending Christmas with her recently widowed brother, Paul, and his young daughter at their house. Maggie is determined to give her brother and niece the best Christmas possible and to lift their spirits when they most need it. Though Maggie’s plan is to aid her brother, his faith and parenting style ultimately helps her to understand issues within her own life and a need for closeness in her own family.
Timeless Tidings of Joy just came out this year. Another Christmas classic from Great American Family! A young woman returns home to a letterpress shop, that she considers a burden, and meets a man determined to preserve its legacy. Together they travel back in time and discover that faith, sacrifice, and love are more important than riches and ease. Wow! I loved this movie.
Christmas with the Chosen O Holy Night is another wonderful video from the producers of The Chosen TV series. A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered “unclean”. A never-before-seen performance from Andrea Bocelli highlights seven music performances and two beautiful monologues.
Elf is a silly movie that tickles our family’s funny bone. We all laugh so hard together when we watch this lighthearted Christmas movie. However, there is a message of family reconciliation and making family time a priority that is always a timeless, and needed, message.
There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel
A Christmas Story
A Christmas Story is set in the 1950/1960s era of wholesomeness. Raphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun, but Mom is worried he’ll shoot his eye out. This movie is hilarious, and we have so many lines memorized. We always laugh through the whole fun drama. Great family fun movie!
There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel
Christmas with the Kranks is a hilarious movie starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. With their daughter doing charity work in South America, the couple plan a cruise for Christmas and opt out of all their usual Christmas traditions. But there must be a twist! Their daughter tells them she is coming home with her brand-new fiancé, so he can experience a traditional American Christmas. The Kranks must get everything ready for their daughter in 24 hours. This is such a funny movie!
The Grinch is played spectacularly by Jim Carey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Silly and fun, but with a message. Like many of us, the Who’s go overboard with light contests and excess commercialism but one little girl thinks about the Grinch and reaches out to him. The resulting chaos is predictable especially if you’ve seen the cartoon or read the book but the scene where the Who’s are singing is worth the whole movie. I always tear up. There they are with all their presents gone but they’re singing. If only Jesus was in it! Super cute movie!
Home Alone is another silly movie with a little boy who gets left behind when his parents head to Paris for Christmas. If you have a large family, the chaos will ring true and isn’t every mother’s fear that her child will be left behind. While Mom is hitching a ride with a polka band to get home to her beloved son, the little boy is shopping, cooking, ordering pizza, and defending his home from robbers. Super cute movie!
There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel
From Hallmark, three brothers who each have their own issues inside and with one another, find themselves forced to care for a baby during the holidays. They rebuild their relationships and rediscover a great blessing of Christmas – love and family. The highlight of this movie is when the three brothers sing. Hilarious!
White Christmas is another vintage movie with a sweet story and beautiful music. The clothes are amazing, too. World War II vets become a famous song-and-dance team and are asked to watch a sister act. The four help out the men’s former commanding officer, Major General Waverly who is in danger of losing his family inn. It is a lovely Christmas in Vermont. This is my daughter Julianna’s pick each year.
There are so many Christmas cartoons that my children enjoyed when they were little, and now my grandchildren watch. They help make the Christmas story come alive in little hearts. Here are my favorites:
Okay, Moms and Teen girls, let’s admit it. We love the romantic comedies. Each of the movies that I’m going to mention has a part that I don’t like but much I do.
You’ve Got Mail always makes me think of my mom and how much I loved being with her, how much I miss her – but I hate the beginning where the hero and heroine are both living with people. Yuck!
While You were Sleeping is such a tender look at family but at times people in the movie are crass. Yuck.
Often these movies lead to discussions about Christmas, traditions, generosity, and what the treasures of life are.
Christmas is a great time to talk about life and things we value in life like family, traditions, and Jesus! I hope this season will be a blessing for you and your family.
Merry Christmas to all and please share your favorite Christmas movies in the comments below.
