It’s that time of the year when the Christmas nativity play pops up on the school activity calendar. Whilst the Christmas nativity has changed somewhat since I was at school, it is something that I feel that all children should experience. Teachers have spent weeks (possibly even months) planning and arranging parts, songs, decorations etc. Children have spent hours rehearsing songs, dance moves, and lines. Whilst parents have made or located costumes, helped little ones with their lines and finally the day arrives for them to attend the nativity showing.
As I sat watching Tigger’s dress rehearsal for his nativity earlier this week (younger siblings are only allowed to attend this showing), I smiled as a recalled my school nativity plays. Also chuckled to myself at the different types of children you find at the nativity play.
There is your own child, who is excited and pleased to see you in the audience that they smile, wave and dance in your direction throughout the play. You watch them in fear that they will fall off the stage or get into trouble from their teacher for not looking/listening to them.
There is the child who dances to their own beat. Happily singing along to the songs but doing a completely different dance to everyone else. Then when a classmate tries to correct them, they simply ignore them and carry on as before.
There is the child who sings the loudest, you can clearly hear them above all the rest. They are so proud to be a part of the show and clearly enjoy singing (whether they are any good at it or not).
There is the child who clearly doesn’t want to be part of it all. Sitting looking bored or attempting to create a fussy in the hope that the teaching assistant will take them off stage and get to sit on their lap.
There is the child who has landed the starring role and has brought out the diva in them. Angrily staring at anyone who gets it wrong, nudging the child who dares to stand in front of them and giving an Oscar-winning performance.
I do miss the traditional nativity play but watching the different character traits of the children is far more entertaining.
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