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Baby Jesus Is Born!

A peekaboo present, lots of little sheep, flapping angel arms, and rocking arms for Heavenly Father’s best gift

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 52
  • 📅 Sunday, December 27, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s gift to me.

I can rock my arms like a cradle and say, “Baby Jesus is born!”

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Christmas)
Know the chapters

This Christmas week, the manual looks back over the whole Old Testament to one promise: a Savior would come. Isaiah said, “For unto us a child is born” (Isaiah 9:6). Luke tells how it happened. Mary wrapped baby Jesus and laid Him in a manger, an angel brought the happy news to shepherds, and the shepherds hurried to see Him (Luke 2:7–16). John tells us why: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

For toddlers, the whole lesson is one happy feeling: baby Jesus is a gift from Heavenly Father. They just had Christmas, so presents are fresh in their minds, and rocking a baby is something even an 18-month-old knows how to do. Say “Baby Jesus is born!” and rock your arms over and over, all day long, in the lesson and in play time.

Nativity guidelines: baby Jesus is always a doll or a bundled blanket, and nobody plays Jesus or Heavenly Father. In nursery, everyone is a sheep, everyone flaps angel arms, and everyone rocks the baby. Don’t expect sitting or answers. The whole lesson is six minutes, and the play-time ideas below repeat the same idea for the rest of nursery.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a baby doll wrapped in a blanket, a gift bag and a picture of Jesus. Pull the baby out of the bag for peekaboo, swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet, baa like sheep and flap like angels, rock your arms while you say “Baby Jesus is born!” and end with “I know Jesus loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: your cupped hands become the present, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring6 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Wrap the doll in its blanket and tuck it into the gift bag. Keep the bag out of sight until the hook.
  2. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the bells and magic buttons. Turn the volume low.
  3. Sweep the floor with your eyes and hands for anything small. Quick test: if it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard and goes up high or away. Christmas leftovers are sneaky: look for ornament hooks, tinsel, candy and tiny stocking toys.
  4. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets and comforts at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  5. Practice rocking your arms like a cradle and saying “Baby Jesus is born!” a few times. That’s the whole key phrase.

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal and usually pass in a few minutes. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun, and say softly, “Mommy will come back. You’re safe here.” Visiting cousins don’t know anyone yet: learn their names at the door and give them a “Baa!” job right away.
  • Everyone will want the baby doll. Say, “Gentle, gentle,” and let each child give one soft pat or a quick rock while you keep a hand on it. The doll is baby Jesus; no child plays Jesus.
  • Late nights and holiday treats mean extra wiggles. If they’re bouncing, skip straight to the sheep wiggle, then come back to the last story picture.
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips, and never leave one adult alone with the class or go off alone with one child.

The 25-minute plan6 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Peekaboo Present

1 min

A present that hides a baby turns the Christmas feeling toddlers already have into “Heavenly Father gave us Jesus.”

  1. Sit on the floor with the gift bag in your lap. Tap bells on the Sound Board and say: “Ooh! A present! What’s inside?”
  2. Peek into the bag: “Peekaboo!” Close it. Peek again. Little ones will come to see.
  3. Slowly lift out the baby in its blanket. Whisper: “It’s a baby! This is like baby Jesus.”
  4. Rock the baby in your arms. Say: “Heavenly Father gave us baby Jesus. He is the best present!”
  5. Let children pat the baby gently while you keep hold of it.
🌪️ If everyone grabs for the bag, hold it up high, count “One, two, three…” in a whisper, and pull the baby out while they watch.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🎁 Peekaboo! What’s inside?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll wrapped in a small blanket (or a blanket rolled into a bundle) to be baby Jesus, A gift bag or a box with a lid, big enough to hide the baby; take off every bow and ribbon first

Peekaboo Pretend Present

  1. Tap bells on the Sound Board. Cup your hands together like a little box: “Ooh! A present! What’s inside?”
  2. Peek between your fingers: “Peekaboo!” Close them. Peek again.
  3. Open your hands, then rock your empty arms: “It’s a baby! Like baby Jesus!”
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father gave us baby Jesus. He is the best present!”

