A Hands-On Christmas: Family Sign and Play Nativity
Hello fellow parents!
At Deaf Kids Connect, we know how important it is to make the Christmas season meaningful for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and their families. This month’s Parent Support Zoom Meet-Up focused on creative ways to bring the story of Jesus’s birth to life. Together, we explored hands-on activities and practical tools designed to help parents connect their kids to the heart of the Nativity story in a way that’s engaging, accessible, and full of joy.
Let’s dive into some of the practical tips and resources we discussed:
Making the Nativity Come to Life
The Family Sign & Play Nativity curriculum was a major highlight of the discussion. This resource provides hands-on, visual ways to engage kids with the Christmas story. From using a plastic nativity set to acting out the story with costumes, the guide is all about making the story tangible and interactive for kids of all ages and abilities.
You can find the curriculum here and download the PDF guide.
Teaching Big Concepts with Visuals
One of my favorite moments from the meeting was learning how to visually connect the Nativity story to the gospel message. Here’s an example:
- 1. Start with two people linking hands to sign “friend.” This represents the friendship we had with God in the beginning.
- 2. Introduce a barrier—like a chair or blanket—to show how sin separates us from God. The two people try to sign “friend” again but can’t because the barrier is in the way.
- 3. Finally, bring in Baby Jesus from the Nativity set. Use Him to remove the barrier, bringing the two people back together to sign “friend” again.
This simple demonstration helps kids understand that Jesus came to restore our friendship with God, tying the Christmas story to the bigger story of the gospel.
Making It Work for Your Family
One thing we emphasized in the meeting was adapting activities to meet your family where they are. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect. If your child is excited about the animals in the Nativity set, lean into that! Engage them where their interest lies, and trust that meaningful connections will follow.
For a fun family activity, try acting out the Nativity story together. Let each family member pick a role, grab some simple costumes, and bring the story to life. It’s not about perfection—it’s about creating a memory and reinforcing the message of Jesus’s birth in a way your kids will remember.
Let’s Celebrate Together
This Christmas, let’s focus on making the story of Jesus’s birth accessible, engaging, and meaningful for our kids. With the right resources, like the Family Sign & Play Nativity, and a little creativity, we can create traditions that center on Christ and foster connection in our families.
What traditions or activities have worked for your family? I’d love to hear your ideas! Let’s keep encouraging one another as we guide our kids to experience the true joy of Christmas.