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This week we’re talking about gift giving – it’s Biblical, you know! But how do you manage it without being immersed in the commercialism of a secular holiday, while glorifying God and having fun together? We’ve found that being more intentional and deliberate in choosing gifts and even in how we open them together, and encouraging our children to think of people rather than stuff at Christmas, has great benefits!
The wise men who brought gifts to Jesus – Matthew 2:1-11
We described how our family keeps up with everyone’s “wish list” – not just at Christmas, but all year long! Here’s the basic framework – each person’s section of the family list is divided into price brackets, and it’s the responsibility of each person to keep their list up to date. And when the shopping happens, gift-givers quietly delete items so others don’t duplicate their gift!
Updated: (be sure to make a note here when you make changes to your list!)
Check out our favorite board games.
And visit our Gift Guide for Boys.
Shop our Craftsman Crates and More.
Learn how to make this an AI-Powered Holiday Season! If the holidays feel overwhelming, especially for moms carrying the mental load, AI can help you offload decisions, plan your days, generate gift ideas, create activities, and more.
Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can turn a long, overwhelming to-do list into a structured plan.
You can:
Use voice mode to quickly offload everything you need to do
Include specific tasks like preparing guest rooms, decorating, errands, cleaning, or cooking
Ask AI to assign age-appropriate chores to kids
Request a day-by-day schedule or detailed breakdown of today’s tasks
AI can help generate highly personalized, budget-conscious ideas.
Tips:
Provide detailed information: age, hobbies, interests, personality, budget
Ask for alternatives to expensive gifts
Request price comparisons; Perplexity is especially good for this
Use AI to help brainstorm DIY gift options
For personalized items, Canva’s AI tools can help quickly create bookmarks, calendars, cards, or certificates. You can also add an AI-generated poem, story, or even a custom song using SUNO.
AI can plan holiday meals, weekly menus, grocery lists, and leftover transformations.
You can request:
Meal plans with specific time limits
Menus without certain allergens or ingredients
A holiday dinner with detailed restrictions
A shopping list pulled from your own uploaded recipes
After large holiday meals, list your leftover ingredients and ask AI for several creative recipes. Kids can vote on their favorite.
AI can streamline travel planning during the holidays:
Suggest scenic detours
Recommend kid-friendly stops
Create packing lists based on your destination’s weather
For long drives, you can request car-friendly games tailored to your children’s ages.
Travel Bingo
Ask AI to generate 30–40 things you might see along your route.
Have it create customized 5×5 bingo cards.
Print and enjoy.
When the family gathers and needs something fun to do, AI can generate:
Indoor or outdoor scavenger hunts
Custom trivia nights
Choose-your-own-adventure stories
Coloring pages
Mini unit studies
Simple STEM projects using household materials
Holiday-themed coding activities
FundaFunda Academy is holding a Christmas Coding Contest for grades 4–12.
Cost: $5 (includes instructional materials)
Levels:
Beginner: No coding experience necessary; step-by-step Scratch instructions included
Veteran: For students already familiar with Scratch
Students create an interactive Christmas scene with a mini-game.
Deadline: December 23
Prizes: Amazon gift cards in both Beginner and Veteran categories
Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.
Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.
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In “A Moravian Christmas,” episode #245, Meredith Curtis introduces listeners to the passionate and joyful Moravians who traveled to the New World to save souls. Their missionary zeal was only matched by their joyful Christmas celebrations. Travel with me back to Colonial Times and meet these amazing people who led Charles and John Wesley to Christ and continue to send missionaries around the world.
Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!
The Moravians are a group of Christians filled with missionary zeal, joyful singing, and festive celebrations. Christmastime is the perfect time to meet the Moravians who named Bethlehem, PA because of Jesus’ birthday. So, travel with me back to Colonial Times and meet these amazing people who led Charles & John Wesley to Christ.
Where did the Moravians come from?
Let’s travel back in time to the Middle Ages. While studying at Oxford University, John Wycliffe (1331-1427) discovered that the “True Church” had nothing to do with church membership roles and everything to do with a man’s relationship with the Lord. John began the first translation of the Scriptures into English.
