Don't touch that! You say to the offending child as they grab the nearest $30 figurine in their hot, clammy hands. You suck in your breath, waiting to breathe out until the fragile porcelain or resin figurine is handed back. I only wanted to have a look, the child says. And why shouldn't they? it's Christmas after all! Unfortunately your baby is holding something that is very dear to you in her hands. It's an heirloom. It's irreplaceable. You have fond memories of the piece from your childhood. And thus goes the vexing and ironic drama of the family nativity set, played in many households all over the world, just about every Christmas holiday. You wish it weren't so. A nativity set is just a thing, after all.

I have been collecting nativity sets for almost 20 years, and at Christmas time I face the same conundrum every holiday season. How to share the beautiful story of the nativity with my young children without the worries of broken figurines? Since the birth of my two younger children, I've been reluctant to bring out my prized Fontanini set, or even the Fontanini "My First Nativity" because these sets are pricey keepsakes. "When they get older..." But it seems a shame to keep these sets out of reach and out of site. After all, isn't Christmas for children?

This year when I saw the FIsher Price Little People Nativity Set I was thrilled. Problem solved! This nativity set combines the best features of Fisher Price's line of Little People toys with the features of traditional nativities, and the set sings out "touch me! hold me! I'm all yours!"

This set will appeal to very young children, with Little People characters featured as Mary, Joseph, an Angel, and three wise men. Little People animals, a stable, and small plastic palm trees complete the set.

With this set, preschoolers and even very small toddlers can touch, move, manipulate and act out the story of Jesus' birth and parents can stop cringing! The only problem I anticipate is that the kids won't want you to put it away. Little People toys are designed for very young children in mind, with plastic pieces that won't break off and can't be swallowed.

This toy nativity set can be purchased from a variety of online retailers, and at some retail stores. Prices vary.

Little People toys have a cult-like following. When my daughter, now 12 was a toddler, we bought her Little People play sets including the farm, the house, and the gas station. My daughter loved these toys and played with them for years. The cute, durable figurines made for hours of imaginative pretend play. Then we packed them into storage in our garage, planning to keep them for our grandchildren. Years later, when our two younger children were born two years apart, we broke out the old toys. A few treasured Little People figurines (Sonya Lee, Eddie, and Maggie were among them. My twelve year old picked them out of the box with unfeined delight and said "I remember these!"

The durable plastic on these toys mean they can go anywhere. In the car, in a purse, in the dishwasher, in the bathtub. Little people toys are quite flexible.

This isn't the first Little People set for the Christian Market. A Little People Noah's Ark play set is also available, with pairs of animals to go with them.

Many families are choosing a back to basics focus this Christmas while the economy is struggling, but they still want to put toys under the tree. This toy set will have a long-lasting value and makes a great group gift for grandparents. I'm looking forward to the day when i can add this Nativity Set to my collection. This is a great purchase for a nativity collector who wants something special for visiting children to touch and handle.