Why are some actors called hams?  Research revealed the term comes from a time when poor actors had to use ham fat to remove their makeup. They could not afford the appropriate products.  They didn’t earn as much because their acting skills were lacking.  They were overly enthusiastic and became known as ham-fat actors, then ham actors, then hams.  Bad overacting became known as hamming it up.   I’m happy to say I’ve never had to resort to ham fat to remove my makeup but tragically I have been known to ‘ham it up’ on many occasions.  Because when it comes to performing for children in Kid’s Church you have to exaggerate!

I love to use plays and sketches anytime in Kid’s Ministry, but particularly at Christmas.  They provide children with a multi-sensory experience that offers music, costumes, lighting and stage design.  Plays can be interactive.  It’s easy to add humour to a script, scenes can be short and sharp and the narrative structure is effortless to follow.  That means your children will stay engaged and consume the message, all while having fun!

A List of Christmas Plays for Kid’s Church

The Christmas Clock

I’ve recently turned this short story into a play using a narrator and I think it’s much better for it.  It’s about 10-year-old Laura helping her Grandma decorate her house for Christmas.  Laura is unsure about Grandma’s old decorations, especially a Christmas clock that cannot tell time!  Why does Grandma insist on putting it out every year if it doesn’t work and she can’t even remember who gave it to her?  

The lesson includes a Memory Verse, Galatians 4:4: ‘When the right time came, God sent His Son.’ It’s played using a Tic-Toc Pass the Parcel game. It’s the perfect time for some Christmas Minute-to-Win-It games, and there’s an idea for a Christmas clock craft.   

You’ll find The Christmas Clock lesson here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Christmas-Clock2.pdf

 An Aussie Shepherd’s Christmas

Okay, I hammed it up for this one!  Sheila and Shorty meet up at the campfire and Sheila tells Shorty about her visit to New Zealand and the World Shepherding Conference.  There are lots of sheep and shepherd jokes.  Then Sheila explains what she heard happened to the shepherds guarding their sheep outside Bethlehem long ago.  The play is so Aussie that I added a glossary!

You’ll find An Aussie Shepherd’s Christmas script here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/An-Aussie-Shepherds-Christmas.pdf

The Director’s Cut Christmas Play

This is an over-the-top Christmas play and an excuse to have fun when children in your Kid’s Church are beyond excited just before Christmas Day.  Great for a holiday program and especially useful if you only have a handful of volunteers available.   The leader takes on the role of movie producer to create an epic Christmas movie using volunteers to handle costumes, makeup and clapperboard while the children become the actors.   The beauty of this play for you and your volunteers is that they can legitimately hold the script and read from it!

You’ll find The Director’s Cut:  A Christmas Play here:  https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Directors-Cut.pdf 

Are you a ham actor?  I unapologetically am, so pass the pickles.  But I prefer to think of my acting skills as ‘hamazing’.  I’m not hogging the spotlight, just giving the Kid’s Church production what it needs to be engaging.  Sorry, I am on a roll!