John died peacefully but his writings were discovered in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) by Jan Hus.
Jan Huss (1369-1415) was ordained a priest in 1401 and discovered John Wycliffe’s writings about the truth taught in the Holy Scriptures. He meticulously copied his books and passed them out. Called to a church council to defend his teachings, he was sentenced to death because he would not recant. He died singing praises to God. Though he died, his teachings lived on.
His followers found refuge in Count Zinzendorf’s castle in Saxony, now part of Germany.
Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf (1700-1760) was sent to live with his grandmother, who homeschooled him. As part of the nobility of Saxony, he had to attend a ritzy school called Halle Academy, where he helped form a secret society: the Order of the Grain of Mustard Seed. They committed to use their money, nobility, and influence to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Nicolaus owned a castle with a village inside. One day refugees who were being persecuted for their faith showed up, wanting to live inside his castle in the village. More refugees followed. Nicolaus was able to leave the king’s court and devote himself to his little congregation. He led Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship, and times of accountability. The Moravians were always singing and encouraging one another.
One day, they held a 24-hour prayer meeting. They decided to keep it up. Twenty-four hours a day, there was someone praying for the church and lost souls around the world for over 200 years! The Gospel went from Count Zinendorf’s little village all over the world. He traveled to visit daughter churches and build up the brothers and sisters.
The Moravians came to Colonial America in obedience to the Great Commission. After an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Moravian settlement in Georgia, some of these missionaries went to Pennsylvania. The new Moravian settlers finished their first building on Christmas Eve. One half was a stable and the other side was used for church services. While the settlers sang in one room, cows mooed in the other, reminding them of Jesus birthplace, so they named the settlement “Bethlehem.”
Their Christmas Eve candle service included a “love feast” where coffee and buns were shared in fellowship. At the end of the service, Christians passed around lighted candles while they sang hymns to celebrate the birth of the true Light of the World.
The Love Feast was first celebrated in Germany in 1727. Not communion, it is an attempt to model the “common meal” that is mentioned in the book of Acts, where the early Christians shared a meal together before sharing communion.
John Wesley, and his brother, Charles Wesley, met the Moravians on a ship as they were all heading over to help start the new colony/ministry of Georgia. The Wesley brothers were impressed with the strong faith and bubbling joy of the Moravians and had many deep discussions on the ship and later on visits to their settlement.
Moravian traditions include singing, feasting, candles, special stars, and putz.
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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Realistic Holiday Expectations- Special Replay.
Ahhh, it’s Christmas Eve!
The Yule log glowing in a Christmas fireplace. Children, dressed in Christmas finery gathered neatly about as they listen enraptured to their grandparents recall family holiday memories. Christmas music plays softly in the background. All the gifts are wrapped. All the decorations are neatly in place. Everyone is enjoying a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and spices…
Okay, enough of that. Let’s talk about REALISTIC holiday expectations so that you don’t break your heart or get snookered by the myth of perfection this Christmas.
Join Sabrina, Kym and Vicki while we have a fun, encouraging chat about realistic holiday expectations.
Yep, that is the best thing you can do when the best laid plans of moms and men gang aft a-gley! Why weep or get angry. Look for a way to take a breath and predict some laughing.
We imagine most folks have some stories that are funny now but were unexpected at the moment! Look for the laugh as quickly as you can.
We all have different Christmas-love languages. Let’s talk about six different people and their expectations for Christmas based on their Christmas-love languages (or lack thereof).
Sophie loves everything about gift giving- from choosing gifts to wrapping them while Christmas music wafts through the air. She also love the joyful moments of receiving gifts, as well. Sophie LOVES Christmas and the gifts!
Bertha also loves Christmas! Especially all the special events and activities. The choirs and teas and parades and movie and gardens! She especially loves the family events. Bertha’s Christmas-love language is hustle and bustle!
