Guest Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 just been told ive got to start thinkin of a christmas play to put together for my preschoolers, currently most aged just turned 3 and some almost 4. ive never really been into christmas, call me bah humbug or what ever, just think is too hyped, but i really dont want to do a play. they said it doesnt have to be a nativity, but all i can think of is that its nothing about what im about- how can practising songs over n over for weeks/months beforehand be fun for children, how is taking them away from what they are doing to practice the songs/play be following their interests, how is teling them where to stand or move to be anything we shoud be doing. also my just turned 3s have seriouly short attention spans and i have 3 children with behavioural difficulties the only benefit i can see is that parents would like it!! am i just being really negative about this coz of my lack of interest in christmas. can anyone put a postive twist on this for me, or back me up so i can maybe talk my manager out of it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I'm sort of with you northernbird, Christmas 'rehearsals' are not fun. In what ways do you celebrate other festivals, such as Divali, Chinese New Year etc, could you not celebrate Christmas in a similar manner in terms of activities / events? Maybe for last day of term have a fancy dress Christmas Party, have parents come in a bit earlier to participate with Christmas craft activities with their children, ie: maybe a Christmas sensory session, making cloves in satsuma's (sorry forgot what they are called), decorations, cards, mince pies, all bring in one present, wrap it in previously preschool made wrapping paper, lots of ribbons etc, when all children sat down for Christmas snacks (possibly made during the morning) each child gets a present, this to me would be a lovely way to present the message of giving. (wish I had a preschool now to try this idea ). Have a look at the Christmas Forum HERE, Maybe you'll find some ideas to inspire you there. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I'm a new manager of a preschool and I've decided that we're not doing a nativity play this year (apparently they've done the same one year after year for about 20 years!!). Instead we're having two afternoons where the parents can come in, the children can dress up, and we'll sing a few songs, do some crafty things and eat mince pies made the day before! We'll see how it goes and when next year comes around we may do something different again. I don't like seeing children as young as 2 1/2 being forced to do something they are bored with by the time the day comes having done so many rehearsals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 We did the same as Chicken Licken because I too couldn't see the benefit to anyone of endless rehearsals and stress! We had a party for the children which the parents came to the last part of and we shared mince pies, had a visit from FC and sang songs all together. It was always a lovely relaxed atmosphere and none of the parents ever asked why I didn't do anything more formal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 you you baa humbugs, its my favourite time of the year we do sleepy sheperd and hopeless camel and staff, parents and kiddies love it. We dont practise endlessly but that makes it more fun on the day!!!!! organised chaos!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I can sympathise and agree to a point, but on the whole I think it is part of our culture and should celebrated. It takes me a while to warm up to Christmas but I get there in the end in my own good time. I refuse to get caught up in the overcomercialisation. A couple of years ago I took the decision not to send Christmas cards to people I see regularly or will see at Christmas, instead I make a donation to our local children's hospice and email my seasonal greetings to everyone I can. Our Nativity doesn't usually involve much more than dressing up and singing a few songs. We have tried over the years to make it as simple as possible to make the whole thing easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I love the christmas plays and the children love dressing up as angels and shepherds. It doesnt need to be complicated, we play the music to the songs we are going to learn and then when you start to sing the words the tune is already known, Our children sometimes still sing our christmas songs in mar/april time. We usually buy a play from a company and the songs are all catchty and fun. Sometimes it is hard work but the kids love the magic of christmas and all that goes with it. Debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Hi same here, We love our Christmas plays and so do the children, many love singing the songs over again throughout the year and remember it fondly for ages. We make a scrap book of pictures of the play rehearsals and the childrens drawings and thoughts which stays a popular read in the book corner for months. but I suppose if you not into the whole idea you're not going to pass on the smae enthusiasm to the children so maybe a different approach is needed. Ask the children is always the best idea - what do they want to do?? em x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlettangel Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 We stopped doing a nativity type play some years ago now and suddenly Christmas felt like so much more fun!! Like someone said earlier we don't do it for the children............. What we do now, is learn a few songs........ or add a couple of new words to old ones we know and then at the end of the fancy dress Christmas party we invite parents in to listen and to join in with us. It still has the Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh factor with a little less stress for all concerned!! The children get to take part in a play in reception, but even then, for some its TOO much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dublinbay Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 We jump into the whole Christmas thing with both feet. Rehearsals??? What rehearsals??? We just sing new songs to music starting in November. Singing to the music is a novelty and our children have never complained, except for last year they didn't like one particular song so we scrapped it. Our nativity is the children getting dressed up as angels, shepherds, sheep and wise men. Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus sit in the centre with the children all around. There is not much movement around the stage, hence no rehearsals. Children eat their lunch in this hall so are familar with their surrounding. It's a chance for parents & grandparents to cry and take photos & videos. Who would deny them a chance to record these precious moments for the furure. Having said all that I do hate the commercialisation of Christmas. I do think the retail industry is to blame, playing on people's greed and guilt, to have the latest thing, not being able to say no to their children etc. Christmas starts for me on the 1st December and ends on twelfth night when my Christmas tree comes down. Sob! Sob! Anyway sorry I diversed from the thread. Go on, have a celebration of Christmas for the children. You don't have to believe in it yourself, do you? Just like you don't have to believe in all the other cultural festivals we celebrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I of a like mind - exactly what do the children get out of putting on a Christmas play? Nothing!! To compromise we have invited parents in for a sing-a-long which has been far more relaxed and enjoyable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacquieL Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I think that the younger