In Search of A Child's Nativity Set

I have never had a knack for a collection other than seashells and rocks as a child. The past few years I have decided to start collecting Nativities because they are what the season is all about and there are so many unique scenes that it is a fun to collection to have. I also love that two that are in my collection are child like. There are so many nativities that are gorgeous but definitely hands off for kids. I love that there are some that are hands on for kids but are still interesting enough to display. 

Whether you collect them yourself or are looking for one for your children take a look at the list below and maybe you'll find what you are looking for.

AMAZON

The Nativity Playset by Cactus Game Designs

Melissa and Doug Nativity $22.00

Foam Self Adhesive Shapes $10.31

Oriental Trading 

Mini Nativity Set $14.00

Etsy

 Wall Sized Felt Nativity Set for Kids with Storage Bag $30

Christmas Decoration Peg People Nativity Set $26.00

Deseret Book 

Nativity Puppet Glove Set $11.95

Nativity 5' Resin $19.95

Children Nativity 7 piece set $10.95

Anonymous 12 Days of Christmas Nativity Version

I'm sure I am a little bias but I consider my parents to be very kind hearted. I remember as a child going with my Dad to anonymously leave an envelope of money in a mailbox for a family in need. A year or two later I remember my mom wrapping up the pieces of a nativity set to take to a family whose mother had just been diagnosed with cancer. She added little treats to each nativity piece and then my siblings and I would take turns each of the 12 nights before Christmas dropping off these little packages at the doorstep of the home, ringing the doorbell and dashing off into the night so as not to be caught. 

As I have grown older I've tried to make a very conscious effort to do something anonymously no matter how big or small to someone that is in need during the holiday season. Maybe they don't need money. Maybe it is just the simple thought of someone caring and thinking about them. 

Packages ready to go!

I remember doing the 12 Days of Christmas Nativity to a family with my sister and driving to the house each night to leave the small packages. That is a fond Christmas memory for me, both the time I got to spend with her as we giggled all the way there and back and the fact that we were caught on the last night and told by the parents how much their children had enjoyed waiting for the doorbell to ring each night. 

So big or small I hope you'll find a way to do something for someone else during the season because that is what Christmas is really all about. You don't need to have a lot of money to do it. Simple things often touch people the most, and you truly never know how much your recipient may need it.

Picture of this years Nativity

Use the 12 Days of Christmas Outline below if you'd like or come up with your own. I make variations to it each year depending on the family. This is what I'll be doing this year starting on the 13th of December. 

Needed Items:

Candy Canes

Nativity Set-mine was 10 pieces
Small cards to attach to your packages

Star ornament or popsicle sticks to make a star ornament

Candy/treats if you desire

Packaging materials for your nativity pieces

Directions:

• Make cards for each of the 12 nights to go with your pieces. Include the date of the night and the scripture you'd like them to read with your piece.

Nativity Pieces and cards waiting to be packaged.

• Package up the pieces separately, add treats if you'd like. Tie the scripture/date card to the package.

Packaged Nativity Pieces

• For the "star" night I did not have a star ornament so I made some. The family has 3 children so each child can decorate their own star and put it on their tree. Glue popsicle sticks together and add a ribbon at the top to make an ornament.

Wood popsicle stick ornaments.

• For the first night I packaged up candy canes and a small letter telling the family what was coming so they weren't confused when random nativity pieces and scriptures show up on their porch. (What I wrote is below. Use it or change it up to fit your needs.)

First Night Package for 12 Days of Christmas Nativity Version

Nativity Pieces and Matching Scripture Versus:
December 13- Candy Canes and Card

You're are such Friendly neighbors and friends, 

We wish to pass along the spirit of Christmas that we hope never ends. 

Nothing says Christmas like a little red and white….

Except for the Christmas story which will be brought to you each night.

Each package will include a scripture or two, 

Look it up, read it together, and if you do…

You'll have read the Christmas story by Christmas Day, 

And feel the true meaning of Christmas we pray.

Merry Christmas!

December 14-Joseph Figure-Luke 2:1-6
December 15-Cow Figure-Luke 2:8
December 16-Angel-Luke 2:9-14
December 17-Shephard-Luke 2:15-16
December 18-Wiseman-Mathew 2:1-2
December 19-Wiseman-Mathew 2:7-9
December 20-Star Ornaments with the following:
      Shephards were told to follow the star they would see,
      Decorate one to put on your Christmas Tree!
December 21-Wiseman-Mathew 2:11-12
December 22- Donkey and/or sheep-Luke 2:20
December 23-Mary-Luke 2:7
December 24-Baby Jesus Mathew 1:21

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Nativity Activities for Kids

As a child I loved hearing my Dad read the Christmas Story from the Bible every Christmas Eve. Still do. I remember picturing Mary on the Donkey and Joseph trying to find a place for them to stay. The older I get the more the story means to me and the more I enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. I've been trying to start a collection of Nativity scenes so over the years I'll have different ones. I love to see them on display in homes and in stores and see how different they all are. 

I've also been thinking about kids lately and how the holidays are more and more geared toward Santa, and all that goes along with him. I wanted to think of some simple things that kids could do during the season that go along with the Christmas story. So along with writing letters to Santa, and baking sugar cookies they could do a few things to help them remember why we celebrate Christmas. So just a few ideas below. Like I said very simple. I'll try and add to them a bit next year. 

