Child friendly nativity and advent calendar

[maestramommy]

Title pretty much says it all. I'm looking for a nativity set that is big and sturdy enough to survive being played with. And I'm looking for an advent calendar (is that what it's called?) that will last for years, but isn't too heavy to hang on the wall. Only Dora will be handling that one for now. Is there such a thing? TIA!

[vonfirmath]

Fisher Price has a great nativity set. that is what we got for this year.

[clb]

I am thinking about ordering the Little People Nativity set for DS.
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900002&e=storeproduct&pid=46068&section=excl_view_all

[maestramommy]

Thanks! That IS very cute!

[Tondi G]

Playmobile has one too

http://store.playmobilusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5719&cgid=

these are cute but expensive

http://woodentoys.com/adorablewoodennativitysetlimitededition.aspx

http://www.nutcrackers.com/holiday-decor/nativity-sets/haba15piecechildrenswoodennativityset.cfm

advent calendars... there are LOTS out there!

wooden
http://www.vermontchristmasco.com/category/15

fabric
http://www.vermontchristmasco.com/category/14

[JBaxter]

We have the playmobil one but it comes with a crapy cardboard stable. We go a 4.88 wooden stable from walmart to replace it.

[new_mommy25]

We have the Haba Nativity and the Woodlands Fantasies Nativity. They are both beautiful but the Haba is more child friendly.
http://www.blueberryforest.com/haba_toys/haba-nativity-set-1175.htm

As far as Advent goes, this is the first year we are doing one with toys. In the prior years we just did ones where you opened a window every day and there was a picture of the nativity. One year we did a chocolate advent calender but the chocolate was kind of gross. This year I have a Playmobil one and might pick up the Lego one too.

[annasmom]

Melinda - what type of advent calendar are you looking for? Purely religious?

The reason I ask is I bought an advent calendar house last year from Target that I absolutely love. It has 25 doors, and I put little notes in each one, e.g. read the nativity story, donate food to a food pantry, bake christmas cookies. It was a ton of fun!

I have been thinking about buying the Haba nativity set that Angie recommended. We have pieces from, but not the entire set, from Holtztiger. I have put off buying the actual stable because it is so darn expensive.

ETA: Or, what about this one:

http://www.giftswithlove.com/seasonal_wedding_nativities/childrens-nativity-set-12pc/

Constructive Playthings also carries it.

[bubbaray]

Starbucks usually has an Avent "calendar" -- last year it was a "tree" with drawers. I can't remember what prior years were (same? not sure). They sell out as soon as they arrive in stores, though. I think they start arriving the day after US Thanksgiving.

[maestramommy]

Melinda - what type of advent calendar are you looking for? Purely religious?

I think so, because I want a context for talking to our kids about the Christmas story. We have one or two VERY SHORT books with the story, but I am on the lookout for a more detailed story. One mom in my local group reads her kids the story every night before bed, but her (4) kids start at 2 and go up to 9yo.

Thanks for all the suggestions! The FP ones are really cute, but I was more looking for one that will make sense when the kids aren't playing with Little People anymore:D I will look at all the suggested links.

Okay, after looking at all the links I think I will get a Nativity set this year, and hold off on the calendar (some are so beautiful!) until the kids are a little older.

[KBecks]

Schleich has a nativity -- I don't own it but it looks nice! We like our Schleich animal figures:

http://www.amazon.com/Schleich-The-Nativity-8%252dpc%252e-Set/dp/B000HCRHCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1249127137&sr=1-1

[maestramommy]

Okay, a final question even though I hesitate to bring this up. Most of the wooden ones are painted. Should I be concerned about lead at all? I suppose I could test them, but if they tested positive, then I'd have to return them and start over. It's just that Arwyn is SO oral, I could see her chewing on Baby Jesus or one of the little animals:p

[Mamma2004]

Last year we bought a children's nativity set from Costco - I saved it for this year so I cannot comment on my experience. However, it looked very nice, safe, etc. and I was so impressed that I also bought one to save for my Godson. I haven't looked at Costco this year but perhaps they will have another version for the Christmas season.

Good luck!

[annasmom]

Okay, a final question even though I hesitate to bring this up. Most of the wooden ones are painted. Should I be concerned about lead at all? I suppose I could test them, but if they tested positive, then I'd have to return them and start over. It's just that Arwyn is SO oral, I could see her chewing on Baby Jesus or one of the little animals:p


LOL!! Definitely a valid concern - although I really do not have an answer for you. Our Holtziger baby Jesus is usually safely placed away because my kids have tried to eat him. I am not concerned about lead, but he is pretty small.

I would definitely stay away from any cheapy, no-name nativities. What wooden ones were you interested in?? Maybe someone has some info for you?

[elaineandmichaelsmommy]

I'm not sure about the nativity sets but we buy the children paper advent calenders every year at our local catholic supply store. The selection is plentifull and they're pretty cheap so they get to pick out new ones every year. I really like this since it's what I did growing up. It was pretty neat to hang them from the mantel and open one every morning before school. And when you open the window there's a part of a psalm or part of the nativity story and we read part every day.