Matthew is a Christmas guy! He loves the traditions of Christmas and the quality time with families. Matthew treasures those family rituals that he can predict will happen each Christmas. Matthew’s Christmas-love language is traditions.
So, let’s look at the relative who have other Christmas-love languages.
Maria has a really full life-
Scott actually claims that he’s not a Christmas person! However, what he really means is that the unexpected and long-term financial strains he’s been through have left him broke. Scott loves his gift-giving cousin, Sophie, but feels bad because he can’t reciprocate. (He even feels bad receiving gifts because he can’t give this year.) Scott’s Christmas-love language is: People giving him a pass on the presents.
Deloris feels sad at Christmas. She had a really tough Christmas season a few years ago. The losses that year were so sad and traumatic, that her body triggers sadness every year at Christmas. Deloris’ Christmas-love language is: sit with me and listen nonjudgmentally and don’t expect “happy Christmas” from me this year.
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of Christmas-love languages. What would you say is yours?
We can identify our own Christmas-love languages and clarify what we think we are expecting. Then we can make decisions that make the most of the holidays by adjusting our expectations in a realistic way!
Not only that, if we admit that we all have different Christmas-love languages and holiday expectations, we can also be open to clarifying those of our family members, too! This is a great idea when it comes to
Kym talks about their annual cookie-baking day. Her teens complained that cookie day can easily become a production line rather than an interpersonal, fun day.
Teens’ tend to be busy. It’s a good idea to talk together with them to clarify their needs, schedules, and wants. Come to agreement on what to expect for this holiday season.
For instance, if you have a Bertha, who loves the activities, but there’s not time for everything, talk about things. Give some extras to Bertha but set boundaries where you must. It helps to ask for everyone’s top three wishes, then see if you can make some or most of those happen.
Sabrina’s family is a blended family with a husband on shift work. It took a while to figure out how to get everyone together for the holidays. The family talked together and came up with a later date for their family celebration time. They call it: Merry NewYearsMass.
When families get together, it’s not uncommon for the older generations to fall into “remember-when” stories. Teens sometimes get tired of hearing the same stories over and over. Lots of older people are Christmas-love traditionalists.
Give your teens some holiday social skills for patient and polite listening. It will help them grow stronger… AND one idea you can give them. Have them jot down one of their grandparents’ stories. Then use 7Sisters Holiday Family Narrative Guide to create an amusing short story (and one of the annual required English/Language Arts papers).
In other words, notice the different Christmas-love languages in your family and friends! Teach teens to be kind and patient with other Christmas-love languages and cultures.
In the holidays, schedules are hectic and weird, and food is different. People will at some point everyone will hit HALT:
If you’re in HALT, things will NOT go well.
Model a grateful heart for your teens. Be happy for what goes well but don’t worship traditions. Don’t micromanage others or be grumpy if they don’t want to do things your way.
Let go of the idea of a “perfect Christmas”. There’s really no such thing in real life! When you set realistic expectations for the holidays, you and yours will be happier!
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Forgotten to get gifts for everyone? Or just run out of ideas? These unique digital gift ideas are ones homeschool families will love to give or receive! Here are the 12 ideas I mention in this episode.
Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.
Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology into your homeschool.
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In “Top Ten Christmas Stress Busters,” episode #222, Meredith Curtis shares the top ten Christmas stress busters for homeschool Moms over the holidays. From personal experience, Meredith understands how the hustle and bustle of Christmas can be overwhelming at times for a homeschool mom. Join her as she shares ten ways to reduce stress and enjoy Christmas this year.
Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!
I understand how the hustle and bustle of Christmas can be overwhelming at times for a homeschool mom.
I also encourage you to listen to Simple Shortcuts to a Stress-Free Christmas Finish Well Podcast episode #200 to reduce stress all around. https://ultimateradioshow.com/simple-shortcuts-to-a-stress-free-christmas/
Start each day with prayer and one or two Christmas carols. Read a Scripture passage.
