Celebrate Christmas with kids at your church! Use these 3 Christmas Bible activities for preschoolers to point them to Jesus—the real reason for the Season.

Christmas Bible Activity #1. God or People?

Help preschoolers begin to understand which gifts are really important this Christmas.

You’ll Need:

• Bible (check out this kid-friendly version!)
• printed pictures of various locations, people, and items (such as the ocean, nature, a mom or dad, a teddy bear, or a doll)
• printed picture of baby Jesus

Lead the Activity

Say: Today we’re talking about gifts from God. 

Read aloud James 1:17.

Ask: What’s a special gift you’ve received from someone in the past?

Say: Every good gift is from God! That can include things like [several gifts children named], but it also includes gifts like family, love, and especially Jesus!

Play “God or People?” You’ll show images of various gifts. Then preschoolers will shout out whether it’s a gift that people can give or if it’s a gift that only comes from God. For example, a race car or doll are gifts that people give, but a beautiful ocean or a good mom are gifts that come from God.

After several rounds, ask: What do you love most about gifts God gives?

Say: Getting the toys or clothes you want for Christmas is fun and special. But the gifts God gives us—especially the gift of Jesus—are the most special gifts of all. 

Close in a prayer, thanking God for his gifts.

Christmas Bible Activity #2. King Jesus

Help preschoolers remember that Jesus, though born in a lowly manger, was the greatest king the world will ever know.

You’ll Need:

• children’s Bible (check out this preschool-friendly version!)
• baby doll
• plain baby blanket
• crown or costume jewelry
• and old, worn-out sandals (that look like they could be from Bible-times) or a tunic kids can hold

Lead a Lesson

Swaddle the doll in the blanket. Have children sit in a circle as you read from Luke 2 about Jesus’ birth. Show children the words, and tell them the Bible is God’s special book. Then show them the baby doll.

Say: Jesus is the most important king ever born. But he was born in a stable where animals stayed. Let’s pretend to hold the baby king.

Pass the baby around the circle. Encourage kids to rock it in their arms before passing it on. Ask kids to describe if they’ve ever held a real baby before and what that was like.

Say: Most kings wear priceless crowns and jewels. They sit on a throne and give out orders. Pass around the crown or costume jewelry.

Ask: What kind of king is Jesus?

Let kids offer ideas; then pass around the old sandals or tunic.

Say: Jesus was just like the rest of us—not rich or fancy or bossy—because he wanted us to know he loves us. Jesus is the greatest king we will ever know.

Christmas Bible Activity #3. Gifts