children are the less formal Christmas activities should be. I wouldn't expect to see a baby room or even the toddler room do a performance. I also agree that Xmas is far too commercial, which for me is all the more reason why in the Early Years we should introduce why we celebrate Christmas, even if is only a story to the majority. It is an opportunity to step away from the acquisitive nature of the festival and introduce a little awe and wonder. I have always found that the story captivates young children. Questions we need to ask ourselves are: Should children be learning about their culture and if so Xianity has been a major influence on this country for getting on for 2000 years? If we celebrate many other cultures with young children, some which they have never experienced, and are not likely to, why are so many people reluctant to teach about our own? If we say that this is not child initiated does that mean that we never introduce children to anything they have no prior knowledge of? Should we impose our own personal values on our children, who will come from diverse backgrounds? How many times will the children have sung 'Twinkle Twinkle' and 'Humpty Dumpty' by Christmas? What makes practising a few special Christmas songs onerous and boring? Is there any reason why parents shouldn't enjoy watching their children 'perform'? What emotions cause the 'tearful' parent to enjoy watching a Xmas celebration? One or two children can become upset in front of an audience. Does that mean that there shouldn't be a 'perfomance'? Would we apply that reasoning to all our activities? Do the children gain anything from taking part? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiles Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Last year the church where our Preschool is held invited us to use the church itself - ours christmas nativity consist of the children dressing up and singing a few songs sone christmas one and others the children favourite - the church was packd and we invited the church memebers many of them elderly residents who insisited on sitting at the back so the parents could see - we wereallowed to practice in the church and the children enjoyed the whole expereince and asked to go into the church for months after christmas. We invited everyone to stay for a mince pie and cup of tea and many did . It was a lovely exepreince and the children enjoyed the whole experience as did parents and staff. Our star singers got stage fright, the songs got muddled and there was hay all over the church - we hadnt practiced with hay in the manger and the chidren were fascinated by it all but it didnt matter and many of the church members cried - we all joined together as a whole community and it was lovely. Isnt that whats christmas is all about. I have been asked recently by the church if we will do it again this year. smiles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblejack Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I don't think of the nativity as being stressful!!!!!! Our pre-school nativity is something that is so basic and child orientated. It has so many learning opportunities that are often carried on for months in their play. I do want children to learn about our Christian faith. We often use the Out of The Ark tapes but we abbreviate some of the songs. Our nativity play lasts only 15 minutes. We involve all of the children in the songs, using musical instruments and movement. We start practising the songs after half term for a few minutes each day. but not all the songs everyday. We then put the songs together during the last week. Last year we made a spare tape and let the children put the songs on themselves during the session. They organised themselves,putting the chairs in a circle choosing the characters themselves, choosing the props. All sorts of items were wrapped up for Jesus, boys were wearing angel outfits.Apart from learning the songs for a few minutes each day this was a child led activity.Some days they had the tape for most of the time.!!!!!!!!!! Last year I remember them having it on all the time while i was trying to talk to new parents. The parents were so amazed at the children that they weren't listening to me explaining things. We have no formal dress rehearsal.At least that way any child can be any character on the day. When we have fidgetty children we choose a very active play. If we feel the children are able to sit still for longer we finish with their favourite songs. Some children have often stood up in front of about 150 people and sang a solo. Staff love it, children love it and parents are absolutely amazed at what their children have done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MaryEMac Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 OUr playgroup is attached to a Church of England school and we always have an end of term service in church. At Christmas we do a Nativity Tableau ( otherwise known as a Navity Tablet), and sing some favourite songs. All staff members dress up as angels, shepherds or a king and join a group of children to lead them to the front as someone reads the Christmas story. The excitement for the staff is whether all the children who have a main part will turn up and the children look to see their families arrive. We finish with refreshments and it only lasts about 15 mins all told. but it always leaves me feeling good about life. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 "wriggly nativity" is a fantastic one from starshine i think - the children loved practising as well as performing! - especially Bumping up and Down on a Camel. No trying to make the kings reverent and regal in this play! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 We did a wonderful nativity last year, we bought a cd called happy birthday jesus, all the children dressed up and sand along to the cd all took 15minutes together, some parts were really funny, this song stands out for me Mary, Mary Ive got some news for you you better sit down it might be a shock for you your going to have a baby, of this their is no maybe his name will be Jesus you'll see he'll be a good boy for you. Here's the website, you can also listen to some tracks online, what is really good the singing on the cd is all done by children, we just had it playing in the background from about November and the kids loved doing it. http://www.learn2soar.co.uk/christmas_musicals.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shiny Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I love, love, love christmas time in preschool/school. We too sing and dress up. I can't wait, I am a big kid at heart. Sssshhh, dont tell anyone, but Christmas is one of the reasons I love working in preschool/school so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 im with you on that one Shiny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopscotch Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Hi, we have tried all sorts over the years from songs with the children dressed up as REindeer (cute)to music lady doing the leading (disasterous) to Nativity with songs interspersed in our hall (ok) to Full blown Nativity in church first infront of reception class (not so good) then infront of parents (fantastic)! we had some songs "twinkle twinkle " with bells to shake or stars to hold up and the angels twirled the innkeeper stood up and said "alright! there's my mum!" which was VERY funny. mary and joseph were very in love which got an ahh! i have to say it was lovely and the children and staff did enjoy it. children love singing christmas songs - they ask to sing twinkle twinkle and jingle bells all year so it's just really dressing up and going to church which was great. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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