Nativity Activity

If you are keeping up with the Early Childhood Nativity Activity, 

here is the link for the Wisemen.

Click HERE if you missed it at church.

Enjoy this fun activity!

Nativity Activity

I hope you have been following this amazing Nativity Activity if you are in the Early Childhood area...here is this past weekend's piece...Angels and Baby Jesus.

We also have a big version of this right in the KiDS COR hallway if you want to take a peek.

Enjoy this time with your kids!

Angels and Baby Jesus

The Legend of the Candy Cane

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Once upon a time, a candy maker created the perfect candy to symbolize the true meaning of Christmas.  The candy maker created the candy cane. The white stripes represent the sinless nature and purity of Jesus.  The red stripes remind us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The shape forms a “J” for Jesus and also looks like a hook which reminds us that Jesus is our Shepherd.  Isn’t it wonderful to be reminded of Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas every time we see or eat a candy cane?  This Advent season, share a few with others and tell them the amazing story of Jesus and His love.

(Fun fact:  The candy was originally used as a “pacifier” to help keep children quiet in church.) 

Early Childhood Nativity Set

It is advent season once again as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  This advent season we have put together a resource to help your family celebrate the season at home.  Each weekend they will bring home a page of new characters for their nativity scene.  At home you will need to work together to cut out the characters and assemble following the directions you are given.  Our hope is that the nativity set will help your children remember the true reason for the season of Christmas time.

Please find the Nativity Family Letter below, this will explain and give further ideas as to how to enjoy this family activity!

 Nativity Activity

If you missed the first week, here is the PDF of Mary and Joseph.

Look for the Angels and Baby Jesus this week!

Advent 2011: Elementary Video: A Must See!

Check out the Elementary theme video for Advent 2011. This month we are talking about 4 of the greatest gift we can receive they are Grace, Peace, Joy, and Jesus. Thanks to Jack Anderson for making this great video.

Advent Caledar Activity-December 16

A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the most popular Christmas movies on tv. It has been show every year at Christmastime since 1965. Watch the movie together as a family then take a few minutes and talk about the movie. If you need a few questions to get the conversation going try these:

Why was Charlie Brown sad at the beginning of the movie?

Have you ever felt sad at Christmas?

Have you ever been in a Christmas play or musical?

If someone asked you to tell them what Christmas was all about, what would you say?

Advent Calendar Activity-December 14

Today's Advent activity is making a card or a special treat for people who have provided services for your family. Here are some ideas of people who might be blessed that you thought of them during this Advent Season:

Mailman

Firefighters (take some treats to your local firehouse)

Garbage Collectors

UPS or Fedex Driver

Barber/Hairdresser

If you have other ideas of people to thank be sure to leave a comment on this post.

And check out a couple of special treat ideas:

Muddy Buddy/Puppy Chow

Chex Mix

Advent Calendar Activity-December 9th

Today's advent activity is all about thinking globally and how other countries celebrate the birth of Jesus. Click on the link's below to find recipes that are served at Christmas in different countries:

Egypt

France

Italy

Poland

Now check out the language translator see how many different languages you can say Merry Christmas in!

Advent Calendar Activity-December 8

Today's advent calendar activity is making 2 birdfeeders one for your yard and one for a neighbor's yard. Here are some easy homemade bird feeders that are fun for the whole family to put together.

Pine Cone Feeder
Coat with peanut butter and cornmeal; add raisins, cranberries, whatever you have around. Roll in mixed birdseed (optional). Hang or place in the yard.

Old Christmas Tree Feeder
Placing the Christmas tree in the yard at the end of the holiday season makes a great birdfeeder. Hang it with cranberries and pine cone feeders (above), spread peanut butter on branches, and because birds in winter need fat especially, hang suet from on it.

Bagel Feeder
Coat a bagel with peanut butter, roll it in mixed birdseed and/or cornmeal, and hang it on a tree branch. Replace when gone.

Plastic Soda Bottle Feeder
You can buy ready-made versions of the soda bottle bird feeder, or you can make one yourself:

Make a hole on each side of the bottle about ¼ of the way up from the bottom of the bottle. Insert a stick through both holes to make perches; use one that’s long enough to stick out a few inches from each side of the bottle. The holes should be just larger than the size of the stick so the birds can get the seeds; or make separate feeding holes slightly above the perches. Fill with birdseed (use a funnel).

You may want to poke small holes in the bottom of the bottle to let moisture drain out. Tie a wire or small rope around the top of the bottle for hanging. You can also make this project upside-down, with the cap pointing down; thread wire through two small holes in the bottom of the bottle, then twist the two ends together to make a hanging loop.

Cheerios Birdfeeder
String Cheerios (or other round cereal with a hole) on a string. Coat with peanut butter. Hang on bushes!

