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Overview Preschool Elementary School Middle School Parents/Guardians Bible Videos Holy Week

June 5th - Prayer!

Even our preschoolers can learn how to pray!  Below is a fun idea to start this practice of prayer with kids under 5.

Meal time grace placemat for under 5s

The idea with this placemat is that you print it off and laminate it so that a child can use it on the table and it can easily be wiped clean. If you don't have a laminator you can slip this placemat into a clear folder sleeve.

The first time you use it, talk about the different pictures and what they symbolise. When you come to pray before you eat, ask your child to choose one or two of the pictures and to thank God for that thing. For example, if they choose the 'drink' picture, they might thank God for their favourite drink or for what they are going to drink at the table.  Gradually they will build up the repertoire of what they want to say thank you for!
 
To print off the placemat, click here.

May 29th 

The story of Pentecost

*You may need to turn your volume loud to hear the story:

Playing with Fire

(don't worry not literally!)

Items needed:

  • Wooden ring OR mason jar ring OR napkin ring holder OR any other hollow circular object
  • Red, Orange and Yellow fabric ribbon OR plastic ribbon OR wool OR string

Instructions:

  • Cut about 1 meter of ribbon and tie it to the ring. 
  • Then go outside with your preschooler and ask them to hold the ring above their heads. Watch the ribbon's move about in the wind. 
  • As the wind moves through the ribbons say this repeat after me prayer together:

Thank you God 

For sending us Jesus

And the Holy Spirit

Help us love other people

And feel joy!

 

May 15th - Move!

One of my favourite things to see in church is when a preschooler or toddler gets up and starts dancing to the music.  It reminds me of Acts 17: 28 which says: 'In him we live and move and have our being.' 

I am inviting you to dance to some music with your child! If you play an instrument even better, but if not here is some fun Christian music to get your dance party started! 

May 8th - Love!

In this Sunday's reading Jesus says: "If you know me, you will know my Father also."  Because Jesus is love, we know that God is also love!

This week start by making a potato heart stamp with your preschooler. As they stamp with different colours talk to them about what love is. Here are some some questions you might ask:

  • Who do you love?  Who loves you? (talk about friends and family)
  • How do we show that we love each other?
  • What does love feel like?
  • How do know that God loves us?

May 1st - The Good Shepherd

The video below is a Godly Play telling of the Good Shepherd. Godly play is "a Montessori method of telling Bible Stories, using parables, sacred stories and liturgical lessons about religious traditions using simple materials."

Before watching this story sit with your preschooler take a few deep breaths then light a candle. Ask them "are you ready to hear a story?"  If they respond yes, then start the video. If throughout the story they start to get a bit wiggly, remind them to take a few deep breaths and listen.

When Godly play is done in person, after the story is told we then give the child the opportunity to use the pieces, play with them and act out what they heard in the story. So, be creative! 

  • Maybe you ask your child to draw the story
  • Maybe you find some play mobile, dolls or others toys that can be used to act out the story. 
  • Maybe you have a conversation with your child and ask them to tell you what they remember about the story.

Once you are done interacting with the story blow out the candle together. 

April 24th - The Road to Emmaus

With busy toddlers at home this is the perfect time to teach them about the bible stories while also practicing their motor skills!

This Sunday's Gospel story is perfect excuse, as the disciples meet Jesus walking on a road.

Materials:

  • Sidewalk chalk
  • An empty sidewalk

Instructions:

Create an activity path. Think of some different activities your children can do. When they land on that spot they have to do the activity. 

Some examples include spin, jump, twist, blow a kiss, twirl, meow like a cat etc. On the last spot write read the story!

If you prefer you can draw a long squiggly 'road' and have them run along the path. The story can be read at the end.

CLICK HERE for a printable coloured version of the Road to Emmaus Story.

April 17th - HOPE!

Though your preschoolers may not completely understand the pandemic, they do understand that things are different and that people are having sad, worried and scared feelings. 

This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about hope! 

 

Click Here to print the playdough mat shown below. I recommend putting it in a clear plastic binder sleeve to stop the playdough from sticking to the mat. 

Make this into more of an activity by following this: Playdough Recipe

Creative Flame has has over 20 playdough mats which can be used to explore different Bible stories. 

April 3rd - The Parable of the Lily
by Liz Curtis Higgs

As we come to the end of Lent, please enjoy this Easter parable with your preschoolers.