Christmas - time for the Nativity
My favourite time of year, my first recommendation is start teaching the children the actions to the songs in November, you will need two full months (and you never get the whole of December) to get this age group to follow your actions.
My second recommendation is “Out of the Ark”, they have the very best of christmas music for children. I have used Knock Knock Knock on the door for a childrens christmas performance where the children all knock on a big cardboard door and someone is playing the inn keeper. I have also done this with a number of cardboard doors on stage (the correct number to the music) and the children love standing on a chair behind to be the Inn Keeper.
I have also done a performance that centered around the Wise Men who came on the shoulders of their fathers who also magically held cardboard camels (that were huge). Do contact us through the site if you want details of this performance.
The cuteness of a nativity cannot be beaten, you will need angels, kings, shepherds, innkeepers, mary, and joseph. Although one year I made the mistake of asking the entire group of 27 children who wanted to be Mary, I had 12 hands raised with faces that clearly said, pick me - I could not resist any of them. That year I dressed 12 angels in blue and had their dads stand behind them with baby dolls on homemade small fishing rods and when the song sang out “It’s a baby” down would come baby Jesus and then up he would go again.
This Christmas just passed I concentrated on The Star and all our songs (from Out of the Ark) were centered around the star, if you would like more information about this please do contact us. The Nativity Scene is the perfect thing at Christmas you will create something that will be imprinted on the children’s memories for years to come and something that will bring the families and relatives to your church.
Just look at that little Angel! This photograph captures for me the range of ages that you can have in a good Nativity play at church. Whilst Mary and Joseph are nearing age 8-9 and giving great answers to the questions about the story of Christmas, the little angel in the 2-3 year old class is just soaking in the atmosphere and loving the moment. Follow this link and fast forward to around 40 minutes and watch the magic of Christmas on the Church stage. https://youtu.be/brSzWLMgpHM If you want to see the 10-12 year old’s in action watch from after the worship songs.