Local pre-schoolers understand the true meaning of Christmas

When it comes to the meaning of Christmas, the answers of four and five year olds are probably not surprising.

Paige Faldzinski, a student at Hampstead Methodist Church, said, “Getting presents.”

“The only thing I ask for is a bike and a sled. That’s the only thing I want. I don’t know what else I’m getting,” said pre-schooler Harley Taylor.

But at Hampstead United Methodist Church, teachers are trying to get these pre-schoolers to understand the true meaning of Christmas: the story of Jesus’ birth.

“Children get this idea that Christmas is all about the presents and all about Santa, but this is the roots, this is where it’s at,” said Suzette Faldzinski, a teacher at the church. “It’s incredibly important because Jesus is the reason for the season, he’s the reason we celebrate.”

They celebrated through song and decoration. They also put together a kindness chain. Every time a student did something nice for someone else, like helping a classmate or their parents, they wrote their act of kindness on a strip of paper to add to the chain.

“They loved it! To the point where if they did something kind they would say ‘Do I get a kindness strip, do I get a kindness strip?’, and it just got them so excited,” said Faldzinski.

Jennifer Stevens is the students other teacher. To help them learn, each day she dresses up as a different character from the Christmas story. All 18 students are headed to kindergarten next school year.