Get fresh air each day with a brisk walk around the block or a leisurely jog. If the weather is nice, play outside. If it’s snowing, build a snowman.
Sniff a lemon, boil cinnamon sticks in water on the stove, or burn your favorite scented candle (vanilla, citrus, peppermint, lavender, jasmine).
Get some exercise! Ride a bike, go sledding, hike, play touch football, or work out at the gym.
After the kids go to bed, sit with your husband, or your parents, or your kids, or alone, with all the lights off in the house except for the Christmas lights. Enjoy the quiet.
Relaxing our Bodies. Relaxing Our Minds
Cancel school and have a Christmas movie day. Drive around and look at lights. Get out some board games and have fun!
Play Christmas carols in the house and in the car when you drive. Play classical music, especially Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker or Handel’s Messiah. Listen to water flowing in a stream or waterfall.
Drink coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate and read a cozy mystery while the kids watch a Christmas movie. I have two suggestions for you.
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Get a babysitter and go get a massage.
Spend some time each day reading the entire Christmas story from Zechariah & Elizabeth to the Flight into Egypt. This will refresh your soul!
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Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!
This week we’re talking about gift giving – it’s Biblical, you know! But how do you manage it without being immersed in the commercialism of a secular holiday, while glorifying God and having fun together? We’ve found that being more intentional and deliberate in choosing gifts and even in how we open them together, and encouraging our children to think of people rather than stuff at Christmas, has great benefits!
The wise men who brought gifts to Jesus – Matthew 2:1-11
We described how our family keeps up with everyone’s “wish list” – not just at Christmas, but all year long! Here’s the basic framework – each person’s section of the family list is divided into price brackets, and it’s the responsibility of each person to keep their list up to date. And when the shopping happens, gift-givers quietly delete items so others don’t duplicate their gift!
Updated: (be sure to make a note here when you make changes to your list!)
Thank you to the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network sponsor, NOW Programs.
When I set out to create this Christmas planner, my goal was simple: to offer you something fun, inviting, and low-key. Let’s face it—if you’re looking for a million ideas, Pinterest has them all. But sometimes, the overabundance of options can feel overwhelming. I’ve been there, scrolling through countless ideas only to realize they weren’t practical, too complicated, or just plain expensive.
This planner is here to help you cut through the noise. I’ve curated what I believe are the most adorable, enjoyable, and stress-free activities for kids and families. Compact yet comprehensive, it includes all the essentials for a joyful and streamlined Christmas season.
I love Christmas. There’s something magical about this time of year. People are often a little kinder, a little more generous, and quick to share a heartfelt “Merry Christmas.” It’s the perfect time to celebrate love for family and friends while honoring the birth of our Savior.
But let’s be real—Christmas can also bring stress. The endless to-do lists, the pressure of finding the perfect gifts, and the quest to create memorable activities can be overwhelming. Whenever I feel this way, I call a family meeting. I ask the kids about their favorite traditions and what they’d love to include in this year’s celebrations. Their answers might surprise you! Some kids prefer a simpler pace, while others thrive on more involved activities.
To make this process easier, we’ve included a form in the planner for jotting down everyone’s ideas. This way, you can prioritize meaningful traditions while letting go of the ones that don’t spark joy for your family.
Sometimes, the simplest things create the most cherished memories. Just today, my husband hung twinkle lights in our backyard—a small gesture that brought so much joy. Family activities like these can make the season truly special.
Some of our favorite traditions include:
This planner is packed with tools to make your holiday season easier and more enjoyable. Here’s what’s inside:
We’ve also included some of our family’s favorite traditions and an inexpensive homemade gift idea that everyone will enjoy making and giving away.
Don’t forget to check out the Media Angels website. My mom did an Advent Activity with us for years, and it’s a memento I treasure to this day.
From our family to yours, we wish you a joyous and stress-free Christmas. May your season be filled with love, laughter, and the light of our Savior.
God Bless and Merry Christmas!
~ Christina Moss & Felice Gerwitz
PS. Opt-in for your free planner below.
