Educators Pick Christmas Tv Shows On Netflix
- 01. Christmas TV Shows on Netflix Teaching Values: A Family-Friendly Guide
- 02. Top Christmas Shows on Netflix That Teach Values
- 03. How Klaus Exemplifies Biblical Values of Charity
- 04. Dash & Lily Teaches Hope Through Meaningful Connection
- 05. International Shows That Teach Cross-Cultural Values
- 06. Integrating Christmas Shows Into Marist Education
- 07. Why Values-Driven Holiday Content Matters for Catholic Education
Christmas TV Shows on Netflix Teaching Values: A Family-Friendly Guide
Netflix offers numerous Christmas TV shows that teach core values like generosity and family, including the animated film Klaus (which emphasizes charity and goodwill), the series Dash & Lily (teaching hope and connection), Home for Christmas (highlighting self-acceptance), Three Days of Christmas (exploring forgiveness), and Merry Happy Whatever (showing family reconciliation). These programs align with Marist educational values by modeling compassion, community, and spiritual growth for students and families during the holiday season.
Top Christmas Shows on Netflix That Teach Values
The following table presents Christmas TV shows available on Netflix that explicitly teach values aligned with Catholic and Marist educational principles, including charity, family unity, forgiveness, and hope.
| Show Title | Primary Value Taught | Language | Release Year | Episodes/Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klaus | Generosity & Charity | English | 2019 | 1 film (96 min) |
| Dash & Lily | Hope & Connection | English | 2020 | 8 episodes (20-30 min each) |
| Home for Christmas | Self-Acceptance | Norwegian | 2018 | 2 seasons (10 episodes) |
| Three Days of Christmas | Forgiveness & Family Bonds | Spanish | 2019 | 3 episodes (45 min each) |
| Merry Happy Whatever | Family Reconciliation | English | 2019 | 1 season (8 episodes) |
| Over Christmas | Family Unity | German | 2020 | 3 episodes (50 min each) |
How Klaus Exemplifies Biblical Values of Charity
The animated film Klaus stands as the premier Christmas show on Netflix for teaching biblical values of goodwill, with its central message that "a true act of Goodwill always sparks another". The story follows Jesper, a selfish postal student who becomes transformed through acts of generosity when he befriends carpenter Klaus and teacher Alva on a frozen Arctic island. According to The Christian Post, the film "reminds viewers of the importance of charity" and demonstrates how extending olive branches can heal divided communities. This narrative directly supports Marist pedagogy's emphasis on solidarity and service to others, making it ideal for classroom discussion about giving during Advent.
Dash & Lily Teaches Hope Through Meaningful Connection
Dash & Lily, an 8-episode Netflix series set entirely during the holidays, teaches hope and authentic connection through its story of two teenagers exchanging a journal at New York's Strand bookstore. Lily, a Christmas-loving teen who feels abandoned by her family's holiday plans, creates the notebook as a search for meaning, while Dash, initially cynical about Christmas, transforms through their written correspondence. The series demonstrates how vulnerability and dares lead to personal growth, with both characters overcoming self-consciousness and cynicism to find love. For educators, this show provides excellent material for discussing emotional resilience and the Marist value of creating community through shared experiences.
International Shows That Teach Cross-Cultural Values
Netflix's international Christmas programming offers valuable opportunities for cross-cultural education while teaching universal values. The Norwegian series Home for Christmas follows single nurse Johanne's desperate search for a boyfriend before Christmas, ultimately teaching self-acceptance beyond romantic relationships. The Spanish drama Three Days of Christmas spans three generations of four sisters, exploring forgiveness and unbreakable family bonds through Nochebuena and Tió de Nadal traditions. The German series Over Christmas examines family dynamics when a musician returns home to find his brother dating his ex-girlfriend, demonstrating reconciliation amid chaos. These programs support Marist education's commitment to diverse Latin American communities by showing how universal values transcend cultural boundaries.
Integrating Christmas Shows Into Marist Education
School administrators can leverage these Christmas shows for values-based curriculum innovation by creating Advent viewing guides that connect screen content to Marist pedagogy. The following numbered list outlines practical implementation steps for educators:
- Select age-appropriate shows that align with specific values (e.g., Klaus for elementary charity lessons, Dash & Lily for adolescent relationship education)
- Create discussion guides with questions linking plot points to Gospel values and Marist charism
- Organize family viewing nights with reflection activities that extend learning beyond the screen
- Use international shows to teach cultural diversity while maintaining focus on universal human values
- Assess student outcomes through creative projects like service plans inspired by Klaus' generosity theme
This approach ensures measurable impact on student formation while respecting family autonomy in holiday traditions. According to Marist education principles, holistic formation integrates faith, culture, and life-exactly what these carefully selected Christmas shows facilitate when paired with intentional educational frameworks.
Why Values-Driven Holiday Content Matters for Catholic Education
In an era of fragmented media consumption, purposefully selected holiday content serves as a powerful tool for Catholic families seeking to maintain value formation during the Christmas season. The shows listed above demonstrate that entertainment and education need not be mutually exclusive; instead, they can reinforce each other when content is chosen with intentionality. For Marist educators across Brazil and Latin America, these programs provide culturally relevant touchpoints for discussing generosity, forgiveness, family unity, and hope-core values that align with both the Gospel and Marist heritage. By curating this content and providing educational frameworks, schools position themselves as trusted partners in holistic family formation during the liturgical season.
Key concerns and solutions for Educators Pick Christmas Tv Shows On Netflix
What Christmas shows on Netflix teach generosity?
Klaus is the primary Christmas show on Netflix teaching generosity, with its central thesis that "a true act of Goodwill always sparks another" and its demonstration of how gift-giving transforms a divided town into generous neighbors.
Are there family-friendly Christmas shows on Netflix for children?
Yes, Netflix offers family-friendly options including Super Monsters Save Christmas, True: Winter Wishes, Spirit Riding Free: The Spirit of Christmas, and Klaus, all suitable for children and teaching values like kindness and community.
Which Christmas shows teach forgiveness and family reconciliation?
Three Days of Christmas teaches forgiveness through three generations of sisters helping each other through holiday dilemmas, while Merry Happy Whatever shows family reconciliation when a protective father learns to accept his daughter's new boyfriend.
Can Netflix Christmas shows support language learning while teaching values?
Yes, according to EF Education First, watching foreign-language Christmas shows with subtitles boosts vocabulary while exposing viewers to cultural customs, making programs like Home for Christmas (Norwegian), Three Days of Christmas (Spanish), and Over Christmas (German) excellent for bilingual education.
When were these value-teaching Christmas shows released on Netflix?
Klaus premiered on Netflix on November 15, 2019; Dash & Lily launched November 10, 2020; Home for Christmas debuted in 2018 with a second season in 2020; and Three Days of Christmas was released in 2019.
