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I LOVE FINDING NEW WAYS TO SHARE THE CHRISTMAS STORY WITH MY KIDS!
Do y’all remember when I shared about the Christ-centered Easter book and activity egg that shared the Gospel (see it HERE)? Well, the author of that product, Natalie Ard, has a CHRISTMAS product that is just as amazing!
STAR FROM AFAR (affiliate link) is the sweetest little book and activity set that inspires your kids to focus on Christ every day during the month of December. It is the perfect tradition to start with your family!
Here’s how STAR FROM AFAR works…
- Read the accompanying book called STAR FROM AFAR to your kids.
- Discover that every day the wooden star from the provided beautiful, handcrafted nativity set will hide in the house somewhere each day during the Christmas season.
- When the kids find the star in the morning, the wise men from the nativity are moved to wherever the star is found.
- On Christmas morning the star is placed over the nativity and the wise men are placed with the rest of the set – everyone altogether, worshiping baby Jesus!
SO cute, right?! I like that STAR FROM AFAR is similar to the magic that the popular Elf on the Shelf brings, but it celebrates the birth of Christ.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE STAR FROM AFAR!
I HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR YOU TODAY!
Author Natalie Ard has offered to GIVEAWAY one of her STAR FROM AFAR sets to one of my Fairy readers! **Cue the party balloons!**
HOW TO ENTER…
Simply leave a comment below letting me know why you would LOVE this product for your happy home!
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (apologies to my sweet international readers!). The giveaway will end at 12:00 am on Wednesday, December 6 (EST). A winner will be selected shortly after and notified by e-mail. If winner does not respond within 24 hours, a second winner will be chosen. Thank you for being a part of this fun giveaway!
Make sure to keep up with Natalie on social media!
Social Media handles• FB – @theStarKidsCompany• IG – @StarKidsCompany• TW – @StarKidsCompany• P – @StarKidsCompany
Joyfully,
Julie
Karen Gardner
I have two girls who would love this! We do our best to keep Christmas Christ-focused, and this would add to it!
Erica Lucarelli
This is such a great Christ-centered activity. My children would love!
Stephanie
We love traditions and especially Jesus focused traditions:)
Cheryl Kovarik
I love that it’s a daily reminder of Jesus. Especially throughout the holiday season, the focus can very easily become about wordly things. I also love that it has a book to go with it. My little guy loves all books right now!
Rebecca
My boys would really like this! We collect hands on nativity scenes, so that we can do different activities throughout the season of advent. This would be great!
Jennifer Andregg
Sounds a lot simpler than Elf on a Shelf or the shepherd on the shelf.
Looks like something we would actually use. I hope we win it.
Janet Haskins
I would love to win the Star From Afar set. I am Catholic and this would be a great addition to my family’s traditions every year, especially for our Grandchildren.
JoAnn
What a great alternative to the Elf. My grandkids are doing the Elf but are not getting taught the real meaning of Christmas in their home. This would be wonderful.
Lisa/Syncopated Mama
We love to find new ways to have a Christ-centered Christmas, too! I love how simple this one is!
Amanda W.
Our kids are little so we’re still trying to work on which Christmas traditions we’d like to keep as a family. I’d love start a new tradition by using star from afar. I’m excited to use it year after year, to remind our kids of the true meaning of the season.
Christa T.
I would love to have this set to teach about the birth of Christ to the children I babysit! I love that it’s child friendly!
Ellen
I actually bought one this year for my kids, and it’s been so fun! I would love to win one to give it to my sister and her two kids. 🙂
Heather Cullen
Hello! I have been following your posts for about 2 months (starting with how to handle dreaded Halloween). My husband and I are both Christians and are trying to authentically demonstrate our relationship with Christ to our four small children. The gospel is salvation, but there is so much glitz and glitter out there to distract us all. We would love for this to be a NEW and FUN family Christmas time tradition to help us all remember HE is the reason for the season. Thank you.
