A wonderful way to instill the love and joy of Christmas is to have your children put on a Christmas play. They will enjoy the challenge and excitement of putting on a production for their family and, at the same time they will create memories that will last a lifetime.

The play can be elaborate or simple. If there are enough family members, they can all be characters in the play. Alternatively, children can use puppets or dolls to stage the play. Children can write their own play or they can select a play already written. A selection of free plays is available from the books listed below.

• Christmas Candles; Plays for Boys and Girls (1915)
• Jolly Plays for Holidays
• Christmas Plays for Children

The Dramatix website also has an impressive collection of free Christmas play scripts.

Costumes can be as simple as a sheet draped around a child or more detailed and prepared ahead of time. For ideas on how to make homemade costumes, see the following resources:

• Homemade Nativity Costumes
• The School Nativity

Lastly, be sure to record the play or take plenty of photos. Then, the following year, watch the recording as a family to relive those special moments. Putting on a Christmas play every year can become a family tradition that will continue to create lasting memories.