Christmas with little ones

The Christmas story for toddlers and preschoolers

The first Christmas, told simply and faithfully in five little parts, each with a verse from the Bible. Ready for bedtime, Advent evenings, Sunday school or a toddler group, and free.

Read the story Subscribe for our Christmas episodes

Coming soon

Mimi & Lumi Christmas episodes are on the way

We’re making gentle, faithful Christmas episodes with the same care as every Mimi & Lumi story. Subscribe on YouTube to see them first.

Until then, everything on this page is ready to use, and our Bible story episodes are free to watch now.

Mimi the lamb and Lumi the lamp in a meadow of red flowers as their blue storybook begins to glow

Luke 1–2 and Matthew 2

The Christmas story in five little parts

Read one part a night, or all five together. The words in quotation marks are the Bible’s own, from the King James Version.

  1. An angel visits Mary

    God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman called Mary in Nazareth, with wonderful news: she was going to have a baby boy, and she would call Him Jesus.

    “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:31

  2. The journey to Bethlehem

    Mary and Joseph made a long journey from Nazareth to the little town of Bethlehem, the city of King David.

    “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;” Luke 2:4

  3. Baby Jesus is born

    In Bethlehem, baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him up warm and laid Him in a manger, the box the animals eat from, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

  4. Good news for the shepherds

    That night, shepherds were out in the fields looking after their flock. An angel came with the happiest news of all, then lots and lots of angels praised God, and the shepherds hurried to find the baby.

    “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Luke 2:10

  5. Wise men follow the star

    Wise men from far away in the east saw a special star and followed it to find Jesus. They were so happy, and they gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Matthew 2:10

Christmas memory verse

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:11

After the story

Talk about it

  1. Where was baby Jesus born? Where did Mary lay Him down to sleep?
  2. Who were the very first people to hear the good news? Who told them?
  3. Why was everyone so happy that Jesus was born?

Try this

Tell the story with a nativity set or soft toys, one part each evening, and let your little one move the figures. Turn the lights down low and shine a torch as the star, so the wise men can follow it across the room to find Jesus.

A little prayer

Dear God, thank you for sending baby Jesus. Thank you for the good news of great joy, for everyone, and for me. Amen.

Telling the Christmas story to little ones

  • Keep it short. One part a night is plenty for a two-year-old. By Christmas Eve they’ll be telling it back to you.
  • Let them hold it. A nativity set, soft toys or a tea-towel shepherd makes the story something to do, not only hear.
  • Read the verse from your own Bible. Children love seeing that the words come from a real book they can find again.
  • Keep it calm. December is busy and loud. A few quiet minutes with the lights low is one of the loveliest gifts you can give.

Notes for grown-ups

  • The Bible doesn’t say how many wise men came. It names three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11), which is why we often picture three.
  • The wise men came later than the shepherds. Matthew says they found “the young child” with Mary in “the house” (Matthew 2:11), so they weren’t at the manger on the first night.
  • A manger is a feeding box for animals. The Bible doesn’t list which animals were nearby, so the ox and donkey in many nativity scenes are a tradition rather than part of Luke’s account.
  • The shepherds were “keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8) when the angel came, and they went “with haste” to find the baby (Luke 2:16).

Free to watch now

More Bible stories with Mimi & Lumi

Mimi the lamb and Lumi the lamp watching the animals line up two by two to go into Noah’s ark

Episode 2 · Genesis 6–9

Noah’s Ark

Noah listens to God, builds the ark, warns everyone and brings in the animals two by two; God shuts the door, remembers Noah through the flood and sets the rainbow as His promise. Teaches that God keeps His promises and remembers us, even when it rains.

Mimi the lamb caught in thorns at night while Lumi the lamp glows beside her

Episode 1 · Luke 15:3–7

The Lost Sheep

Mimi wanders from the flock; the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find her, and Lumi lights the way. Teaches that God loves every one of us and comes looking for us.

Questions parents ask

Christmas with Mimi & Lumi

What age is the Christmas story right for?

Even two-year-olds can enjoy the Christmas story told simply: a baby, a long journey, a manger, shepherds and a bright star. The five little parts on this page are short enough for ages 2 to 6, and older children can read the Bible verses for themselves.

Are there Mimi & Lumi Christmas episodes?

They’re on the way. We’re making gentle, faithful Christmas episodes with the same care as every Mimi & Lumi story. Subscribe on YouTube to see them first. Until then, everything on this page is free to use at home, in Sunday school or at a toddler group.

Can we use this in Sunday school or a nativity service?

Yes, please do. The five parts, Bible verses, memory verse, questions, activity and prayer make a ready-made session for Sunday school, children’s church, a toddler group or a classroom. Each part is short enough to read aloud as children act it out.