Cathy Burnett
I keep my two grandchildren pretty regularly here at my house and just yesterday I took them to church with me. We have our sanctuary decorated beautifully for the Christmas season, along with the Advent Wreath. I love sharing Jesus with them. I have never participated in the Elf On The Shelf fad, some of the ideas posted are just not very nice. I love the Star From Afar idea and truly think this is a wise way to share a Christmas tradition with children. Since I am on a fixed income, I won’t be able to purchase this gift for my grand ones, but I sure do hope I win a set! God Bless you for sharing the word and I wish you a wonderful Christmas. Jesus truly is the reason for the season.
Sarah McFarlane
I am trying to introducey two girls to the real reason for Christmas – I am struggling to find things that are age appropriate and that they understand. I think this would be wonderful!!
Erica Johnson
I love this idea <3. We have two little ones and one is just getting to the age where he's excited about Christmas! We read lots of books about the Christmas Story but this would be a wonderful way to town it all together and he would be SO excited to find the star every morning!!
Erica Johnson
Tie** it all together (#autocorrect)
Ramona Zihlke
I am always looking for items and ways to add to Nana and Papa’s house that shows my grandchildren the one thing important – Jesus our Savior. This would be such a great addition to our home. Excited we have the blessing of products like this. Thank you for the opportunity to win one!
Carolyn Belcher
This would be perfect for my small niece and our little children’s church class!
Megan Hinders
This looks like an excellent activity to engage our kiddos’ hearts this month & help keep our family focused on Jesus’ life & love. Thanks for the great recommendation!
Jennifer McDonald
I have been avoiding elf on the shelf even though my kids want one. Honestly is a little creepy to me and definitely not Christ centered. I love that this idea is a fun game that consistently points to Christ as our reason for joy in this season ♡
Meg
We don’t do Santa at our house and our babies would love a Christ-centered equivalent to the Elf on the Shelf!
Brooke
My kiddos would LOVE this!!!! Thanks!
Brittany
This is so adorable! I love that it encourages children and keeps them focused on Jesus while being fun and exciting too! Would love to have one for my boys!
becky wall
I love this! I love that this is so fun and interactive and teaches kids the Christmas story! My two kids would love this! 🙂
Chastity High Bear
I love this idea for my children! My two oldest girls are about spreading the joy of Christmas to everyone, especially the true meaning of Christmas. My two oldest girls would love to share this novelty with everyone they know and even their baby sister. If we won, my girls would sit front of the display for hours and talk about among themselves and then share what they were talking about and why it is important.
April
My son is turning 3 in one week and I want him to know the Lord with all his heart and soul! He is just now getting to understand Christmas, presents and Santa Claus but I want him to know what this season is truly about and what a perfect way to do so with this activity that seems perfect for his age group!
Sylvia Baker
I’m always looking for ways to refocus the attention on Christ this time of year! Kids are so easily distracted by the glitz and glamour.
Sarah
I just started “elf on the shelf” this year with my girls. Like 3 days ago. Wish I had known about this! Maybe next year we can switch? Or add this for last couple weeks this year?
DeAnna Taylor
I just signed up for your blog last week and I have been excited about all the wonderful tips you share. This book is again a fantastic tool to teach the true message of this Christmas season! I know my 4 kids would love it and as a home daycare provider to 7 kids, this lesson would affect many households! Keep up the great work, looking forward to future posts!
Happy Home Fairy
Hello DeAnna! YOU ARE THE WINNER! Please check your email for details!! Congratulations!
Sue LD
I would give this to my son and his family. I think his kids would really enjoy this.
Maggie Chavez
This is such a beautiful way to talk about Jesus in our home. My son has been anxious to start decorating for Christmas. Unfortunately, I get very sad this time of season because society has has made it seem more like it’s about Christmas trees and Christmas gifts. This product will help my son, me and family understand what Christmas is truly all about. Thank you
Rochelle
My kids would love this!! And honestly I would love it! We don’t really have a tradition in regards to Advent and this sounds like a lovely way to get even more out of the Advent season and a Christmas!
Carissa
I would love to win this for my boys. It is a great alternative to the elf on the shelf which we chose not to do. Thank you for sharing these great ideas and I love your blog.
