Story Time

• Tell the children the story of the birth of Jesus. Sit with them in a circle and give them hot chocolate or apple cider while you tell them about the Annunciation to Mary, the trip Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem for the census, the stable, the angels and the shepherds, and the Magi. Alternatively, read the story to them from a children's Bible, and show them the accompanying pictures.
  
  

Presents for Baby Jesus

• Christmas, the season celebrating the birth of Jesus, is often associated with gift giving. People give gifts to family, relatives and friends. Even businesses often give small gifts to customers or partners. While this practice fosters holiday cheer, it can also take the focus off the true meaning of Christmas. Help your children associate the concept of gift giving with the birth of Jesus by preparing gifts for the baby Jesus. Ask each of your children what they want to give to baby Jesus. Help them think of things that would please Jesus, like being nice to their siblings, doing their chores without being reminded, or giving a portion of their allowance to a charity. Get small boxes, such as perfume or jewelry boxes. Help your children write what they are giving to baby Jesus on little slips of paper, and put the slips of paper in individual boxes. Wrap the boxes in tissue paper or wrapping paper to look like gifts. Decorate them with bows, glitter, ribbon or other craft supplies, and label them for baby Jesus. Place the boxes under the Christmas tree, and open them for baby Jesus on Christmas morning, before passing around the other gifts.
  
  

Path to Bethlehem

• Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Help your children prepare for the birth of Jesus throughout Advent by accompanying Mary and Joseph along their way. Make a bulletin board or poster that shows a winding path, ending at a cave or stable. Put the star over the stable, marking the place of Jesus. Decorate the area surrounding the path to look like the desert at night, with sand dunes and a night sky. Print out or draw simple pictures of Joseph and Mary and pictures of each of your children. At the beginning of each day, move Joseph and Mary one step closer to the stable, and give your children an Advent challenge. When they have completed the challenge, each one can move his own picture forward one step. If your children complete the daily challenges throughout Advent, they will arrive at the stable together with Mary and Joseph by Christmas morning.
  
  

Mini Mangers

• Teach your children about the Nativity by making craft mangers. Give each child a shoe box and various craft supplies like construction paper, glue and markers. Guide your children through the process of making shoe box mangers. They can cut up light colored construction paper to look like straw and put it at the bottom of the shoe box. Help them make figures representing Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus with different colored paper, and place these figures in the shoe box. After completing these essential elements, your children can personalize their mangers as desired, with the star, the angel and manger animals. Alternatively, provide your children with paper plates and colored pencils or crayons. Have them draw and color a picture of the Nativity. Hang their creations on the wall, the door or the Christmas tree.
  
  

Christmas Pageant

• A Christmas pageant is a live re-enactment of the Christmas story. Assign different roles to each of the children. Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and an innkeeper are necessities. Additional roles include the shepherds, the Magi and the angels. If there are more children participating, add additional innkeepers and villagers. Some children could also dress up like a horse or ox and be present in the manger. Teach each child their part, and help them practice the re-enactment several times before the performance. Give a festive feel to your pageant by ending it with Christmas carols and snacks.