Where would I find a nice wooden nativity set - but there is another issue - multiculturalism

[Katymac]

Not only does the nice wooden Nativity set need to be played with (by quite young children)

But I also have to consider the multicultural implications of providing the children with a 'Christian' play thing - is there a 'non-Christian'/other religion type playset I can also buy?

So can anyone help on either side of my conundrum?

[Mybox]

What about just getting lots of animal figures for the kids to play with?

[Katymac]

Well they have a farm - bit short on Camels tho'

I just thought it would be nice especially if I could get a playset from another religion

[Slimcognito]

Dunno about the cultural implications but I noticed that Lakeland had a really very nice, tactile, smooth and chunky olivewood nativity set, and my MIL who is a retired head teacher was examining it lovingly, saying it would be perfect for children as they could handle it without fear of it breaking.

it is dear though

Oh, on the multi-culti front, you could always provide toys and information relating to other religions such dreidls etc for Channukah

like this

or toy lamps for Diwali

or these for muslim info/play

[Katymac]

The Channuka toys are great - in fact there are passover & shabbat (is that Sabbath?)

I think $102.29 is a lot though - so I guess I buy a bit at a time

The Lakeland one is beautiful but that is my budget for the next quarter so I think not

I am fascinated by the Muslim Baby shop - still browsing

[MrsBadger]

ace cheap sturdy wooden nativity
even cheaper

tbh I wouldn;t worry too hard as it's festival-specific and not (eg) a substitute for a dolls' house. So long as you have divas, dreidels, hannukiahs etc out at the appropriate times of year I don;t think having a nativity set would be an undue Christian weighting.

oh and build a sukkah for Sukkot (full size or for the dolls house people) - fun and needn't be expensive

[Katymac]

divas, dreidels, hannukiahs - I know dreidels

sukkah for Sukkot - lost me there sorry

I worry because OFSTED said I was too Christian & I needed to expand my provision for other religions

[Katymac]

But I love the nativities - Thanks

[SolidGoldBangers]

I don't think there is such a thing as a non-Christian nativity set. But how about getting the kids to make their own seasonally-relevant-festival-display out of paper, card, sticky-backed plastic or whatever for all the relevant occasions.

[Katymac]

No but the hannuka playset that Slimcognito found is ideal & I will be buying something from the other site too

Most of my children are under 2 so it's a bit hard to do that level of craft

[MrsBadger]

hannukiahs are the 9-branched candlesticks like the one in the Amazon link aka menorahs

divas are the little clay lamps you make/use for Diwali - dead easy, some good ideas here

get at least a Seder dish for Passover

Sukkot - some sukkahs but ours was usually of this ilk ie shoebox and lolly sticks.

sounds like you might need some multi-festival craft activity type books...

[MrsBadger]

NB not necc crafts for the kids to do but to giev you ideas for decorations etc

[Katymac]

We 'do' divali & Hannuka (always used Menorah)

I just liked the idea of permanent play sets to mess about with

[MrsBadger]

aha I see

I don;t think that a permanent nativity playset is a good plan though, esp if you have been prodded on too much christian stuff in the past. I mean even a church doesn;t have a crib out all year.

permanent access to Noah's Ark, bible stories etc sounds a bit more reasonable in the context of other religious and cultural bits eg Shabbat playset, multi-ethnic cooking pans etc but I would save the nativity for Christmas

[Katymac]

Yes but the ativity has been asked for by the older kids so I m trying to find some balance

The Shabbat set might be a permanent set all year round to balance the nativity I have been asked for?

Maybe?

& I fancy the jigsaws which have the Islamic letters & numbers on

[MrsBadger]

hmm
I am evil and would say 'No, nativity sets are just for Christmas'
if they want to dress up the dolls or the dolls' house people and do a nativity themselves then that is cool but that is their decision, iyswim, not an 'offered activity'

[Katymac]

They have had a nativity lent to them previously but not this year - I thought it was nice they wanted one

[SolidGoldBangers]

TBH if they are all about 2 why not just get them a Sylvanian Families house? At that age they are not fussed about the nativity aspect, they just like playing with a house with animals and people in it.

[MrsBadger]

yes it's lovely they want one, do get one

but put it away before you get out the Chinese New Year stuff, don;t leave it out as a toy all year

[NancyBotwin]

How about the Playmobil Advent Calendar one? Lots of the figures in that could be used year-round

[morningpaper]

Hi Katy,

I would try the local christian bookshops - they often have a selection.

There is a Happy People's nativity play set IIRC - I will check. I assume you do all sorts of religious activities anyway, so I wouldn't worry about this too much. Bear in mind that the birth of Jesus is also covered in the Koran, IIRC.

Or wrap a dolly in some bandages and bung tea-towels on heads and away you go.

[morningpaper]

Old ladies - they like KNITTING nativity sets - do you have a tame old lady anywhere?

[morningpaper]

fisher price one - this is cute

ELC one

[morningpaper]

actually the Fisher Price one has no Jesus - DOH

[morningpaper]

playmobile do one here on ebay but it's crap IMO - looks like Jesus is about to be sacrificed

[morningpaper]

M&S did a good one last year too