Julie Pearson
My son would love this! I nevr grew up doing Advent and it’s been fun trying to figure out what to do with our toddler. The book we have now is too complicated for him and he won’t sit and listen. Looking for something more age appropriate!
Katie Hayden
My daughter is so into the Nativity story right now and would love this book and game. I think this game will help solidify in her mind the Christmas story and the miracle behind Jesus’ birth.
Cindy
I am a teacher and would like to use this with the children in the school. My school is a Christian School, with mostly voucher students enrolled. They come from many home situations: single parent/guardian/foster/one or two parents in jail/missing parent/great grandmother as guardian (so many from unstable home situations.) Many have been exposed to drugs, alcohol, even suicide of a parent (where one 5 year old found her mother in the bathroom.) They come to our school not because we are Christian, but in many cases, because their “guardian” thinks it is a safe environment.
Angela
This would be an awesome visual tool for my kids to talk about the true meaning of Christmas and to have fun and play with.
Lindsey Fry
I would love to begin this tradition with my kiddos, age 1 and almost 3!!
Sarah
Saw your video at church last night for our Ornament Exchange up here in North Carolina. You are precious! Thank you for your transparency. This is such a cute activity! I am always looking for ways to point my daughter to Christ, and I think I have just discovered a new way. 🙂
Tisha Miller
This would be awesome not only to share with my grandchildren but also with our church children!!!!
Beth
Yes! I would love to win this for kids. They are just 3 and 9 months, so we’re just getting started. I want them to grow up knowing what Christmas is truly about! So enjoying your blog.
Laura
What a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season! I have been looking for something more to really emphasize the true meaning of Christmas with my 3 children, ages 8, 5, and 2. This book and set looks so neat and engaging for the kids! Thanks for sharing!
Angela Gossett
My daughter and my Sunday Class would love this. It sounds like a wonderful way to share the joy and wonder if Christmas.
Karolyn Myers
I would love to win this Christmas Star from Afar activity set, because I would give it to my daughter for her children, whom are 2 years old and 8 months old. This would be a great tradition for them to start every year!!! I love to give them things that are Christ based, as their dad is an atheist and their mom is Christian. Dad is okay with Mom sharing her beliefs with their kids, although he doesn’t believe them 🙁 I think that this would be an awesome thing for their family as EVERY single year, this tradition would get Dad involved with the story of Jesus…in a fun non pushy way!!!!
Tammy
My 2 & 3 year old grandbabies would love this!
Bobbi
Would love this! My children REALLY buy in to games and traditions – but so many of them are so secular. Would love to turn the focus back to Jesus! 🙂
Krista
I have four girls and I love having traditions for the girls to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Marcia Beddall
A Christ-Centered Christmas is so important. I am the early childhood director at a church in Oklahoma and I am always looking for ways to help parents during the Christmas season to teach their children the Christmas story. This would be another idea to help them in this process. Thank you for being willing to do a give away!
Carmelinda
Ooooh!!! Sooo fun!! We absolutely LOVE doing fun Christmas activities that focus on Christ and His coming, and this would fit right in. Such a fun idea! Thanks for sharing!
Julie BezzKul
One more thing to keep kids’ minds focused on Christ – the true reason for the season!
Angela C.
This would be awesome to share with my children every year!
A'ndrea
Daily reminders of the Reason for the season are extremely important when other “advertisers” are vying for our children’s attention! This game would be perfect to help us all stay focused! Great idea.
Kaye Swain
So great to see other grandmothers reading your lovely blog 😃. I, too, would love to share this with my grand-toddler. Thanks for a fun contest. 😃
Kira | A Better Life Lived
I love teaching through books and hands on activities that kids can really get into. My little guy is two so we’re just starting to try to explain to him the bigger purpose and reason for things like holidays. This would be great! Thanks for doing the giveaway, good luck everyone!
Coreen Kanet
I want my sweet kiddos Christmas experience to be Christ centered and I love that this provides them something fun they can look forward to each morning… we do an advent calendar and use your printable corresponding verses. It’s a favorite each day so this would be the perfect addition!