Class screen: 👶 Peekaboo! A baby!

2. Story

Picture Story: Baby Jesus Is Born!

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers walk, baa, flap and rock their way through the first Christmas.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is a Little Sheep, everyone has Angel Arms, and everyone is a Baby Rocker.
  2. Keep the doll in your lap as baby Jesus. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you.
  3. After the baby picture, rock your arms again on every picture and whisper, “Baby Jesus is born!”
  4. If attention is gone before the end, jump to the last picture: “Heavenly Father gave us Jesus!”
🌪️ Let the busiest child be the one who tucks the doll into your lap on the manger picture. A job beats a battle.

Class screen: 👶 Baby Jesus story time!

3. Wiggle break

Sheep and Angels

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and the story’s animals and angels are perfect moves.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s be little sheep!” Crawl or toddle around and say, “Baa!”
  2. SAY“Now we’re angels!” Flap your arms up high, then low.
  3. SAY“Shhh! The baby is sleeping!” Tiptoe with a finger on your lips.
  4. Rock your arms like a cradle: “Baby Jesus is born!” Sit down together.

Class screen: 🐑 Baa! Flap! Tiptoe! Rock! · 🐑 Baa · 👼 Flap · 🤫 Tiptoe · 👶 Rock

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Isaiah 9:6

1 min

Four words and one motion, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It tells about Jesus.”
  2. Read slowly: “a child is born.” Say: “That means baby Jesus is born!”
  3. Rock your arms and say it together: “Baby Jesus is born!” Say it three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child, rock your arms and say, “Baby Jesus was born for you, Ella.”

Class screen: 👶 Baby Jesus is born! · 👶 Rock the baby!

5. Testimony

I Know Jesus Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel the love behind Christmas.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture. Say: “This is Jesus. He was a baby, and He grew up.”
  2. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. He is Heavenly Father’s best gift to us.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ Jesus loves you!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus Christ or of the Nativity (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Put your hand on your heart and say: “Let’s think about Jesus.”
  2. Whisper: “Jesus loves you,” as you touch each child’s hand or wave to them.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. He is Heavenly Father’s best gift to us.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Rock-a-Bye, Baby Jesus

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a slow song with rocking arms is a calm, happy way to finish.

  1. Sit close together. Say: “Let’s sing baby Jesus to sleep.”
  2. Sing “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, 42) slowly and softly while everyone rocks their arms.
  3. At the end, whisper: “Shhh… baby Jesus is sleeping,” and lay the doll gently in your lap.

Class screen: 🌙 Rock-a-bye, baby Jesus

Story drama

Baby Jesus Is Born!

Luke 2:4–16; John 3:16 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Little SheepEveryone! Crawl or toddle and say, “Baa!”
  • Angel ArmsEveryone! Flap soft arms like wings.
  • Baby RockersEveryone! Rock your arms like holding a baby and whisper, “Shhh.”

Scenes

  1. 🚶 Mary and Joseph walk to Bethlehem.

    Mary and Joseph walked a long, long way to Bethlehem.

    🎬 Everyone walks in place: step, step, step. Grown-ups march slowly so little legs can copy.

  2. 👶 Baby Jesus is born!

    Baby Jesus was born, and Mary laid Him in a soft manger bed.

    🎬 Hold up the doll. Everyone rocks their arms and whispers, “Shhh, baby Jesus.”

  3. 🐑 Baa! Sheep in the field.

    Out in the field, shepherds were watching their little sheep.

    🎬 Everyone is a sheep! Get down on hands and knees and say, “Baa!”

  4. 👼 An angel brings happy news!

    A bright angel came with happy news: baby Jesus is born!

    🎬 Flap angel arms. Cover your eyes from the bright light… then peekaboo!

  5. 🧑‍🌾 The shepherds hurry to see Jesus.

