Christmas Survival - The Nativity Edition

The time is here; the costumes are dusted off, and singing practice has started.

Here are 10 tips for surviving the nativity!

1. Start early

   Send the songs home for the children to practice - send the words and the YouTube links. The children can start listening to the songs at home and singing along with their parents and carers - it’s amazing what they naturally pick up just from listening.

2. Edit

   Most Christmas songs have 2 or 3 verses so think about repeating a verse so the children only need to learn one verse and the chorus. Alternatively, just sing verse 1 and the chorus, and then fade out.

3. Don’t practice together

   At the start you will want to do separate rehearsals of the songs and another for the acting parts. There is nothing worse (for both the children and the adults) than sitting through a whole run-through of the nativity at the very beginning stages.

4. Team up

   If you are lucky enough to be in a 2 or more-form entry school, team up and perform together! The singing will always sound better as there are more children and the impact will be much more effective. It also means it is easier to timetable rehearsal slots!

5. Prepare for change

   Christmas a bit like the summer term - the timetable is a little off. There are rehearsals, dress rehearsals of other year groups to watch, decoration making, theatre companies in, trips out and so on. Keep the children informed about the day’s timetable by adding anything different to the class visual timetable. This will support them to manage the change.

6. Be inclusive

   Every single child should be included in the performance. Think carefully about the children in your class:

   • Who will find it difficult to sit cross legged? Can they have a part where they don’t need to?

   • Who doesn’t like being the centre of attention? Can they sing in the second or third row?

   • Is there a child who doesn’t like wearing hats or a hood? Think about their costume - maybe they don’t need a star headband and they can have a star on their top instead?

7. Keep things simple

   It is not Broadway. The parents and carers want to see their little darlings in their costumes, singing Christmas songs and looking cute. Keep it simple; props to a minimum, and costumes trip-safe!

8. Pep talks

   By now you are as prepared as you will ever be. The children have performed a dress rehearsal to the Year 1 classes but today is different. It’s the big day and their parents and carers are watching. Nerves are a natural part of any performance so do the rounds beforehand, giving each child a confidence pep talk.

9. Scripts at the ready!

   Make sure all adults and volunteers have a script and are ready to act as a prompt. The pressure of performing can make children forget their lines, and knowing an adult is there to whisper their line will really help with their confidence.

10. Have fun!

    This should have actually been number 1! A wise man might walk the wrong way, and Mary might drop the baby on his head; just keep smiling and carry on. The children are only little, and what’s more these little things add to the endearing nature of a Nativity.

Have you got any other tips for performances? Help others by writing them in the comments box below!