Make Your Own Star Christmas Tree Ornaments

Supplies Needed:

• Popsicle Sticks
• Glue-I used hot glue
• Twine or ribbon
• Paint or markers

Directions:

Glue two popsicle sticks together in a "V" then add one stick at a time to complete your star.

Add a loop of string to the top 

Have children decorate their star

Hang it on the tree when finished

-Talk about the star that the Wisemen saw in the east and followed to the baby Jesus.

Gingerbread "Wisemen"

• Using cookie cutters make gingerbread or salt dough shapes. 
• Once they are dried you can let the children decorate them to look like the 3 Wisemen. You could also add ribbons to the top and make them ornaments as well.

• Add ribbon to your gingerbread shapes to make them "Angels"

 Shepherds Treat

• Candy Canes resemble the shepherds staffs/hooks that they use when watching over their flocks.
• Give children a treat or using bread stick dough shape it to look like a staff.

 Make or Decorate a Crown

• One of Jesus many names was King of the Jews. Find a template online or create your own crown and have the kids decorate them.

 Make your own Puzzles
Print a picture online of the Manger Scene, or the gifts the Wisemen brought, or any other Nativity scene. Cut it up into puzzle pieces and let the kids put it together and then color it. Do it on poster board  or card stock for it to be a little more sturdy.

12 Days of Christmas Giving

 12 Days of Christmas Nativity

As I've been in and out of stores the last 6 weeks or so I found it odd that all things Christmas were up on the shelves before I had a chance to but my Halloween candy. As Thanksgiving got closer I noticed that many/most of the decor and merchandise I was seeing in stores was Santa Claus, Snowmen, Reindeer etc. And while I love Christmas and everything about it I thought for a minute of how commercial Christmas has become. People waiting in line to shop and get the best deals on Black Friday missing out on precious time that could be had with family. I thought this year I would make a real effort to put the Christ back in Christmas for my family and to look outside my circle for those that need a little help. As a result of my musings I've invited a guest blogger to talk about the 12 Days of Christmas Nativity style. I know the 12 Days of Christmas is popular here and there but this is a different take on it. I hope you enjoy. You'll be seeing more ideas like this over the next month. 

(Rachel is currently a Junior in College studying General Studies.) 

Rachel J.- Guest Blogger

Once upon a Christmas time my family began the tradition of surprising a family in need with the twelve days of Christmas nativity. Every night we would secretly deliver a single piece from a nativity set. Connected with a scripture that described the piece. We would wrap it up to make it look festive and deliver treats with it. As children we would deliver it to the door, ring the doorbell and run. We would start with the Christmas star and then on Christmas Eve end with baby Jesus. As a child it reminded me of what Christmas was all about, giving to others and that Christ was what Christmas was all about. It is easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas. This idea was to emphasize Christ in Christmas. This idea can be done for friends, grandparents, co-workers, siblings living near or far, moms with LDS missionaries currently serving, and shhh Moms plug your ears, missionary girlfriends too; or even your next door neighbor. Moms you can even do this for your children or spouse. 

Items you will need: 

• A 12 piece nativity set. It may be hard to find a 12 piece nativity set so if it is less than 12 you can always improvise with treats and small gifts to give you 12 days of items. 

• Wrapping, I found small clear party bags at Wal-Mart for a dollar then got festive tissue paper and gold ribbon. With a tag on it for the date. If you are hand delivering it during the 12 nights of Christmas then you don’t need a tag with the date but if you are sending it through the mail you need to so they know which one to open that day. I found my Christmas tags at Hobby Lobby for a dollar.

• Red paper, or any Christmassy paper for the scripture. My family would roll it up like a scroll and put gold ribbon around it. Or you can put them in envelopes. I put them in brown long envelopes I found at Hobby Lobby then decorated them with Christmas stamps. If you are sending them to loved ones faraway then you can add notes and letters to go with the scripture. 

• If you are sending it to someone in the mail, then you will need to add a note giving directions on the twelve days of Christmas and how it works. 

• Then you can add anything to the 12 days of Christmas nativity pieces such as Christmas candy or chocolates and even a Christmas present for the last day. 

• For the scriptures I found these links to be helpful. 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/christmas-bible-verses/

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2010/12/small-and-simple-things?lang=eng&query=christmas+story+scriptures

• The Christmas Story

  Many people are familiar with the Nativity story as told in Luke 1–2. But there are many other places in the scriptures that talk about the miraculous birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. Consider including these verses in your personal scripture study this month:

  Old Testament	New Testament	Book of Mormon	Doctrine and Covenants	Pearl of Great Price
  Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7	Matthew 1–2	1 Nephi 10:4–6;11:13–21	D&C 76:41	Moses 5:57
  Micah 5:2	John 1:1–14	Alma 7:9–13	D&C 93:1–4
  		Helaman 14:1–9
  		3 Nephi 1

• It has scriptures that are great to use, or you can always do your own. I saw that on the LDS website they have a 12 days of Christmas that is just service which is also a great idea. 

Good luck! You can always adjust and make things your own depending on the person. I hope you found this idea useful. It’s hard to find things that are fun for Christmas and are still centered on Christ. This helped me as a child know what Christmas was all about, and hope it will start a Christmas tradition for your family!