    The shepherds hurried to see baby Jesus in the manger.

    🎬 Toddle fast in place, then tiptoe with a finger on your lips: “Shhh, the baby is sleeping.”

  6. 🎁 Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift!

    Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Jesus.

    🎬 Hold out your hands like a present, then hug yourself: “Jesus loves me!”

Key verse

Isaiah 9:6 ↗
“a child is born”
In kid words: Baby Jesus is born!
🙌 Rock your arms like a cradle, side to side, the whole time you say it.

More verses

Luke 2:7 ↗
“wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger”
In kid words: Mary wrapped baby Jesus up snug and laid Him in a manger.
Luke 2:11 ↗
“unto you is born this day … a Saviour”
In kid words: Jesus was born for you!
John 3:16 ↗
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves us, so He gave us Jesus.

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 👼 Angel
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🎁 Present
  • 🐄 Cow
  • 🌙 Moon
  • ❤️ Heart
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Rock your arms! Baby Jesus is born.
  • Sheep: Baa!
  • Angel: Flap your arms like wings
  • Star: Twinkles up in the sky
  • Present: Peekaboo! What’s inside?
  • Cow: Moo! Animals eat from a manger.
  • Moon: Shines at night while babies sleep
  • Heart: Jesus loves you!
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Who is the baby?
    • A. 👶 Baby Jesus
    • B. 🦆 Duck
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Jesus Rock your arms: baby Jesus is born!

  2. Which one says baa?
    • A. 🐶 Dog
    • B. 🐑 Sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🐑 Sheep Baa! Shepherds took care of little sheep.

  3. Who brought the happy news?
    • A. 👼 Angel
    • B. 🐟 Fish
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👼 Angel Flap your arms! An angel told the shepherds about baby Jesus.

  4. Which one is a present?
    • A. 🥾 Boot
    • B. 🎁 Present
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🎁 Present Peekaboo! Baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best present.

  5. Who gave us baby Jesus?
    • A. ❤️ Heavenly Father
    • B. 🚂 Train
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ Heavenly Father Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Jesus.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Away in a Manger Children’s Songbook, p. 42

    Many families sang it at Christmas. Rock your arms while you sing it after the story or at quiet time. Find it ↗

  • He Sent His Son Children’s Songbook, p. 34

    The whole lesson in one gentle song: Heavenly Father sent Jesus to us. Find it ↗

  • Once within a Lowly Stable Children’s Songbook, p. 41

    Short and soft; sing it while the sheep crawl to the manger basket. Find it ↗

  • Silent Night Hymns, no. 204

    Hum it softly during Silent Night Rest. Parents will know it too. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Rock-a-Bye at Home

When you see a baby, your Nativity or Christmas lights this week, rock your arms together and say, “Baby Jesus is born!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we pulled a baby out of a present and learned that baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift (John 3:16). We baaed like sheep, flapped like angels and rocked our arms while we said, “Baby Jesus is born!” (Isaiah 9:6). Try it at home: rock your arms by your Nativity and see if your child joins in.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Nursery play time

The lesson is short on purpose. Fill the rest of nursery with these: pick what fits your little ones today.

🧺 Baby Jesus’s Manger · 10 min

  1. Set the laundry basket on the floor and line it with dish towels. Say: “This is a manger, a soft bed for baby Jesus.” No basket? A folded blanket on the floor is the manger.
  2. Set out the nursery’s dolls, stuffed animals and blocks, and let children play however they like.
  3. Every few minutes, tap bells on the Sound Board and whisper: “The baby is sleepy!” Help a child lay a doll in the manger. Rock your arms: “Baby Jesus is born!”
  4. Bring the stuffed animals to visit: “The sheep came to see baby Jesus! Baa!”
  5. Safety: keep the basket on the floor, away from tables and walls, with one adult close by. If a child climbs in, lift them out gently: “The manger is for the baby. You can rock the baby!”

