Introduction
You lead Sunday school and Christmas is coming. This page gives you what you need to prepare a simple skit, choose songs suited to each age, organize a craft workshop and tell the Nativity to three-year-olds. The lines are ready to read as they are. Adapt the length to your group: ten minutes is plenty for the children to remember the essentials.
An Easy Nativity Skit to Put On
A narrator reads and the children act it out. Plan five roles: Mary, Joseph, an angel, shepherds, Magi, with just a scarf or a blanket for costumes. Here are the narrator's lines, one per scene.
"A very long time ago, an angel came to see Mary and told her that God was giving her a gift: a son, whom she would name Jesus."
"Mary and Joseph walked all the way to Bethlehem. They were tired, and there was no room for them in the inn."
"It was there, in Bethlehem, that Jesus was born. Mary wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no other place for them."
"In the fields, shepherds saw a great light. An angel said to them: do not be afraid, good news has come for everyone."
"Farther away, Magi followed a star. They found the child, knelt down and gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh."
Telling Christmas to Toddlers (Ages 3 to 5)
Little ones remember gestures and pictures more than explanations. Tell the story standing up, with figurines or puppets, short sentences and the same refrain in every scene. Avoid details that are too complicated or frightening, such as the census or the massacre of the children.
"Jesus is the most beautiful gift God has given us. He was born to tell us that God loves us very much."
"Look at the baby in the straw. He is tiny, but he is the one God sent. Let us blow him a kiss up to heaven with our hands."
"The shepherds ran to see Jesus. And what do we do when good news comes? We jump! Come on, everyone jump for joy."
"When we are sad or afraid, we can talk to Jesus. He always hears us, even at night, even when we are all alone."
Christmas Songs for Every Age
Ages 3 to 5: "Away in a Manger" and "He Is Born, the Holy Child". The refrains are short, the gestures obvious, and the children sing them effortlessly.
Ages 6 to 8: "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", with simple choreography. The long runs of the Gloria let them have fun with their voices.
Ages 9 to 12: "Silent Night" in two parts, "O Come, All Ye Faithful". Let them accompany on recorder or percussion so they have a part to play.
Find more ideas in the children's playlist on the site's Music page, to prepare your rehearsals or listen in the car.
Crafts and Games for Sunday School
Craft for the little ones: a gold paper star to glue onto a cardboard tube, or a cardboard nativity scene with figurines made from bottle caps. Have shapes already cut out for children who cannot use scissors yet.
Craft for the older ones: greeting cards to give to a neighbor or to someone in the church who is alone. Writing a note for someone gives the workshop a concrete purpose.
Action game: "the road to Bethlehem", with steps to cross as a team, one obstacle per station and a verse to find at the end. End with a song about the birth of Jesus.
Quiet game: a Nativity memory game, where each pair matches a character with their role. The children tell the story as they turn the cards over.
Inviting Parents to the Christmas Show
The children's show is often the first chance for parents to walk through the church door. Send the invitation two weeks ahead, then a reminder the day before. Here are three texts to send as they are.
"Your child is taking part in the Sunday school Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 20 at 3 p.m. Come and cheer them on. A shared snack will follow the performance."
"The children are preparing a short scene about the birth of Jesus and they are counting on you in the audience. Free entry, family and friends welcome, about half an hour long."
"Reminder for tomorrow: the performance starts at 3 p.m. If you have a cake or a drink to bring, we will gladly welcome it. See you very soon."
Verses to Learn with the Children
One verse per session, repeated with a gesture. Here are four short texts suited to children.
Luke 2:10
"The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people."
The angel reassures the shepherds. An excellent verse for children who are afraid of the dark: repeat "Don’t be afraid" while raising your hands. Read all of Luke 2.
Luke 2:11
"For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
The simplest verse for saying why we celebrate Christmas. Even a six-year-old can memorize it in a week. Read all of Luke 2.
Luke 2:7
"She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn."
It helps us understand that Jesus was born in simplicity. Children love to mime the manger with their hands. Read all of Luke 2.
Matthew 18:3
"and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."
Jesus holds up children as an example to adults. A great chance to tell them they have an important place in the church. Read all of Matthew 18.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell Christmas to a 3-year-old?
With few words, pictures and gestures. Show a nativity scene, name each character, repeat a simple sentence like "Jesus is God's gift". Fifteen minutes at most, and let the child touch the figurines while you tell the story.
Which Christmas skit works for Sunday school?
A scene in five parts is enough: the angel and Mary, the road, the birth, the shepherds, the Magi. A narrator reads and the children act it out. There is no text to learn, which reassures shy children and welcomes newcomers.
Which Christmas songs should children sing at church?
Choose public domain carols like "Away in a Manger", "Angels We Have Heard on High" or "Silent Night". Families know them, they are simple to learn and there are no rights to pay for the service.
How long should we rehearse before the Christmas service?
Three or four rehearsals of twenty minutes are enough. Hold a dress rehearsal with costumes the Sunday before, and leave some margin: a child's unexpected moment often makes the charm of the scene.
to take notes and ask questions.