For me it is important that my children know about the Nativity Story, the birth of Jesus and so on, even though we are not religious. I feel that Christmas is not just about receiving presents and it is an important message that children should learn. Of course it is more about presents all together but it is better to give than to receive. The most famous givers in the Nativity were the three men (also known as the three kings) – who travelled following the Star in order to meet Jesus when he was born.
So for day 9 of our Christmas TRH Book Advent the TRH craft is a wise man. To make our Wise man (or King) we painted our toilet roll holder (TRH) one colour (green), and then used white paper to make a face (we drew around the TRH to make a circle). We then used some sticker eyes (they were actually for monsters!) and eyebrows. We added cotton wool for a beard and hair; then drew the rest of the face with felt tips. We made a crown with foil by cutting off a strip long enough to go around the top of the TRH and then cut out triangles. After gluing it on we attached some sticky-backed gems. Finally we made him a coat out of tissue paper (that matched the colour of his eyes) and just pulled it around him, securing it with glue. You could also use fabric instead of tissue paper – I was actually looking for scraps of old clothing, as we had recently had a sort out ready for new Christmas clothes/winter wear.
You could make 3 different Wise men/Kings one for each of 3 days during your advent calendar. I was originally inspired by RedTedArt’s Crowns but must have subconsciously remembered her 3 Kings Craft from Easter.
Personally I don’t see how they were wise all travelling and not getting some sleep – unlike the Daddy bear in today’s book, “Peace at last by Jill Murphy.” Daddy bear knows how important sleep is, if I do not get enough sleep I tell you I am like a bear! But poor Daddy bear does not get any sleep, because there is just too much noise going on around him. By the time he does manage to get to sleep then it is time to get up again.
I love so many things about this book that it has been a favourite for a long time. I am not the only one with over 1 million copies sold worldwide since it was first published in 1980 by Macmillan Children’s Books. Of course good illustrations are a key component in such a young child’s book and I really like how the facial expressions really convey the emotions. But I also like the subtle adult messages – such as the fact that baby bear is staying up until his parents both go to bed, and why is daddy bear going to the living room when he discovers that baby is still awake rather than settling him to sleep?
I have received no form of compensation for this post.