What Do You Do with the Potential "Controversies" at Christmas?

We are getting closer to a time where we will be celebrating, holding special events, programs, and parties leading up to Christmas! Definitely a busy time of year, but also a time of year which has great potential to stir up "trouble" as you try to discern the best way for your Children's Ministry to handle things such as; gift exchanges, special service projects, dealing with "Santa", and just how many special events should you plan when families already tend to be so busy. Do any of the following sound familiar to you . . . 

• If you do not, "do enough", some people may complain - "Why are you NOT having the children present a Christmas program/concert?" But, if you do, others may complain - "Why are you putting children on display and adding yet another thing for families to fit into their schedules?" 
• If you do not give gifts or involve children in projects where they provide gifts for those in need, you may be criticized for, "missing a wonderful opportunity" and if you do for, "spending money unnecessarily or putting children in a difficult place if their families can not afford to participate."
• If you decorate with or refer to Santa as "real", you may have parents who are unhappy you are promoting a fantasy as real and detracting from the Reason for the Season, but if you tell the truth about Santa, other parents may be upset with you for, "spoiling the fun" for their children.

The list goes on, but at a time of year when the focus should be on the joy we have because of the Gift God gave, we can easily become distracted by the busyness and the "controversies" which tend to come each year.

So, what do you do? How do you handle these situations and others which seem to come up each year during the Christmas Season? Consider some of the following possibilities - 

• Make participating in the Children's Christmas Concert optional - let children who want to participate sign up and no pressure for those who do not.
• Provide an opportunity for all children to make gifts or "earn" credits which they are able to use to "buy" gifts for those in need. Ask adult classes to donate new, unused gifts for the children to earn/buy.
• Make it known your ministry will focus on the Reason for the Season - Jesus and refer children's questions - if they have them - to their parents.

Just a few ideas - what do you do to handle these things?