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1. On the First Day of Christmas: A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Did you know that the song, â€œThe 12 Days of Christmasâ€ can be used as a Christian catechism? Iâ€™m hoping to join the tradition and teach it to Vivienne over these 12 days, ending with Epiphany on January 6th. Iâ€™m also hoping to post some ideas for teaching and celebrating these 12 days. If you have ways to celebrate these days, by all means, let us know!

The partridge reminds us of Godâ€™s perfect gift to us: Jesus, His Son.


â€œO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!â€ Luke 13: 34

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* view a 30 S clip of a real partridge

* review John 3:16 by writing it out and telling its story with stick figures and/or a nativity set

* sing Steve Greenâ€™s musical version of John 3:16 throughout the day

* make a pear tree: teach your child how to select and count pears at the grocery store; creatively arrange them in a â€œpear treeâ€ and munch through the week!

*make a paper bird by laying two pieces of paper on top of each other; sketch and cut out a simple bird shape; decorate the outsides with pictures or colors that remind the child of Jesus; staple or sew around the edges while leaving enough room to stuff the bird with cotton, fabric, or crumpled paper; staple or sew the bird shut (Donâ€™t worry if you donâ€™t have time to do this today, there are plenty of birds in this song; this project could be used for any of those days!)

2. The two turtle doves represent the gift of Scripture: the Old and New Testaments.

â€œFor now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our landâ€ (Song of Songs 2:11-12).

â€œThy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.â€ Psalm 119: 105

â€œAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.â€ 2 Timothy 3:16

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Look at pictures and listen to the song of the turtle dove

* Look at a Bible to find the Old Testament and the New Testament (this might be a special occasion to give your child her first Bible!)

* Make a special red bookmark with two doves on it to separate the two testaments. Explain that Jesusâ€™ coming to earth marks the movement from the first part into the second.

* Sing â€œThy Wordâ€, â€œThe B-I-B-L-Eâ€

* Talk about how Scripture is Godâ€™s voice, teaching and encouraging us in all things; ask the child if any verses mean a lot to him right now; share some Scripture that is meaningful to you and briefly explain why

3. Three french hens remind us of the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.

â€œAnd now abideth faith, hope charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.â€ 1 Corinthians 13:13

Simple ways to teach a little one:
* If you have a toddler, you probably have a picture book about chickens somewhere! Pull it out and get in a chicken sort of mood. (My little one even has a chicken costume and a chicken danceâ€¦)

* Make eggs for breakfast together (little ones love crackinâ€™ those eggs)

* Divide the day into thirds and talk about one of the virtues at a time:

faith: ask your child to close her eyes; lead her around the house, having her step over things, crouch down, stop suddenly, turn around, etc. Then, squinting, switch roles. Explain that when we have faith in God, we may not see everything clearly, but we can trust Him to protect and love us.

hope: before nap time, explain that afterwards you will be doing something special together, having a special snack, etc. Explain that the child must go to sleep hoping for that special treat. (Be sure to deliver the promise on the other side of nap time!)

charity: plan and do something special for a family member or neighbor. Deliver a loaf of bread before dinner time, decorate the living room for dadâ€™s return from work, set surprises by each family memberâ€™s plates. Explain that loving God and people is the best thing we can do with our lives.

At bedtime, review the three virtues and the associated activities. Remind the child that everything else we see and do will break, grow old, or be forgotten, but anytime we have faith in God, hope in His goodness, and extend charity to Him and others, we are doing things that last and last and last foreverâ€¦

4. The four calling birds represent the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

The original Old English version of this song referred to â€œcollyâ€ birds – not â€œcallingâ€ birds – which are darker birds that usually live in cities and have a beautiful song.

Simple Ways to Teach a Little One:

*After singing â€œThe 12 Days of Christmasâ€ together, explain todayâ€™s original wording and talk about how words can get all mixed up over time or through translation (Whisper Down the Lane is a great way to teach this, in part.) Ask, â€œyears and years from now, how might people say our names incorrectly?â€ (Imaginative wordy preschoolers like my daughter might get a kick out of this one.)

*Look at a red-letter Bible together. Let your child find the section with red-lettering. Explain that these are the words that Jesus spoke when He lived on earth as a human. Because four of Jesusâ€™ friends – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – wrote down some of the things that Jesus said and did, we can read about Him and learn about the kingdom of God. The four books are called, â€œthe gospels,â€ which means â€œthe good newsâ€. Because Jesusâ€™ friends wrote the good news, Jesusâ€™ words did not get mixed up over time (like the â€œcollyâ€ bird!).

* Cut out four black birds. Punch holes in the top. Tie yarn through the holes. With a white, gold, or silver marker (or white-out), write one of the names on each bird. Make these into a mobile and hang them in a prominent areaâ€¦ or hang them on your Christmas tree

* By the end of the day, help your child to remember the names of Jesusâ€™ four friends who wrote down some of the things He said and didâ€¦ Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John!


