Involve Your Kids in a Christmas Play

Many children participate in annual Christmas plays, which often reenact the night of Jesus' birth or any number of other Christmas-type celebrations. One of the most popular is the play of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Acting in a Christmas play can give your children a greater understanding of what Christmas is all about, and can also help them to meet new people in your community. Use the following tips to involve your kids in a Christmas play.

Involve Your Kids in a Christmas Play: Church

If you and your family attend church, you should ask your pastor or youth director if they are directing a Christmas play. If not, you could even volunteer to direct it yourself and start a new church tradition. Many churches have Christmas Eve services for kids during which the Christmas play is performed. If you would like to be involved as well, you can sign up to make costumes, serve after-play snacks or to help with the music.

Involve Your Kids in a Christmas Play: Neighborhood Celebrations

Many neighborhoods are equipped with community centers and have Christmas plays every year. Talk with your homeowner's association or a representative from your neighborhood and find out if they are holding a Christmas play. You might want to do this well in advance so that your child has a chance of being cast. Find out if any of your kids' friends are going to be involved, which might make it easier on your children.

Involve Your Kids in a Christmas Play: Community Theater

Some large cities and even small towns have community theater productions that have Christmas plays each year. Find one that doesn't require acting experience and find out when casting takes place. If your child is just interested in the Christmas play, find one that isn't too serious and which casts only children for the parts.

Involve Your Kids in a Christmas Play: Family Play

If there are lots of kids in your family, why not have a family Christmas play? All of the kids can get together and you can even have one of the older kids direct. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, the kids can perform the play for the family, and might even want to do it outside so that the neighbors can watch.

Involve Your Kids in a Christmas Play: Don't Force

Many kids aren't comfortable getting up in front of others, so don't push your child to be involved in a Christmas play if they aren't interested. They could also be involved in the set design, the lighting, the directing or the music if acting isn't their particular cup of tea.