Nativity Ideas for Kids
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Christmas with the kids just seems to get more fun each year as they really start to grasp and enjoy the traditions and stories we know and love. Noodle came home from preschool singing about shepherds and kings last week {with a rousing chorus of “MY LORD!” that had us all giggling}, and when 2-year old Bee started joining in I knew it wasn’t too early to share nativity stories and activities with them. I pulled out a few favorite nativity books written just for kids and they’ve been enjoying learning about the Christmas story and especially playing with our nativity set.
Speaking of our nativity set, it’s nothing fancy. I picked it up at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia last weekend in the Kaethe Wohlfahrt tent– I think it was the least expensive thing there, truth be told. A few hours later, I walked into the kitchen to find this scene {with about .65 seconds to snap a blurry pic before those adorable teeny hands rearranged it}, all the figurines facing baby Jesus in adoration:
They get it, they really get it! Amazing.
While we don’t have this Little People Nativity Set (yet), my friends have told me their kids absolutely love it. The benefit is it’s perfect for little hands and totally unbreakable. I suppose the con is that it won’t look pretty on a mantle when the kids are older, but there’s always the pro of storing it away for the grandkids to love someday. {is it weird I’m planning for grandkids already? does anyone else think this way?}
As for books, I’ll admit I hoard them. Give me a topic, I’ve got three books on that subject. The nativity is no exception, and my favorite kids’ nativity book is Who is Coming to our House? The simple woodblock-esque illustrations show the animals preparing for the arrival of a very special guest.
Another book I picked up recently (at a kids consignment sale, of course) 😉 is The Stable Where Jesus Was Born. It has a pleasing rhyme and beautiful illustrations with a simple retelling of the Christmas story. With lots of animal illustrations for my animal obsessed kiddos, which is always a bonus in this house.
My son’s preschool teacher tells them advent is a time of waiting. I think that’s the perfect analogy to use with little ones– instead of merely counting down, we are waiting for Christmas. Waiting takes more patience, a virtue you can never start teaching too young!
One last story that helps teach waiting over counting down is the Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas. It’s the story of Benjamin bear and it shares a story a day featuring another little bear and his journey to Bethlehem. For every day in December until December 24th, it has a short tale with a simple moral that helps guide you to finding the true spirit of Christmas. We read it each day before turning over the tag in our family photo advent calendar.
Just in case that’s not enough, check out these other beautiful nativity scenes and sets for kids from around the web:
Wooden Block Nativity Scene: pretty ingenious, since it’s easy to make and unbreakable. Kids love playing with blocks, and this attractive set looks just as great on the mantel as it does in the playroom!
Popsicle Stick Nativity Scene from Today’s Fabulous Finds: made from popsicle sticks, clay pots, scrap fabric, and moss– full of things you probably have around the house anyways.
DIY Printable Nativity Set for Kids: Print, color, fold, and glue. It’s free to make, since it’s a simple printable. Then you can recycle it at the end of the season and make a new one next year.
There are several easy wooden nativity sets out there, including this Spool Doll Nativity from Holes in my Shiny Veneer and a DIY Wooden Doll version from Little Inspirations made from unfinished wooden dolls from the craft store. Beautiful, and fun to make as well.
Hopefully you found some ideas to celebrate the nativity with your kids. What are some traditions and activities that you use in your family when it comes to the nativity, creches, and advent? Do you have a nativity set you cherish? And how weird am I for planning for grandkids when my kids are still only 2 and 4?!