*Thanks to http://life.gaiam.com/ for these ideas!*

Advent Calendar Activity-December 6

Today's advent calendar activity is taking out your nativity set and talking about the birth of Jesus as a family. Then compare it to the birth of your children. Some questions to talk about are below:

1. Where were you born?

2. Who first visited you in the hospital?
3. What was the first gift your recieved as a baby?
4. What time of day where you born?

Advent Calendar Activity-December 4

Today's Advent Calendar Activity is making a special treat and giving it to someone just to bless them and show them God's Love. Check out the links below for a couple of KiDS COR Staff favorite recipes.


Sugar Cookies

Yummy Dip

Cream Cheese Cut-Out Cookies

Advent Calendar Activity-December 3

Today's Advent Calendar Activity is make your own Christmas ornament as a family or with some friends. Need an idea on an easy ornament to make, then check this out.

Today we made A Christmas Tree out of Pine Cones.

Step 1: Find Pine Cones


Step 2: Come home and put glue on paper plate:


Step 3: Place pine cone on plate with cotton balls (snow) around the base of the pine cone:

Step 4: Squeeze glue all over pine cone then sprinkle glitter over the pine cone.

Step 5: Stand back and admire your tree. After it has dried you can either tie some string onto the cone and hang it on the tree or just place the cone on a branch.

Share any cool homemade ornaments you have done as a family! Would love to hear from you.

Advent Calendar Activity-December 2nd

Today's advent calendar is encouraging us to talk as a family about some great Christmas memories. Use the memory joggers below to help get conversations started. If you have other great questions please leave a comment on this post.

1. What is your favorite Christmas ornament?

2. What is your favorite Christmas carol?

3. What is your favorite snack to eat during Christmas?

4. What is your favorite Christmas Show?

5. What is the best Christmas Present you have ever received?

Family Advent Activity-November 30

Read a favorite Christmas Story together as a family. Check out the list below to see some favorites from the KiDS COR staff.

1. Yes, Virginia There is A Santa Claus by Francis P. Church
2. The Polar Express By Chris Van Allsburg
3. Mater Saves Christmas By Kiel Murray
4. The Grumpy Shepherd By Paddie Devon
5. On This Special Night By Claire Freedman
6. Room For A Little One By Martin Waddell & Jason Cockcroft

Let us know your favorite Christmas Story. Leave a comment on this post. Would love to hear from you all!!

Birthday Party For Jesus

On Sunday, KiDS COR celebrated Jesus birthday with a big party!! We had snacks, crafts, and some great entertainment. We also collected over 800 new toys to donate to the Toys For Tots program. Check out the video recap of a great weekend many thanks to Ron Fugate for his help in putting this video together!

Here our some pics from The Birthday Party For Jesus for more great pics from KiDS COR Click here:

Advent Activity-Thank Your Neighbor

Throughout Advent KiDS COR will be providing fun ideas to do as a family to help you get ready for Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Today's activity is below:

Make thank you cards for people who have decorated their homes for Christmas. Here's a sample of something you could write in the card:

"Thank you for sharing the joy of Christmas through your lights and decorations. We have enjoyed looking at them and each day we see them we are reminded that Christmas is almost here, where we celebrate the one true light entering out world."

You could also attached some goodies to go along with your thank you note.

Advent Activity-Family Discussion Time

Throughout Advent KiDS COR will be providing fun ideas to do as a family to help you get ready for Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Today's activity is below:

Invite friends to have dinner with you. Put out some "table topics" to discuss favorite Christmas activities. Here are some great questions to get you started:

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

2. What is your favorie Christmas snack?

3. What is the best gift you have ever recieved at Christmas? (Hint: The best gift we've recieved is Jesus and his love for us!!)

4. What do you think the first Christmas was like?

5. Can you name all the people who were at the first Christmas?

If you have other great questions please comment on this post and let us know your questions!!

Advent Activity-Make Your Own Tree Ornaments

Throughout Advent KiDS COR will be providing fun ideas to do as a familiy to help you get ready for Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Today's activity is below:

Make Ornaments to give to people who provide a service for your family. Click here for a really easy and fun way to make Cinnamon dough ornaments all you need is cinnamon and applesauce. These also make will make your house smelly really good!!!

Advent Activity-Merry Christmas

Throughout advent KiDS COR will be providing fun ideas to do as a family to help you get ready for Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Today's advent activity is below:

Learn to say Merry Christmas is another language. Below are different translations to Merry Christmas!

German: Froehliche Weihnachten

French: Joyeux Noel

Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie

Spanish: Feliz Navidad

Advent Activity-A Great Christmas Book

Throughout advent KiDS COR will be providing fun ideas to do as a family to help you get ready for Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Today's advent activity is below:

Read a Children's Christmas Book as a family. Need a Suggestion How about The Grumpy Shepherd By Paddie Devon!