🎵 Little Sheep Parade · 5 min

  1. Stand up and sing “Once within a Lowly Stable” (Children’s Songbook, 41) while everyone crawls or toddles like sheep to the manger.
  2. Sing “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, 42) and rock your arms.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone freezes like a sheep and says, “Baa!”
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or just chant “Baa, baa, baby Jesus!” while you parade.

🍎 Happy Birthday, Jesus Snack · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours, before snack.
  2. Everyone sits to eat, with an adult watching. Skip choking foods for this age: no popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy or chunks of raw carrot. Holiday candy stays home.
  3. Fold arms. A grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for our snack and for baby Jesus.”
  4. Talk while they munch. Say: “Christmas is when we remember Jesus’s birth! Who got a present? Heavenly Father gave us Jesus, the best present!”
  5. Clap together for baby Jesus. Skip candles; a happy clap is the whole celebration.
  6. No snack today? Have a pretend party: pretend to munch and sip, and say thank you to Heavenly Father for Jesus.

🖍️ Hay for Baby Jesus · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor. Draw a big box shape and say: “This is a manger. Baby Jesus needs soft hay!”
  2. Give each child one chunky washable crayon, yellow or brown. Every scribble is hay! Say: “Soft hay for baby Jesus!”
  3. Draw a simple baby face in the middle when they’re done. Write each child’s name by their hay and hang the picture by the door for parents.
  4. Safety: chunky crayons only. Skip stickers, glitter, pom-poms and marker caps (small parts). Count the crayons back into the box.
  5. No paper or crayons? Open Draw & Guess on your phone or tablet and let each child finger-scribble hay while you hold your phone or tablet.

🌾 Soft Bed, Scratchy Hay · 5 min

  1. Fill the manger basket with dish towels and baby blankets. Let children pull them out, pile them up and feel them: “Soft!”
  2. Let them touch the bumpy side of the basket or a clean, dry scrub brush: “Scratchy, like hay!”
  3. Lay the doll on the softest blanket. Say: “Mary made a soft bed for baby Jesus.” Tuck the baby in together.
  4. Safety: no real hay or straw (pieces go in mouths), no tinsel or ornaments. An adult watches the whole time.
  5. No basket or towels? Feel a soft sweater sleeve and the bumpy carpet instead, then rock your arms.

🖼️ Picture Walk: Who Came to See Baby Jesus? · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Swipe back through today’s story pictures on your phone or tablet, or open a Nativity picture book.
  2. Point and name one thing on each picture: “Sheep! Baa.” Ask: “Where’s the angel?” and let them point.
  3. On the baby picture, rock your arms together: “Baby Jesus is born!”
  4. Finish at the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “Baby Jesus grew up. He loves you.”
  5. Stay in the nursery room with both adults. If a child drifts off, let them go; picture walks are for whoever wants to come.

🎁 What’s in the Present? · 4 min

  1. Hide one big nursery toy in the gift bag. Shake it gently: “What’s inside?”
  2. Let a child peek and pull it out: “A ball! Thank you!” Clap together.
  3. Take turns hiding toys. Last of all, hide the baby doll: “Baby Jesus! The best present!”
  4. Big toys only, nothing that fits through a toilet-paper tube. No bag? Hide toys under a blanket or behind your back.

😴 Silent Night Rest · 4 min

  1. Turn off some of the lights, never all of them. Spread out a blanket. Children may lie down, sit or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Give children a doll or stuffed animal to rock, if they want one.
  3. Hum “Silent Night” (Hymns, 204) softly and rock side to side.
  4. Whisper each child’s name: “Jesus loves you, Ella.”
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Shepherds Go Home · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, tap bells on the Sound Board: “Time for the sheep to go home!” Put the toys in their bins together and lay the doll in the manger.
  2. Sit together one more time. Rock your arms: “Baby Jesus is born!”
  3. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Say: “Ask to rock baby Jesus at home!”
  4. Share today’s family note from the app with parents, and tell them one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Keep them busy with the Little Sheep Parade or a picture book. Both adults stay until every child is picked up.

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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