In December the Christmas decorations are taken out of the boxes again and the house is beautifully decorated. In addition to Christmas baubles, poinsettias, the Christmas tree and lights, a nativity scene can be a nice addition. Families with small children often take extra account of the child-friendliness of the Christmas decorations. Which nativity scenes are suitable for families with small children?
What is a nativity scene?
A nativity scene depicts the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a veneration of the birthplace of Jesus and also of the idea that God became human in the Christmas child. A nativity scene consists of the following figures:
- Baby Jesus in the manger
- Joseph
- Mary
- The three wise men/kings from the East
- Os
- Donkey
- Shepherds
- Angels
Officially, the baby Jesus should only be placed in the stable on Christmas night. Then the shepherds and the wise men. It is often the case that the entire stable is set up at the same time . The first (living) nativity scene was set up by Francis of Assisi in 1223. Over the years, the nativity scene has become part of Christmas. A nativity scene is a Roman Catholic expression, because Protestants believe that no images should be venerated.
A nativity scene for families with small children
A nativity scene is often beautiful for children to look at or play with. In addition, the story of the Biblical meaning of Christmas comes alive when the children see it depicted. Small children like to grab everything and sometimes put it in their mouth. You can of course place a beautiful stone nativity scene somewhere where the children cannot reach, but you can also buy a child-friendly nativity scene. Nativity scenes made of wood, plastic and fabric are available. You can of course also make a nativity scene yourself. Give the nativity scene a nice place in your home and dress it with straw, for example. That completes the whole thing. In families with children who still put everything in their mouths, straw may not be a good idea. Then place the stable on a colored surface or, for example, a yellow blanket.
Well-known brands of nativity scenes
Fisher Price Nativity Scene
From the well-known Fisher Price Little People style. A plastic nativity scene suitable for the little ones (1-5 years). In addition to the stable, it consists of the following figures:
- Joseph and Mary
- baby Jesus in the manger
- three wise men
- ox and donkey
- sheep
- camel
- angel
- four walls and a bale of straw
- There is a light on top of the stable that can actually light up
Playmobil Large Nativity Scene (4884)
For older children (4-10 years) there is a large Playmobil nativity scene. This stable contains the following figures:
- Joseph and Mary
- Baby Jesus with manger
- Shepherd with ox, donkey, sheep and lamb
- Pigeons
- Christmas angel
- other nice accessories
A light can also burn in this nativity scene. The battery is included. This nativity scene is missing the three wise men/kings. Playmobil sells these separately (4886).
Lilliputien’s soft nativity scene
This nativity scene is made of fabric and suitable for children from 12 months. A musical star has been placed on top of the stable. The stable contains the following figures:
- Joseph and Mary
- Baby Jesus in the manger
- Ox and Donkey
- Shepherd with sheep
- The three wise men/kings
Dick Bruna nativity scene
This nativity scene is made of wood and designed in the well-known style of Dick Bruna. The figures match the book ,Christmas, by Dick Bruna, so that children can play out this story themselves with the figures. The following figures belong to this nativity scene:
- Joseph and Mary
- Baby Jesus
- Angel
- Three wise men
- Two shepherds
- Sheep
- Donkey
- Camel
Other Wooden nativity scenes
Wooden nativity scenes are often also suitable for families with small children. Beautiful wooden nativity scenes are often sold at the Wereldwinkel. HEMA also sells a wooden nativity scene. Also look in stores with second-hand items. There you will also come across wooden nativity scenes. There are so many variants that they cannot be summarized in one article.
Other fabric nativity scenes
Fabric nativity scenes for sale on various internet sites that children can enjoy playing with. Some nativity scenes can be closed, allowing children to take them with them in their entirety. There is often a handle on top with which they can carry the nativity scene. These are not from a well-known brand, which makes them difficult to list. These can often also be found in the more special children’s toy stores.
Make your own nativity scene
You can also make a nativity scene yourself from wood, fabric or paper mache. Descriptions of how to make a nativity scene yourself can easily be found via the well-known search engines.
In short, there are many nativity scenes that are suitable for families with young children. The durability and safety of the various parts are important here. They are often played with and small children often put figures in their mouths. The nativity scene must be able to withstand this. Whether it is from a well-known brand or not, a nativity scene in your home is a beautiful and educational decoration that you will enjoy as a family!
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