The celebration of Christmas time on the Christian calender , is a great opportunity to share the good news of Jesus coming to earth with our families at playgroup.

There are many resources available out there to use in your playgroup … here are a few links as well as some ideas from the CPN

From Chris Barnett’s November 2011 Update: Advent Ideas from the Barnabas site; Christmas & Advent from the CTM website; Advent & Christmas from the Mission Resourcing Network in South Australia; King of Peace from the Going for Growth website. Christmas Ideas from the Uniting Church in NSW website.

Christmas Activity ideas - handprint poem & advent chain

Learning About Christmas Through Play by Kaye Plowman

Personalised Christmas Angel Decoration

The online shop at www.mainlymusic.org.au  ( follow the website link through the ‘mainly music’ tab , then the ‘books’ tab ) have a variety of publications at very reasonable prices that can be purchased for giving to children and their families. Well worth checking out!

Storybooks and activity books http://jesusisalive.com.au

The Salvation Army has some delightful children’s Christmas books  for giving to playgroupers

Sticker Stories giftpack  for under5’s  from NSW Kidzlink http://kidzlink.com.au/store/the-visitor-before-school-version-25-pack

From the Uniting Church in South Australia’s ‘Mission Resourcing Network’ , a number of Christmas and summer holiday time ideas http://mrn.sa.uca.org.au/childrens-ministry/online-resources.html

Christmas activity ideas #2 Great Christmas Decorations to make – including collage plum pudding, christmas tree collage and more !

Christmas resources Reviews Christmas resources to use in your planning – includes ‘The Tiddlywinks Big Red Book’ and ‘Christmas Wrapped up’.

Christmas storybooks Rhonda Parkinson reviews some great children’s Christmas books to read at mat time, or to give away at Christmas time to your playgroupers.