The Christmas Season is full of opportunities to teach babies about the Birth of Jesus. Use the following activities to teach babies at church and at home.:
Flip Through a Book:
Gather poster board, clear contact plastic, hole punch, ribbon or yarn, Christmas cards with pictures of the angel, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the shepherds.
- Mount Christmas card pictures on pieces of poster board. Laminate or cover with clear contact plastic. Make holes on the side of each page and bind them together with ribbon or yarn.
- Show the baby how to turn the pages. As you look at each page, talk about the pictures.
- Say: “Mary had a special baby named Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem. You are a baby and have a special family.”
- Alternate Option: Take apart the book and lay the pages on the floor (taped together) to make a manger scene mat. Place the Bible near the manger scene mat. Encourage the baby to crawl to the mat.
Shake and Hear Sounds:
Gather a Bible, large jingle bells, clear plastic bottle, glue
- Place different colors of large jingle bells in a clear plastic bottle. Use glue to securely seal the cap to the bottle.
- Shake the bottle allowing the baby to hear the sounds of the bells jingling. Help the baby shake the bottle.
- Open the Bible to Luke 2:11 and say the Bible phrase, “Jesus was born.” Continue to notice sounds the baby hears and remind the baby that Mary heard she would be Jesus’ mother.
- Talk to a baby: “Do you hear the bells? Mary heard from the angel that she would be Jesus’ mother.”
Wrap a Baby Doll:
Gather a Bible, soft doll (no parts that could poke), soft blanket
- Wrap a doll loosely in a soft blanket. When the baby crawls to you, allow him to see the baby doll, reach to touch and hold the baby doll.
- Say: “Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in soft cloths. She laid Him in a manger.”
During this Christmas season, be intentional to teach babies in your life about the Good News of Jesus’ Birth.
Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with Lifeway Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.