KimberlyD
I like this a lot better than Elf on the Shelf. What a wonderful way to keep the focus on Christ. I love that it comes with a book too. We have seven children, ages 14 down to 1, I think they would all enjoy this. Thank you for sharing!
Karen Nixon
I love this! We don’t do the elf but this is an activity that I could get behind! My 3 and 6 year olds would love it 🙂
Mariella
We are starting to create our own Christmas traditions and my two daughters would love this!
Claire
Wow! What a special tradition. I do not have children of my own, however I do teach 22 little Pre-K babies that would ADORE this! It would be so special to use in our classroom as the children learn more about the coming of Jesus. Thank you for doing this give away!
Milesa Eagan
I teach preschool at a church and this would be a perfect way to show the kids what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Ashley Robbins
I have two boys and we currently have the Elf on the Shelf for Christmas time. I would love to bring this adorable “Star From Afar” activity into our family traditions. I believe that Christ should be in the center of Christmas and this would help me incorporate Christ into some “fun” with my sweet boys!
Cheryl Wickline
This is a wonderful idea for keeping the kids focused on the true meaning of Christmas. I love all the projects and print-outs you post and use many of them for my grandchildren. They would love this.
Candance Miller
I have a 2 year old grandson who loves going to church with me. I would like to gift this to him.
Mary
I have four children – including a couple of teenagers – and I would love a new way to keep turning our focus to the birth of Christ. It would be good for the entire family!
DAWN BURGESS Deoraj
My grandson is Riley is 7 years old and does have some learning defecits. This would be the perfect gift for him because it is interactive and hands on which would help him fully understand the message of Christmas and Baby Jesus more so than just reading. Thank you.
Eden Ann Gay
We try to teach our children to ‘give yourself to the Lord before you give yourself to the world’ – it is a daily struggle. The Christmas Star from Afar would help keep their focus on the real reason for the Season. I also teach at a Christian preschool and this would be perfect to introduce one ‘nativity character’ a day as we count down towards Christmas.
Katy
My four little girls would love this. We have several nativities, but all but one are fragile and they would love to have one they can handle. 🙂 I also love the idea of having a simple Christmas tradition they’ll look forward to that focuses on Christ. Merry Christmas!
Courtney Shipe
I would gift it to my brother-in-law and his family. They have three young kids and this looks awesome for them! Thanks for the info about the “Star from Afar” and a great giveaway!
Amy
I’m always looking for ways to point my young boys to Jesus during this season, and I think this book and activity would be a great daily reminder for all of us.
Michele
I would love one of these! I want to do it at home and church, too.
Marty
My daughter would enjoy this.
Ashlee
I love this idea! We started Shepherd on a Search this season, but this seems like another great one to keep Christ at the center! It is definitely on my list!
Linda M Scharnhorst
This would be a great gift for my grandbaby!
Melissa Lynch
What a wonderful idea! I am not a fan of the elf at all (kind of creepy to me), but my girls have friends who have them. I think this would be a way to satisfy their want while keeping the focus on Christ. I think it would give them an easy way to talk about Jesus with their friends, too.
Frances
We love hiding objects for the kids to find. This just is the icing on the cake!!! So much meaning and fun in one!!! Love it.
Melanie
My little girls would love to search for the star, and I would love to point them to Jesus with it!
Allison Florczak
My girls would have so much fun with this and I have heard great things about it!
Melissa
This is a beautiful funway to totally engage children with the story of Jesus’ birth! Thank you for sharing!! If I won this, I would give it to my daughter who is weathering a heartbreaking divorce and working hard to establish new traditions with her two young children.
Judith Martinez
I would love to have this because it is a child friendly nativity. We used to have the What God wants for Christmas activity set and it got misplaced in a move. This would be a fabulous replacement.
Dana Schroeder
This would be so much fun having in my preschool class. I know they would just loving acting out the story, looking for the star, etc. We are reading everyday in December the story of Jesus’ birth and that when we wake up Christmas morning we will say “Happy birthday Jesus”. A wonderful reminder to them that Jesus is the reason for the season.
heather johnston
Would love to do this with my kids! My oldest is the perfect age.
