Day 1 Montessori-Inspired Christmas Activity With Your Toddler

Christmas is much more than Santa, Christmas tree decorations, gifts and good food. Christmas is about Jesus, about the story of his birth! The Nativity story (birth story of Jesus) is a must-have activity for kids to help them know the real meaning of Christmas. You can also read the story of Christmas to your child during this festive season.

AGE GROUP – 1 year onwards

 MATERIALS NEEDED 

• Nativity story cards – Use Printables   
• Nativity story finger puppets 
• Lamination essentials
• Popsicle sticks
• Tape
• Scissors

TIME REQUIRED FOR ACTIVITY PREPARATION – 30-45 minutes depending on whether you are laminating at home or getting them from the market

HOW & WHAT TO DO

• Cut the individual nativity story cards and laminate them
• Laminate the nativity story finger puppets and stick a popsicle stick on their back using tape to make it look like a storytelling prop
• Based on your understanding of the nativity story, use these story cards for sequencing and use the finger puppets for storytelling to make it even more interesting and interactive. Be creative with how you engage your child in the story
• After the story has been told, you can play a sequencing game with the story cards & revise the story
• Let the child explore the cards and finger puppets and come up with his/her own version of the story
• Ask questions about the story, it is interesting to listen to their point of view.
• Use storytelling tips and benefits to make the exercise a fun and enjoyable one! 

SKILLS DEVELOPED

• Understanding of culture/ tradition
• Language building
• Enhances creativity and imagination
• Memory and concentration
• Communication skills

CAN SOME MATERIALS BE REPLACED?

• If you do not want to laminate the printables, you can stick them on cardboard & use them in the same way as shared above.

HOW TO TWEAK FOR OLDER KIDS

• You can even build a nativity scene with a waste cardboard, some hay, farm animal figurines and place these finger puppets over there. It will be a great sensory experience for kids.

Explore the entire collection of articles: Christmas & New Year 

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