Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. Celebrating the birth of the Savior, the crisp cool wintery air, the family, the songs; it's all so magical!

Every year, as a family, we make new traditions and visit new holiday-themed events, but taking time out to make sure that my kids have a good understanding of what this holiday is all about is so important to me.

And I take the "school-house" approach when it comes to teaching my kids about Christ- maybe it's just my homeschool mom nature. It's so much more than simply reading them the story of Christ's birth, but it's showing it to them, it's making it fun and interesting with crafts and hands-on activities. It's making it come alive to them!

This manger craft for kids is not only a great Christmas craft, but it's such a simple craft for toddlers that it can be used year-round when you're sharing Jesus with your littles.

Over the years, I've found that using different approaches works well to really drive in the importance of making Christ a priority in your home; we watch great Christ-centered Christmas movies, read Christ-centered books, complete fun crafts, work on holiday-themed printables.

Whatever you choose, be sure that it's fun for your kids! Don't make choosing Christ a complicated deed.

Paper Plate Lacing Manger Craft

While I love to spend time with my kids and do simple crafts, I absolutely enjoy seeing them learn new things and work on needed life skills while they are at it!

What is Paper Plate Lacing?

Lacing is the technique of using a string, yarn, or lace, to weave in and out of designated spaces. Lacing is a great fine motor skills activity; it helps with hand-eye coordination, following verbal/written instructions, problem-solving, and so much more!

Using a paper plate is just an inexpensive way to provide a workspace. It's light, easy for little hands to hold, plain- perfect backdrop for expression, and did I mention cheap?

Plus, when you attach a great message like the birth of Jesus to it, you've got an amazingly simple, and educational, Advent craft!

Speaking of, I have got to get a grip and start getting together our own toddler Christmas crafts! 

Manger Craft for Kids Materials:

I love that this manger craft for kids uses things that you probably already have laying around your house, and it's also really versatile! We list yellow and brown yarn in the instructions, but if you don't have it on hand, create your own masterpiece using the colors of your choice!

Stanley Guppy 5-Inch Blunt TipFiskars 23517097J Circle Hand Punch, ⅛AJM Packaging Corporation PP9GRAWH Paper Plates,RED HEART Super Saver Yarn, BrightRED HEART Soft Yarn, Chocolate

Don't have a hole punch? Use a pencil! Ran out of glue? Use a stapler or even tape. Be creative!

Manger Christmas Craft Detailed Instructions:

Before you begin, you'll need to print out the Manger Paper Plate Lacing PDF. It's absolutely free in our shop. It gives you the outline of baby Jesus and the star, so you don't have to freehand it. Simple, right?

Next, gather up those few materials and be sure that you're mentally prepared for lots of questions.

It may be good to follow your child's lead and use their personal learning techniques so that making our Manger Craft for Kids is fun for everyone!

If they learn by watching, be prepared to make your own craft so they can follow in line! If they learn by listening, be sure you're giving detailed and well-versed instructions. If they learn by doing, have one prepared and watch the magic happen!

Remember that things don't have to be perfect; kids make messes, they ask a million questions, will make mistakes, and can be extremely strong-willed.

Remember not to stress.  It's most important that the Savior is lifted up and everyone is having fun!

After you've gathered your materials and print out the PDF, the next step on your way to completing the Manger Craft for Kids is to color and cut out the templates. Drawing a cute face on baby Jesus wouldn't hurt either. 🙂 Once you've made our manger craft, try this painting one.

With your paper plate in hand, imagine a clock on it. Make note of where 1 o'clock and 11 o'clock would be. Starting at 1 o'clock, cut around in a circular pattern, leaving a few inches along the outer rim until you get to 11 o'clock.

Fold your half circle upwards, and glue the colored start to the folded circle. See photo above for a visual.

Using a hole punch, make a hole at each point of the star (both the star and plate). You should end up with 5 holes.

Begin lacing the yellow tarn through the holes, creating a star pattern and tying at the back to secure.

Color the bottom half of the plate brown and use the hole punch to make holes along the outside and inside edges of the plate. This is where we will craft the manger.

Just as you did with the yellow yarn, use the brown to weave around the plate and through the holes. Here, you're mimicking straw, so it's preference, not a specific design. Have fun with this part! Everyone's craft can be unique, here! Just be sure to secure by tying the ends on the back.

You can make your star shine by weaving more yellow yarn from the bottom points of the star, down to the top holes of your straw bed. Then all that's left is adding baby Jesus to your manger with glue or tape!

I told you that making this manger craft for kids would be extremely easy!

All that's left is to admire your handiwork and display your masterpieces!

Planning Ahead? You'll love our Treasures in Heaven St Patricks Day Craft!

In what ways do you take time to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Do you have any holiday traditions?