Mary
We are finally expecting our first grandchild in January–a sweet baby boy! I would love to have this book and figures to use to share Jesus’ birth with him!
Erin Young
I love anything that reminds my kids the reason doe the season!
kesha
I would love this for my grandson to teach him the REAL meaning of CHRISTmas! What a great giveaway!
Jennifer
I would like to put the focus back on Jesus this Christmas!!
Anita Edgil
I am an older Nana who is extremely conscious of the legacy I leave for my beautiful grands. This would fill the bill for the love of Jesus I’ve always tried to plant in their precious souls. God bless you for bringing this to our attention and making it possible for some family to enjoy the blessings of sharing one of these awesome sets. ❤️
Bethany Wojtowicz
We have three little ones and they would love searching for the star each day. What a fun Christ centered activity for Christmas! Thank you!
Jodi
My girls would love to have this sweet game to play each day of the Christmas season! I’d love another way to keep the Christ in Christmas!
Ruth
This would be a precious way to remind my grandchildren that Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
Candy
I oversee a Sunday school program and am always looking for “at home” resources
for parents. This is a wonderful family centered idea
Ashley
I love this fun way to to remind us to keep Christ at the center of our days, especially during this busy holiday season.
Lauren M
Awesome! I’m always looking for Christ centered activities to do at Christmas.
Candace Galan
I’m always looking for fun ways to have a Christ centered Christmas!
Jenny Cudd
I would love to get this to get back to the basics with my son and focus on the real reason for Christmas! How perfect! Plus, I can get away from that pesky “Elf!”
Jenna Clement
This is great. We love to keep Christ in Christmas and make it age appropriate and fun and the same time!
Julia
My girls would just love this! I love the anticipation it brings, but for the best gift of all!!
Carly
This is awesome! I wish this had been available before elf on the shelf. We’ve done the elf thing for so long..it’s getting old and doesn’t add meaning to Christmas. Thanks for the chance to win!
Sara L
What a beautiful idea! The wooden set is so cute, but I love that we can do the star-moving activity with things we already have.
Susan Majerus
This is a much needed alternative to the elf on the shelf!
Crystal Cox
My son who is 8 has been asking for an Elf. I think this is an amazing product and I would go along with this.
Nancy
i think this is a great idea and while my children are too old to enjoy this I have two granddaughters who are just at the age where Christmas is full of wonder and joy and I would love to make this a part of that wonder
Robyn
I have a new granddaughter (9 months old). This would be a wonderful learning/tradition for her. I’ve been looking for something like this. Something to bring Christ back into Christmas. I want to teach her the true meaning of Christmas.
Leina
I have two children at home that would love this and a classroom full of 4 year olds at a Christian school that would “go nuts” for it too! I love that it is a fun way to infuse the real reason for Christmas, Christ!
Bobbi
❤️ Love this!! Thanks so much for passing this along. Always keeping my eyes open to Ways I can help teach and keep Jesus in the center of Christmas season for my three kids. The Star from a Far would enchance to do that❤️
Merry Christmas
Mary Esso
I would enjoy sharing this tradition with not only my beautiful children, but also my 11 nieces and nephews. We really want to keep Christ at the center of our lives. Thank You, Mary
Abbie
What an awesome set for any family with small kids! I would love to have a set for my children. Especially this time of year, I am always trying to point my children to Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas!
Kimberly
This is a wonderful idea.
Do any of these contain characters that are African-American?
Happy Home Fairy
Hey there! YES! They have a darker skinned version on Amazon!!!
Nicolette Woodrum
What a great concept for a game! I think my kids would have a lot of fun with this, and a really good alternative to “Elf on the Shelf”.
Ann Krueger
What a great way to celebrate the REASON for the SEASON! I have three young grandson who love hide and seek. What a great way to get them to learn the Christmas story as well as play with a tangible nativity set that isn’t child like in statue. My grandchildren enjoy moving the three kings closer to the manger at my home when they visit during the advent season. But with this – they can move them every day closer and closer to Jesus. Simple love the idea. Thank you.
