With Christmas approaching, Kevin Costner is in the midst of trimming his tree.

For an interview about his upcoming ABC special chronicling the birth of Jesus, “Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas” (Dec. 9, 8 ET/PT, streaming on Hulu and Disney+ the next day), the actor sits in front of a tall, flocked tree with multi-colored lights. Soon, he’ll add those ornaments that can tug on a heartstring the way they do a branch.

“I like the kind of knickknack ... things of familiarity that have a level of history myself,” he says. An ornament can transport Costner back to the time when he got it or cherished moments with the four-legged friend it commemorates.

“Sometimes they're your old dogs that you don't have anymore,” he says. “You hang their little ornament for them. It's kind of sweet.”

Beneath the tree, he puts gifts for his children. He has seven: Annie, 41, Lily, 39, and Joe Costner, 37, from his marriage to Cindy Silva (1978 to 1994); Liam Costner, 29, from a relationship with Bridget Rooney; and Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 15, whom he shares with second wife Christine Baumgartner (2004 to 2024).

“You go from getting them things to (thinking), as they get older, ‘What do they need? What do they really need?’ And a lot of times the answer is they don't need a lot. What they want is attention and love.”

Though Costner appreciates time with his children, he acknowledges the season isn’t merry and bright for all.

“Christmas, it's not always great for everyone. It's a great time of year, but for a lot of people, it's their first time being alone,” he says. “We have people that are displaced, that have been separated (from) families. My brother and my mother and father have passed away. I'm the only one.

“I have this family that sustains me,” he adds. “Christmas is a time to pull people in, too, and think about what they need. Maybe it's just to be under a roof with people that are happy. It's a day to be together.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Costner reveals what his 7 children 'really need' for Christmas

Reporting by Erin Jensen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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