Creative Crafts Ideas for Kids for Christmas: Creating a Nativity Set

Christmas is a time of joy, celebration and cherished traditions. One beloved tradition that brings the true spirit of Christmas to life is setting up a nativity scene to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Why not engage your kids in a creative and meaningful craft activity this holiday season by making your own nativity set?

Crafting a nativity set with your children enhances their artistic skills and instills the essence of Christmas and the importance of the nativity story. If you do not feel crafty and are wondering, “where can I buy a nativity set?,” you can invest in one online. Otherwise, continue reading for some creative ideas.

Craft Stick Nativity Figures

Craft sticks, also known as popsicle sticks, can be transformed into adorable nativity figures with a little imagination and creativity. Gather the following supplies:

Craft sticks (various sizes).
Acrylic paint in various colours.
Paintbrushes.
Glue.
Markers or pens.

Using the craft sticks, your children can create characters like Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the shepherds and the wise men. Paint the sticks with different colours to represent their clothing and facial features. Draw or glue on small paper cutouts for details like eyes, noses and mouths. Arrange the sticks in a stable-like setting to complete your craft stick nativity scene.

Clay Nativity Creations

Modelling clay is an excellent medium for kids to mould and sculpt their nativity characters. Here’s what you’ll need:

Air-dry modelling clay.
Rolling pin.
Clay sculpting tools (optional).
Acrylic paint.
Paintbrushes.

Give your kids a lump of air-dry clay and let them mould and shape it into their favourite nativity figures. Encourage their creativity and assist them with any intricate details. Once the clay has dried, use acrylic paint to add colours and finer features to the figures. Let the painted clay pieces dry, and then arrange them in a beautiful nativity scene.

Paper Cup Nativity Scene

This craft idea is not only fun to make, but it also gives a 3D effect to your nativity scene. Gather these supplies:

Paper cups (different sizes).
Construction paper.
Scissors.
Markers or pens.
Glue.

Turn the paper cups into characters using construction paper to create clothing, hair and facial features. For example, cut out a triangle from brown construction paper and glue it on a small cup to create the baby Jesus’ manger. Draw faces on the cups with markers or pens. Then, arrange the cups in a semi-circle to form your paper cup nativity scene.

Clothespin Nativity Figures

Clothespins can be magically transformed into lovely nativity characters with little creativity. Here are the materials you’ll need:

Wooden clothespins.
Acrylic paint in various colours.
Paintbrushes.
Construction paper.
Scissors.
Markers or pens.
Glue.

Paint the clothespins with acrylic paint to create the characters’ clothing. Then, cut out small pieces of construction paper to form facial features, hair and other details. Attach these paper pieces to the clothespins with glue. Now you have an adorable set of clothespin nativity figures that can stand on their own or be displayed together as a scene.

Felt Nativity Set

Felt is a versatile material that kids can use to make a soft and tactile nativity set. Gather these supplies:

Felt sheets in various colours.
Scissors.
Fabric glue or craft glue.
Wiggle eyes (optional).

Cut out the different nativity characters from the felt sheets. Use different colours of felt to represent their clothing and accessories. For example, use blue felt for Mary’s dress and brown for Joseph’s cloak. You can add wiggle eyes to give the figures a cute and lively appearance. Once you have all the pieces, arrange them on a felt background to create your felt nativity set.

Recycled Nativity Scene

Encourage eco-conscious crafting by using recycled materials to create your nativity scene. Collect these materials:

Cardboard (from cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc.)
Toilet paper rolls.
Scrap paper.
Acrylic paint.
Paintbrushes.
Scissors.
Glue.

Cut out the nativity figures from cardboard, such as Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Use toilet paper rolls as the base for the standing figures. Paint and decorate the figures as desired. Use cardboard and scrap paper to create a stable, and arrange the figures inside it. This eco-friendly nativity scene will be a fun craft project and also a great conversation starter about recycling and sustainability.

Concluding Remarks

Creating your own nativity set with your kids is a heartwarming and rewarding craft activity for the Christmas season. These creative and easy-to-make craft ideas allow children to engage with the nativity story and develop their artistic skills while having fun. Whether using craft sticks, clay, paper cups, clothespins, felt, or recycled materials, each nativity set will be unique and special, reflecting the beauty of the Christmas story through your child’s eyes.