Ours has a web address if you don't have one near you. I think it's just catholicsupply.com or something similar, but we always bought our in the church bookstore growing up.

Good luck.

[Bean606]

I saw this one in the One Step Ahead catalog and thought it was really cute:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535215&cmSource=Search

[maestramommy]

I saw this one in the One Step Ahead catalog and thought it was really cute:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535215&cmSource=Search

Oh wow, that is very cool! Different from the other wooden ones. hmmm! Very had to decide now:p

[new_mommy25]

I saw this one in the One Step Ahead catalog and thought it was really cute:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535215&cmSource=Search

That looks very similar to the Woodland Fantasies set we have. It's really nice but I know on our set there are certain pieces that are delicate like the Angel's star staff and shepherds staff (or whatever those stick things are). That's why I think the Haba set is a little better for younger kids. But the price is great on that OSA set!

[MamaKath]

I was looking for Christmas ideas for making an advent calendars and found a bunch. Thought it might be helpful for some of you looking. Might be fun to make the pieces in November, then use it in December. At work I have a file to make one with bible verses as a paper chain (I will be getting it ready in the next couple weeks, pm me if you are interested in it). Each day you read the verse, then add it as a link. The final link is a star. I wanted to find something different this year. I found a couple on About.com that are nativity based. Not sure why the religous ones seem to be mainly in the LDS section, but they would work. You would need to find different verses from the Bible if not LDS.

http://lds.about.com/od/visualmusicalaids/a/adventcalendar.htm
http://lds.about.com/od/crafts/a/advent_calendar.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/advent125.htm

[ett]

That looks very similar to the Woodland Fantasies set we have. It's really nice but I know on our set there are certain pieces that are delicate like the Angel's star staff and shepherds staff (or whatever those stick things are). That's why I think the Haba set is a little better for younger kids. But the price is great on that OSA set!

We got ours from One Step Ahead a couple of years ago (which looks just like the one currently on their website), and I'm pretty sure it is the Woodland Fantasies set. It's nice, but I agree it's not really great for playing with since there are some delicate pieces. And it's big and heavy so make sure you have the space for it.

[tina-t]

Alma's Designs make a cute nativity house and advent calendar that are child friendly.

http://www.almasdesigns.com/store/index.cfm/Nativity_House_69.htm

[WatchingThemGrow]

It looks like the Little People set has changed this year and there are additional pieces available. We have an older one and a set of shepherds.

The inn http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900003&e=storeproduct&pid=46070

The wise men as an add-on with their own tents http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900003&e=storeproduct&pid=46119

Since Arwyn is young still, I would just get that one and not be concerned about the mouthing, etc. Upgrade to one of the more sophisticated ones in a few years and pass this one on to another family. I'm sure you could sell it.

We leave baby Jesus out of the set until the DC go to bed on Christmas Eve. She LOVED finding him there the next morning. Since then, Jesus has gone missing twice. DH assured us all by saying, "He promised us he WILL come back." LOL

I'd like to find an advent calendar like Annasmom or MamaKath mentioned.

[traciann]

I agree with the PP. I would do the Little People one right now, and when the kids are older buy a nicer one. My friends 5/6 year olds still enjoy playing with the LP christmas sets because they are only out at christmas time.

[MamaKath]

Here is a super cute wooden set that is not made in China...
http://www.notoysmadeinchina.com/wood/nativityset.html

[JoyNChrist]

Hi Melinda!

I saw this (http://www.magiccabin.com/magiccabin/product.do?) in the Magic Cabin catalog last night and thought of your post...

It's kind of an advent calendar and nativity playset all in one. From what I can see, each box holds a small wooden figure that makes up a larger nativity set. My only concern is that is say "3 and up" so the pieces may be too small to have around Arwyn.

[KpbS]

DS1 has loved his Playmobil set from Target (on sale it was $12 I think). We bought it 2 years ago but it does have some small pieces. I wanted a set he could really play with and act out the story for better understanding.

Last year I saw a cloth set at WalMart (of all places) that looked very toddler friendly and was quite cute. They might have something comparable this year.

[pastrygirl]

Thank you for this thread! I loved one of the ones linked to above, and found it for $40 here (http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/advcal2.html) instead of $80! (It's the first one on that page.) It shipped yesterday. :)

[DrSally]

I was just thinking of Advent calendars too. We had so much fun with them as kids. I think ours was felt with little figurines in each door. I saw a wooden one at Target, but didn't look closely at it.

[o_mom]

Thank you for this thread! I loved one of the ones linked to above, and found it for $40 here (http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/advcal2.html) instead of $80! (It's the first one on that page.) It shipped yesterday. :)

I found the same one at SkyMall (http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=102762310&c=12020) for $34.99 plus 15% off with code MC158. Shipping was $9.25, but it was around $41 shipped which was about the best deal I could find on it.