Lori Pouncey
Hello, I am beyond excited to have found your site. I actually googled advent calendar bible verses and found your site. I want to thank you for what you do and the fact that you are keeping God present in your life, your blog and your children. I believe it is so important to teach our children the real reason for this season, Jesus Christ’s birth. I would be honored to make this Star From Afar set a new tradition in our home.Thank you author Natakie for yojr generous gesture and Thank you Julie for hosting.. Your boys are precious. Thank you for the amazing opportunity to win this precious set. Good luck everyone and God Bless you all.
Merry Christmas 🎅
Lori Pouncey
I also subscribed to your blog. I am delighted to have found you!
Always a pleasure to find new followers of Christ.
God Bless
Beth H Galvin
This set is so pretty (and it’s wood, not plastic!). Kids would reaaly enjoy this.
Joanna R
I never got into the elf on the shelf, not that I’m against Santa but I want to make Jesus’ entrance into the world the focus. This would help. It looks like a lot of fun as we anticipate the celebration of CHRISTmas!
Sheri
We have always tried to keep the focus of Christmas on the story of Jesus. I have watched this elf on a shelf craze, wondering “why?” This is a brilliant alternative that I could use in my home with my four children, and in my preschool class as well.
Stacey
I may have missed the opportunity to win this…because I commented on the FB post. But this would be neat to use to keep my 3 kiddos focused on the truth of Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Leslie
Thanks Julie for sharing another way to share Jesus’ love to little hearts. I teach a group of 10 tiny tots at our church. They would LOVE this. Their hearts are so open to learn love and grow even at such a young age. It’s such a blessing to lead them. Keep up the great work you do for our Lord and Savior. God bless you guys!!
Elma
Star from Afar would be a perfect compliment for the Advent season. I would be able to use it in my home with my grandchildren, at church in my preschool Sunday school class and in my Awana Sparks class.
Rose Stovall
Last year my 7 year old son questioned why God would make Santa. He knew that it was a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas. Since that day, I have made it an intentional effort to put Jesus at the center of our Christmas season. This would definitely help.
Diana
I’ve been looking for a Christmas tradition to start at home and this would be perfect. I have a 5 yo and 1 yo.
Carmen
I’d love to start these with my 1 year old! What a cute way to teach about Christmas!
Dawn
I’ve been looking for a tradition to start with my Little’s and have never liked how the elf was so much work. I like that this focuses on Christ!
Stacey
My girls would like this, or I have a lot of godchildren that would enjoy this. Thank you for letting me know about this and that is a good choice!
Krista White
I never wanted to do the Elf on the shelf but this sounds like a great tradition I would love to do with my 2 boys!
Kristen
This is great. Always want to capture the heart of Christmas whike engaging my two little ones.
Lindsay
I would love this to use with my three boys. My oldest is ten and suddenly too cool for all things especially when I’m involved. I am continually searching for ways to encourage him to look to Christ and think this would a great help. So many of his friends have an elf and I just don’t keep up with all the crazy antics of it we’ll. My second son would love this as well as he is five and Into all things regarding Jesus rights now.
Katherine H
My kiddos would love this! I’m always looking for activities that point my babies to Jesus during this crazy busy season!
Melissa
I had tried to get into the elf on the shelf idea with my kids for a few years, but it never sat well in my spirit. I would love to have this alternative in our family to help us keep our focus where it belongs…on Jesus! Thank you for this amazing giveaway!
Carolyn Belcher
So who won? I never did see the post!
Karolyn Myers
DEANNA TAYLOR WON!!!!! Congratulations to DEANNA!!!!
Shauna Soltero
I would love to have this for my family to help them be excited about Jesus and would make it so easy to talk about Jesus each day and remember the importance of Christ at Christmas! Thank you 😊
LuAnn
I would love to have this gift for my grandson. I will be visiting him for the month of December and this would be a fun Christian activity for the 2 of us to do. Memory making with Grandma.