Use clay or play - dough for crafts. Mold the clay into shapes like a baby Jesus in a manger. As you do this, tell the story of his birth in great detail. Explain how Mary and Joseph traveled and how Jesus was placed in the manger. You can also make small clay angels and talk about how the angels announced the good news to the shepherds. Toddlers can be very hands - on with clay, and it's a great way to keep their attention while sharing the Christmas bible stories.
You can start with a simple paper plate craft. For example, if you're telling the story of the star of Bethlehem, let the toddler paint a paper plate yellow to be the star. Then as you paint, start telling the story about how the star guided the wise men. Another way is to make a dove out of white feathers and pipe cleaners. While assembling the dove, share the story of the Holy Spirit which is often symbolized by a dove in the Bible during Christmas time.
For toddlers, you could do a Christmas bible craft like making a manger. Use a small box as the manger and some straw or shredded paper inside. As for the story part, tell them about how there was no room at the inn and baby Jesus was laid in a manger. You can also have the toddlers color pictures of the shepherds and angels while you tell the story of how the shepherds were visited by angels and told about the birth of Jesus. This way, they can engage with the story while doing a fun craft.
Take an old cardboard box and turn it into a manger. Cut out the shape, let the toddler paint it brown, and then add some straw made from yellow construction paper. You can also use bottle caps to make the Three Wise Men. Paint the caps different colors, and attach them to a piece of cardboard with the toddler. This way, they can learn about the story while using recycled materials.
One simple craft is making a paper plate Santa. Cut out a circle from a paper plate for Santa's face. Let the toddler glue on cotton balls for his beard and draw on the eyes and nose. Another idea is to make a Christmas star out of popsicle sticks. The toddler can paint the sticks and then you can help them glue the sticks together to form a star. This can be related to the star in the Christmas story.
Start with a basic story about two armies facing each other on a big field which is the chessboard. The rook can be a big, strong tower that can move straight to protect the territory. Each piece has its own role in this story - battle. As you tell the story, show the toddlers how the pieces move on the board. Repeat the stories often and let the toddlers play with the pieces as they listen. This hands - on and story - based approach can help toddlers learn chess in a fun way.
You can start with simple language and lots of pictures. Make it fun and engaging, like using puppets or toys to act out parts of the story.
Well, take the verse Matthew 2:1 - 2 for example. 'After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” This shows that from the very start, Jesus was recognized as something special. His birth was so significant that even people from far away were drawn to him. Reading these different bible verses together gives us a more complete picture of the Christmas story. We see the events leading up to his birth, the actual birth, and the reactions of those around. It's like pieces of a puzzle that fit together to form the story of the most important birth in Christian belief.
Well, we can start with Luke 2:7 which says 'And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.' This shows the humble beginning of Jesus. It tells us that Jesus was born in a simple and lowly place, which is an important aspect of the Christmas story as it emphasizes his connection to the common people. Through this verse, we can understand that his birth was not in a grand palace but among the ordinary folk.
There's also the story of Simeon in the temple. When Jesus was presented at the temple, Simeon recognized him as the Messiah. He said some prophetic words. This story gives an idea of the anticipation and significance of Jesus' arrival even among the devout in Jerusalem.
One way is to provide them with interesting picture books. The vivid pictures can inspire their imagination and give them ideas for stories. For example, a book about animals might make them come up with a story about a day in the life of a little rabbit.
Kids crafts can be related to stories in various ways. If you are reading a story about a magical forest, kids can create a diorama of that forest as a craft. They can use colored paper, twigs, and little toy animals. This way, the craft brings the story to life. Another example is if the story is about a pirate adventure, kids can make a pirate hat and a treasure map as crafts, and then retell the story while using these crafted items.