Nativity Story Crafts and Activities for Kids

At the end of this first week of Storybook Advent, we have had so much fun with the Nativity Story creating, playing, learning and crafting. These ideas can be used with toddlers, preschoolers and even older kids as they join in together reading the story of the very first Christmas. We’ve put together our pick of the Best Nativity Crafts and Activities for Kids below so you can find the ideas all in one place.

Nativity Crafts for Kids and You to Make together

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Make and play with these Nativity Story Stones. You don’t have to be a fantastic artist to create them at all. But they look great and you can use them over and over again.

As the three wise men travelled to Bethlehem they followed a star, we have an Advent Window Star which would be perfect to decorate a window above a Nativity Set or just for the holidays.

Make your own Simple Nativity Ornaments for the tree using just craft sticks and yarn. These little decorations are perfect for the kids and you to create.

Why not make your own Nativity Set with the kids – these 3 Wise Men, Mary and Joseph and little lambs are easy and fun to make and the kids will love to make them and then play with them. If you make a second version of Joseph and he will be great for a Shepherd for the set.

To go along with your cardboard tube nativity above don’t forget an angel. This cardboard tube angel is made in the style of Dick Bruna the author of Miffy books and Christmas.

Peg Dolls are one of T’s favourite ways to craft at the moment and this Peg Doll Angel was her vision of how the Angel Gabrielle should look from the Nativity Story.

Create these really Simple Nativity Tree Decorations with your Kids. We all love the simplicity of them and the kids are making a couple more to give to friends and family as gifts this year to put on their own trees.

Create a Wreath of the Characters of the Nativity Story – this wreath kit from Baker Ross is no longer available but you could make it with Nativity Foam Stickers or even cut your own characters using our Felt Templates from Craft Foam to make.

Using Tracing Paper and some pictures of the Nativity Story create your own stained glass lantern depicting the Nativity Story.

Make your own Nativity Set with Felt puppets – this was such a fun thing to do and although the set I used back in 2012 is no longer available I found this Nativity Finger Puppet template and instructions that you could use to create your own one.

Create a Textured Art Nativity Scene which even toddlers can help make – I love the stable part of it what about you?

Sensory Play Ideas Based Around The Nativity For Kids

Set up a Sensory Nativity Play Area for your little ones to explore as they read the story, check out our top tip on involving more than just sight and touch in the play as well.

Another Three Kings inspired post – this homemade playdough smells AMAZING and features the three gifts that the Magi brought to baby Jesus – Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Storytelling Activities for the Nativity

Sequence and retell the Nativity Story – these used a stencil I had from my teaching days but you could trace images similar to the Nativity Lanterns to use.

This is part craft and part activity – aren’t those some of the best crafts and will help with your child’s comprehension of the story. Create your own Feltboard Nativity Set and then use it to tell the story of the Nativity – I’ve created one here and will be using it as an interactive wall hanging for the kids.

Another craft and activity mix download and print the Nativity Shadow Puppets and have your children create their own Nativity Puppet Show. Wouldn’t this be great to do on Christmas Eve with friends and family invited over?

Play, learn and create with our Simple Nativity Games for Preschoolers. These are great for when your preschooler takes part in their first Nativity show. You can use these to play at home with them as they talk about the performance they are putting on.

Recommended Nativity Products For you and Your Kids

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For toddlers and preschoolers, this version of The Nativity Story is really good. It stays faithful to The Christmas Story and has simple language and illustrations.

For older children, The Nativity by Ruth Sanderson is a beautiful book to keep and although it does skip out some of the less nice aspects from the bible it stays very true.

For very young children Fisher-Price have a Nativity Set which means you can play and tell the story at the same time. This form of retelling is always one of my favourites and one that  I try to do as often as possible.

If you try and avoid plastic then this Fabric Nativity Set is also ideal for toddlers and preschoolers.

Less of a toy and more of a decoration this wooden nativity set is beautifully painted but very simple making it ideal for setting up year after year no matter how old you children are.