(Hab. 2:3)

5. The five golden rings represent the Pentateuch: the first five books of the Old Testament

(Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Hereâ€™s where a little bit of useful review comes into play: review the two turtledoves (the OT and NT), then let your child show you once again where the gospels are (hint: find the section of the Bible with lots of red letters since those were the words that Jesus spoke). Then, explain that the first part of the Bible contains five books that teach us about creation, sin, Godâ€™s law, and Godâ€™s promise to save us through Jesus.

* Make a paper chain from five rings of yellow/gold paper. On each ring, write one of the books of the Pentateuch.

Using plastic rings, gold thread, or construction paper, let your child wear five rings on her fingers today and recite the Pentateuch often, wiggling each finger as you go.

6. The six geese represent the six days of Creation.

â€œAnd God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.â€ Genesis 1:31

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Watch a short clip of a Canada Goose incubating her eggs

* Talk about the process of a daddy and mommy goose making an egg, which grows into another goose, which will make an egg, which will grow into another gooseâ€¦ Explain that God created this process so that the earth would restore itself. Itâ€™s important to take care of animals, mommies, daddies, and babies!

Read Genesis 1 together and make a â€œGodâ€™s Creationâ€ poster using dried beans for the land, aluminum foil for the stars, fake feathers for the birds, stickers, stamps, and magazine cut-outs.

7. The 7 swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion.

â€œHaving then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to usâ€¦â€ Romans 12:6

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Transform 7 plastic votive holders, walnut shells, corks, marshmallows or anything else that floats into swans using white paint, cotton balls, fabric. If youâ€™ve chosen safe items, let the child play with them in the bath tub. Playfully identify each swan by name: Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, etc. Get ready to explain what these names mean, too: you know heâ€™ll ask! 🙂

* Explain the gifts of the Holy Spirit in general. Ask your child which gift(s) she thinks the Holy Spirit has given to her; ask her which gift(s) she wants. Encourage her by identifying relevant strengths or leanings that you notice in her life. (This might be a conversation that develops into a tender explanation of salvation and how making Jesus our Lord transforms our lives. One way we are transformed is through the gifts that God gives us.)

Later in the day, create a story about how a little girl or boy was able to help others by using the gifts from the Holy Spirit.

8. The eight maids a-milking represent the eight beatitudes.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousnessâ€™ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3-10

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Pull out the dairy products today and talk about how cows provide the milk for these products.Â  (In this house, weâ€™re rice milk-ers, but we indulge in some cow-inspired cheese, ice cream, and yogurt now and then.)

* Read a book about a cow providing milk (We like the Little House on the Prairie stories about Almanzo milking cows and cleaning out stallsâ€¦)

* Before reading todayâ€™s verses together, explain that â€œblessed,â€ simply means â€œhappyâ€.Â  Who are the happiest people you know?Â  What are they like? What do they do?

Read todayâ€™s verses and focus on one or two to explain in simple language.Â  Pray together that God would help both of you live in the example Jesus describes.

9. The nine dancing ladies represent the nine fruits of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galations 5: 22, 23

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Get your dancing shoes on today! Play your favorite song of praise and sing to the Lord together!

* Cut out nine pictures of fruit and paste them on a piece of paper.Â  Label each fruit with one of the fruits of the Spirit.Â  Hang the paper up by your childâ€™s bed and, when praying for family and friends, ask the child to choose a fruit of the Spirit to pray into each personâ€™s life.Â  Also, pray that your entire family would be full of the fruit!

Over sliced apples or banana wheels, explain that God develops these amazing qualities in us when we spend time with Him and listen to His Spirit, who lives inside of everyone who follows Jesus Christ.

10. The ten lords a-leaping represent the 10 Commandments.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Â  4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.




8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:




13Thou shalt not kill.

14Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15Thou shalt not steal.

16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbourâ€™s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbourâ€™s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbourâ€™s. Exodus 20

Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Trace your childâ€™s hands on a piece of paper.Â  Together, decorate each finger as a â€œlordâ€ with colorful hats, etc.

* Read â€œThe Story of Moses and the 10 Commandments for Childrenâ€ online or another version of the story that is accessible for children. As you read each commandment, point to a different finger on your drawing.

* Choose one of the commandments to focus on, describing how it is relevant to you and your child.

* Explain that when we obey these commandments, we make God happy and we are freeâ€¦ free enough to LEAP!

Play your own version of leap-frog, each â€œleaperâ€ reciting a different commandment as she leaps!

11. The 11 Pipers Piping represent the 11 Faithful Apostles.


Simple ways to teach a little one:

* Listen to bagpipes being played!



* Then, ask the child to add drawings of your family members to the picture, explaining that we are Jesusâ€™ disciples, too.Â  Add names to the drawing.


12. The 12 Drummers Drumming represent the 12 Points of Doctrine in the Apostleâ€™s Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Simple ways to teach your little one:

* Get out the pots and pans! Get out all kinds of drumsticks: toothpicks to markers to wooden spoons! Make a drum circle and enjoy the rhythm together.

*Â  Explain that although the Apostleâ€™s Creed is not in the Bible, it summarizes some of the most important truths in the Bible.Â  Read it aloud.Â  Listen and watch Rich Mullinâ€™s musical version of the Creed.

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