Nativity Play Mat

This is desperate holiday attempt #2 to keep the toddler quiet-ish and in one place during services. This play mat went together pretty quickly, just cutting, gluing and hand-stitching. It doesn't have as many moving parts, but lots of pockets and several small toys that can move from place to place. 

based on the nativity icon

a baby sheep hide behinds a bush. The other sheep is tucked into a a pocket, but can be moved around.

The donkey is also a loose piece tucked into the large cave. My daughter likes these little plastic babies,
so there are a few extra babies in the cave!

The wise men's gifts are just shapes cut out of a cardboard box that already was yellow. They can sit in their arm's or in Mary's arms. A toy plastic camel is tucked behind a bush near the wise men.

Church Quiet Book

I haven't sewn any children's toys in a while, but wrangling a toddler during Liturgy with Clean Week impending gave me some motivation. I made this "quiet book" type toy (although, not actually a book), full of activities that little ones can actually do in church (well, mostly, we don't actually have a lot of bunnies at church).

UPDATE: Now you can purchase theses through Ancient Faith.
The pattern is also available if you want to make one yourself.  

Church Quiet book!

Outside the church, a bunny hides in the grass.
A pocket is full of flowers to put by the icons.
(There's also a heart in the pocket, that we use to "kiss" the icons.)

She can ring the (sorta-muffled) church bell.
Inside, she can drop coins in the money box.

Take candle sticks from the box, and put them in front of the icons.
Turn pages of the book at the kliros.

Father can swing the censer, and the little girl can bow.

The royal doors open to show the holy gifts.

Take antidoron from the bowl. (Definitely the favorite!)

An angel worships with us!

I think a book format might actually help her focus on one thing at a time a little longer.  But it was fun to show her how the priest swings the censer, and then say, "Look, her comes Father!" - and then pick her up to see the real Father emerge to cense the church. It has only been so-so successful at actually being a quiet and entertaining toy, as these things go; but the the big kids and I are all enjoying it, too. :)