All you need is a long rectangle of fabric to fashion into a tunic, or you can even cheat and adapt an old pillowcase for little ones! You can then decorate it in the colours of the animal. For added authenticity, cover the cardboard in furry fabric. Faces can then be painted to add an extra cute dimension to your child's outfit. Follow our step-by-step picture guide to make a Nativity costume for Mary. 2 How to make a Joseph or Shepherd Nativity costume

For the complete look, follow our step-by-step picture guide to making an Angel Nativity costume here. 6 How to make a stable animal Nativity costume There are certainly many places you can buy animal outfits which can be used for Nativity plays, but another really simple, cheap way to get into the role is with a simple headband, tail and face paints.

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Most of the Nativity characters that your child is likely to play are listed below, though some schools may add some more unusual characters! Read on for our costume ideas... 1 How to make a Mary Nativity costume

Of course, don't forget the crown! You can easily make a crown out of cardboard, and use some coloured tissue paper or glitzy wrapping paper to create the sparkling 'jewels'. And they'll need a present to carry for the baby Jesus; you can make this from an old cardboard box, covered in gold or shiny wrapping paper, too. Again, you can make a simple tunic for these costumes –just use a colourful or velvet fabric for a King or a Wise Man. For more regal accessories, add a statement piece of jewellery, such as a large pendant. It’s time to get your little ones ready for a night of candies and scares with our collection of kids’ Halloween costumes. From superheroes and princesses to witches, wizards and vampires, there’s something here for everyone. If not, you can make a plain white tunic from a piece of fabric and tie it with a tinsel belt, or you could even dress your child in a long white t-shirt or white dress with some tinsel accessories.

An angel Nativity costume is another easy one to rustle up. You may already have a fairy or angel costume at home, or at least a tutu, some fairy wings or a halo or tiara in your dressing-up box. If you've got a little Joseph or a Shepherd, you'll be pleased to know this is one of the easier costumes to rustle up! You simply need to make a plain or stripy tunic and tie it around your child's waist with a length of rope or a leather belt.

Once you've made the tunic (trust us: it's easy peasy) then you're pretty much halfway there to any Nativity costume. All you need to add are a few accessories depending on the character and you're sorted. For most Nativity costumes, you can get away with a tabard or a tunic to make up the base of the outfit. Follow our pictured step-by-step guide to make a Nativity costume for a Wise Man or King. 4 How to make an Angel or a Christmas Fairy Nativity costume Plus, find out how to make your own no-sew tutu here– and you can pair it with a white top or white leotard to complete your little one's outfit. Cut around the semi-circle so that your child has a hole to put their head through. If you like, you could stop here with the tabard, but if you want to make it neater then follow the next steps.Congratulations! Your child is appearing in their school Nativity play! It's a proud moment for any parent and you'll no doubt be excited to see your little one up there on the stage. If you need to provide your own baby Jesus prop, you can use a child's doll, swaddled in a blanket or towel, for your little Mary to carry. The most popular addition is the old striped tea towel wrapped around the head. If you don't have a suitable tea towel, you can try using a pashmina which can be wrapped around your child's head, turban-style. And if your angel or fairy requires some wings, try our fab homemade wings made out of paper plates here.