Christian Preschool Nativity Crafts
Realistic, simple and age-appropriate crafts help preschool children feel the pride that comes with accomplishing a task. Fun nativity crafts can help preschool children focus on the story of Christmas while making something they can display proudly and say, “I did it all by myself.” Sunday school teachers, parents or club leaders can use these crafts as an opportunity to engage young children in a discussion of the Nativity. Does this Spark an idea?
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Nativity Stockings
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Small inexpensive stockings are available at most department stores. Have each child decorate his or her own plain felt stocking with a Nativity scene. Using different colors of felt or craft foam, cut the following shapes for each child: ½-inch circles (2), 1 ½-inch squares (2), ½-inch half-circle, 1-inch equilateral triangle, and a 1-inch star. Double or triple the size of the shapes if using a larger stocking. Help each child glue these shapes onto her stocking to create a geometric nativity scene. Glue the triangle, pointed side down, between the two squares. Position the circles above the squares to form the heads of Mary and Joseph. Glue the half-circle on top of the inverted triangle to form the head of baby Jesus. Glue the star directly above the figure of Jesus. Help the child write her name on the stocking with a marker.
Milk Carton Nativity
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This project might take two days to complete to allow for drying time. Cut a half-pint milk carton in half lengthwise to form two house shapes. Give each child one of the carton halves. He will paint the inside and outside with tempera paint. While the paint dries, each child can cut a small nativity scene from an old Christmas card. You can also download free nativity clip art from Share Faith for the children to use. When the paint is dry, help each child glue his nativity picture to the back panel inside the carton. He may brush glue over the outside of the carton and sprinkle with glitter. Staple a loop of yarn or ribbon to the top ridge of the carton to make it into an ornament.
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Easy Nativity Ornament
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This is a quick and easy craft children can do almost entirely by themselves. Provide old Christmas cards with nativity pictures on them and several thin, wooden craft shapes. Star shapes are especially appropriate. Allow each child to choose a nativity picture and a wooden craft shape. The child will apply glue to the back of the picture and attach it to the wooden shape. To create a lacquered effect, each child can brush clear or white glue over the surface of the picture. For added sparkle, sprinkle with glitter. Staple or glue a loop of yarn or ribbon to the back of the ornament for hanging.
Popsicle Nativity Puppets
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Give each child two Popsicle sticks. Help the child cut a figure of Mary, an angel, a shepherd, and a baby from old Christmas cards or magazines. The child will glue these pictures to one end of a Popsicle stick. Glue Mary and the angel back to back on one end of a Popsicle stick. Then glue the shepherd and baby Jesus back to back on the other stick. As you tell the story of Jesus' birth, have the children hold up their sticks with Mary and Jesus. As you tell about the shepherds and angels, the children will turn their puppets around.
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- Photo Credit Arts and Crafts image by ne_fall_photos from Fotolia.com christmas stocking 2 image by FocalPoint from Fotolia.com
