12.11.2013

Our New Nativity


While last year's paper nativity was certainly more my style, I couldn't help but notice how much the kids wished they could touch it. I wanted to encourage that-- after all, over the years we've pretty much eliminated any tradition involving Santa {short of labeling at least one gift from the North Pole}. It seemed only fair to balance things by adding more Christ-centered traditions. 


Recently, my mom gave me a box of some of my old toys and pictures that she'd saved over the years and as I went through them, I was stunned at how much I remembered the feel of things. I think kids spend much more time handling objects. Experiencing them in a truly tactile way. 


In fact, that made me think about L's favorite Halloween decoration: the skeleton tree. He spends hours every single day in October playing with the skeletons and rearranging them around the tree. Trust me, someday he's going to get a sentimental twang in his heart when he digs out those old, plastic skeletons!


Luckily, he's equally fascinated with the Playmobile Nativity that I hobbled together after a couple of successful ebay bids. Even second-hand they were a bit pricy, but as I justified to J, I'm investing in an heirloom here. A bright, plastic heirloom. :)


So far, I'm pleased. They have tremendous child-appeal without being too precious; They include several little interactive pieces {L likes to fill all the little bags and vessels with the tiny gold coins the Wise Men came with}, and they're quite durable. I love waking up every morning and seeing that the angel has climbed up on the stable roof again and the sheep are chasing the camel.

Do you have a nativity? Growing up, we had a beautiful, white, ceramic creche that we weren't really allowed to play with. I'm still putting up my pretty, white paper nativity. But now I don't have to feel guilty about not letting the kids handle it. :)

5 comments:

The Dragonfly said...

We have this same Nativity - a little older version. It sits in a bowl on the coffee table during December and Ollie plays with it to death. Sadly, Hannah stuck Baby Jesus' head in one of the Wise Mens' gold cups the other day and we can't get it out. UGGGG....

Unknown said...

I want one too! ALfred loves playing with ours{made of porcelain}. Unfortunately he sent Mary falling down behind the couch and Joseph of course had to follow and now Joseph's head no longer attaches to his head. I knew it would happen but I loved watching him play with it too much.

ellen said...

I want that Playmobile nativity and I don't even have kids!

Callie said...

That looks like a great one for kids! I need to get one for Wyatt. He has a cloth one to play with, but it's not the kind that we would actually set up and display.

Apis Melliflora said...

We have that Nativity too. Playmobiles and Legos are the longest lasting toy in our house. Some years, we hide Baby Jesus for the children to find during Advent.

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