Christmas church activities kids can enjoy are the perfect way to celebrate Jesus’ birth while creating lasting memories. These faith-filled ideas bring the nativity story to life through fun games, crafts, and worship experiences.
Whether you’re planning for Sunday school or a special holiday program, these activities help children connect with the true meaning of Christmas in exciting ways.
1. Living Nativity Scene Experience 🌟
Transform your church space into Bethlehem by creating a living nativity scene where kids become part of the Christmas story. Set up a stable area with hay bales, simple costumes, and props like shepherd staffs and angel wings. Children can take turns playing Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and wise men while others act as the audience discovering baby Jesus.
This hands-on experience lets kids truly understand each character’s role in the nativity. They’ll remember how the shepherds felt receiving the angel’s message or how Mary treasured these moments in her heart. Rotate roles so everyone gets a chance to participate in different parts of the story.
Make it even more special by dimming the lights and using candles (battery-operated for safety) to recreate the peaceful night when Jesus was born. Parents can watch as their children bring scripture to life in the most meaningful way.
2. Follow the Star Obstacle Course 🌠
Create an exciting obstacle course that takes kids on the wise men’s journey to find baby Jesus. Set up stations with cones, chairs, tunnels, and challenges that represent different parts of their travels. Have a child hold a large sparkly star on a stick and lead the group through crawling under tables, jumping over “desert dunes,” and walking around “mountains.”
Each station can include a simple question about the Christmas story that kids answer before moving forward. This keeps them engaged both physically and spiritually throughout the activity. The course ends at a nativity scene where they present their “gifts” (could be drawings or handmade ornaments).
Kids love active games, and this one teaches perseverance and faith while burning off holiday energy. You can time teams or make it collaborative where everyone works together to complete the journey.
3. Thankfulness Tree Decorating 🎄
Set up a small Christmas tree in your classroom and turn it into a visual reminder of God’s blessings. Provide clear plastic ornaments and white paint markers for children to write what they’re thankful for instead of what they want for Christmas. This shifts their focus from receiving to appreciating what they already have.
As kids decorate together, discuss how God gave us the greatest gift through Jesus. They can write things like family, friends, their church community, or specific answered prayers. Each child should create multiple ornaments if supplies allow.
Keep the Thankfulness Tree displayed throughout December so children see it each week. It becomes a beautiful testament to God’s goodness and helps families remember gratitude during the busy holiday season.
4. Shepherd’s Sheep Hunt Game 🐑
Hide small toy sheep (or pictures of sheep) around your church space and have children pretend to be the shepherds searching for their flock. Before the game starts, read Luke 2:8-20 about the shepherds who heard the angels’ announcement. Give each child a simple shepherd’s staff made from a dowel rod or pool noodle.
When kids find a sheep, they bring it to the “stable” area where you’ve set up the nativity. As more sheep arrive, the flock grows just like the shepherds gathered after hearing the good news. Everyone works together rather than competing against each other.
After collecting all the sheep, gather in a circle and discuss how the shepherds must have felt that holy night. This game teaches kids about the unlikely heroes God chose to witness Jesus’ birth first.
5. Advent Wreath Ceremony 🕯️
Teach children about the four weeks of Advent by creating a special weekly candle-lighting ceremony. Set up a beautiful Advent wreath with three purple candles, one pink candle, and a white Christ candle in the center. Each Sunday, a different child lights the appropriate candle while the class discusses that week’s theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.
Provide simple prayers or scripture readings that match each theme. Kids can memorize short verses to recite during the lighting ceremony. The pink candle on the third week represents joy and breaks up the purple candles symbolizing preparation.
This tradition helps children understand that Christmas isn’t just one day but a season of anticipation. Create take-home Advent guides so families can continue the practice at home throughout December.
6. Christmas Bingo with Biblical Images 🎲
Design Bingo cards featuring nativity-related images instead of numbers: angels, stars, shepherds, wise men, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, a manger, sheep, and camels. Print enough cards for each child with images arranged differently on each one. Use small candies or tokens as markers that kids can eat after the game.
Call out each image with a brief fact about its significance in the Christmas story. For example, “The star that guided the wise men to Bethlehem” or “The angels who announced good news to the shepherds.” This reinforces biblical knowledge while playing.
When someone gets Bingo, have them shout “Jesus is born!” instead of just “Bingo.” Play multiple rounds with small prizes like Christmas stickers or candy canes. This game works perfectly for mixed age groups and keeps everyone engaged.
7. Gift of Giving Service Project 🎁
Help kids understand that Christmas is about giving by organizing a service project where they create gifts for others. Set up stations for making Christmas cards for nursing home residents, decorating cookies for firefighters, or assembling care packages for families in need. Provide all necessary supplies and simple instructions at each station.
As children work, discuss how the wise men brought gifts to Jesus and how we can give gifts that honor God. Talk about how serving others is one of the best ways to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. This hands-on activity teaches generosity and compassion.
Plan a day to deliver the items together if possible, or arrange for church leaders to distribute them. Kids will feel the joy of giving and learn that Christmas is about showing God’s love to others through action.
8. Musical Nativity Story 🎶
Teach children simple Christmas carols and songs that tell the nativity story, then perform them in order from beginning to end. Start with songs about the angel visiting Mary, move through the journey to Bethlehem, the shepherds’ visit, and end with the wise men’s arrival. Add simple hand motions or sign language to make it more engaging.
Practice each song during class time leading up to your Christmas program. Kids can hold props that match their song—stars for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” bells for “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” or stuffed lambs for shepherd songs. This creates a full sensory experience of the Christmas story.
Perform the musical presentation for parents or during a church service. Children learn scripture through music which helps them remember the story long after the season ends. Music makes God’s word stick in young hearts.
9. Bethlehem Passport Journey 📜
Create a passport booklet for each child and set up different stations around your church representing stops on Mary and Joseph’s journey. Stations might include: Nazareth (where the angel appeared), the road to Bethlehem, the inn with no room, the stable, and the shepherd’s fields. At each station, children learn a piece of the Christmas story and get their passport stamped.
Include a simple activity or question at each stop that reinforces what they learned. Kids travel in small groups with adult guides who help them engage deeply with each part of the journey. The physical movement between stations keeps active children focused.
This immersive experience makes the Christmas story feel like an adventure rather than just a lesson. Children can take their completed passports home as keepsakes that remind them of Jesus’ birth story throughout the year.
10. Baby Jesus Birthday Party 🎂
Host a proper birthday celebration for Jesus complete with decorations, cake, and party games. Bake a special layered cake where each color represents part of the gospel: chocolate for sin, red for Jesus’ sacrifice, white for forgiveness, and green for new life. Sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus and let the children help blow out the candles.
Play party games with a Christmas twist like “Pin the Star on the Stable” or “Pass the Shepherd’s Staff.” Provide party hats and noisemakers but keep the focus on whose birthday you’re really celebrating. This fun approach helps kids remember that Christmas is Jesus’ special day.
Send children home with small party favor bags containing a candy cane with the Jesus story attached, a small cross, or a Christmas ornament. They’ll associate the joy of celebration with the incredible gift God gave the world through His son.
Conclusion
These Christmas church activities help children experience the nativity story in memorable, meaningful ways that go beyond traditional lessons. Each activity combines fun with faith-based learning, ensuring kids understand why we celebrate this special season. Whether through games, crafts, or service projects, these ideas bring the true meaning of Christmas to life.
Remember to adapt activities based on your group’s age and size for the best experience. Take lots of photos to share with families and create lasting memories. 📌 If these ideas inspired your children’s ministry planning, pin this to your Pinterest board so you can find it again next year!
