15 Meaningful Christmas Gifts For Any Age

Thanksgiving is next week, which means we are turning the corner toward the serious shopping season. If you are like me, 2020 has made me desire things that are both practical and lasting. Our Family Ministry Team and our partners at the Insight For Living Bookstore and Coffee Shoppe have created a list of gift ideas that will encourage, teach, and remind your family and friends of God’s love this holiday season.

For Preschool Age Children:

It is never to early to give your children their first bible. Love of scripture starts with familiarity. These recommendations are ideal for a nightly bible story or short family devotional:

  • Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, by Sally Lloyd-Jones and the companion book Jesus Storybook Bible Coloring Book also by Sally Lloyd-Jones is our first choice. This bible invites children to join great adventures and to discover that Jesus is at the center of God’s story of salvation, as well as the center of their own story. The illustrations are colorful, lively, and help to keep even the youngest child’s imagination engaged.
  • Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook: Connecting Christ Throughout God’s Story, by Heath McPherson. This bible has 145 illustrated stories. Each story included shows kids how God’s plan for salvation through Jesus appears throughout the Bible. This new storybook can be used with a free augmented reality app through QR codes, included with the stories, to bring the art and story to life.
  • The Rhyme Storybook Bible, by Linda Sattgast and illustrated by Laurence Cleyet-Merle  This is a great first bible using the sounds of rhyme to introduce them to God’s word. They will enjoy 35 classic Bible stories retold in nursery rhyme style.

Toys we love for Preschool Ages include:

  • Fisher Price Little People, Nativity and Noah’s Ark Sets, are great ways for kids to play with the bible stories they hear all the time.
  • Goldberger Baby’s First Hannah, The Praying Doll, this soft plush doll will say one of four children’s classic prayers such as The Lord’s Prayer, God in Heaven, or Thank You God for Everything when you squeeze her tummy.
  • The Full Armor of God; Christian Character-Building Costume, perfect for the next knight in shining armor battle. Kids love to play costumes. When they play with this one, they get a real-life object lesson on God’s Armor based on Ephesians 6:13-18.

For Elementary Age Children:

The habit and routine of a regular family devotional is so important at this age as children learn about Christ’s presence in our everyday lives by watching their parents. We have some suggestions that are perfect for both children and their parents.

  • Exploring the Bible Together: A 52 Week Family Worship Plan, by David Murry. This is an “open and go” 52-week devotional with captivating illustrations, daily readings, discussion questions, and activities. You can do all seven days each week or just one. This devotional makes it easy to jump in at any point, and if you get out of the habit a few weeks into the new year, it is easy to jump back in.
  • Meeting with Jesus: A Daily Bible Reading Plan for Kids, by David Murray. This is a serious 52-week devotional that invites kids to develop skills in bible study, reflection, and application. This guide also encourages Scripture memory and prayer. There are daily readings and even space for sermon notes.
  • Friends Around the World Atlas, by Tyndale House Publishing invites kids to travel around the world. It is designed to help children learn about other countries in God’s world and develop love and compassion for his people. Colorfully illustrated maps and interesting facts introduce children to 25 countries where Compassion International is active. The companion Friends Around the World Activity Book helps to bring the Atlas to life with recipes, puzzles, crafts, and games.

Book Series for Elementary Readers:

  • The Mandie Collection, by Lois Gladys Leppard (books 1-5). The story follows the impulsive Mandie Shaw as she faces losing her father and then finding her long-lost family. The series follows Mandie and her friends on mysteries and great adventures.
  • The Sugar Creek Gang Series, by Paul Hutchens is available via videos, streaming, books, and ebooks. There are 36 books in this series. The story is set near Thornton Indiana and named for the nearby Sugar Creek. These stories are loosely based on the adventures and life lessons of the author and his six brothers.
  • Adventures in Odyssey, from Focus on the Family is a whole world of videos, podcast, books, and other media designed to engage kids 8-12. Our favorite in The Imagine Stations (Volumes 7-9) by Marianne Hering, Marshal Younger, and Wayne Thomas Batson.

For Everyone Else:

  • ESV Illuminated Scripture Journals, illustrations by artist Dana Tanamachi. If you have an artistic teen or adult woman in your life, these will make great gifts. These single books of the bible pair with lightly dotted blank pages opposite each page of Bible text, providing space to creatively engage with and reflect on the Word of God. Hand-lettered, gold illustrations are interspersed throughout the blank pages, inviting you to add your own artwork or reflections to each page. These are simply beautiful and enjoyable.
  • A Place at the Table, by Kelly Minter who is known not only for her passion for God’s Word, but for her ability to foster community over an inviting, delicious, and nourishing meal. Her own lifelong love for cooking and gardening paired with her many travels to the Amazon with chef Regina Pinto, has resulted in rich spiritual and culinary experiences that will inspire your cooking and gatherings. This is not your ordinary cookbook, enjoy some spiritual encouragement along with some new recipes.
  • Seven Men and Seven More Men by Eric Metaxas, is a great gift for the men in your life. These short biographies tell the stories of men who changed the world. Profiles include Martin Luther, George Whitefield, William Booth, George Washington Carver, Sergeant Alvin York, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Billy Graham. Each man demonstrates a particular quality: the courage to surrender themselves to Christ, and the willingness to give something of themselves away for the good of others.

If you are in the North Texas, we invite you to linger over a cup coffee and enjoy shopping for these and other great gift ideas at The Book Shoppe and Coffee.

 

 

Author

  • Christine Clark

    Christine Clark is the Ministry Leader for Family Ministries at Stonebriar Community Church. She has a passion for supporting parents and helping them gain confidence and tools to be spiritual leaders in their homes. She is blessed to be the mom of a one son and the wife of her college sweetheart for 25 years. She and her husband are finding their way as empty nesters, and enjoying the new found freedom that comes with this stage of life. She is also an avid sports fan who loves all things NASCAR and football, especially in the fall in Texas.

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