Parent Resources
Knowing that everyone has different needs we are providing you with two different sets of resources. Please use whatever you feel will be the most meaningful and helpful to you.
Embedded Files
This is an archive of the program we offered last year. While there won't be any live interactions these are some great resources! Teachers recorded videos and put together ideas for crafts and activities to go along with their themes. Choose from materials appropriate for three different age groups.
While this doesn't come with our own videos it is packed full of ideas for how to engage your kids in a week of thoughtful and fun activities. Each day includes a scripture, crafts, stories, and songs. The instructions are below and are also available using the button as a printable document.
Come Alive!
We hope this is a helpful resource for you as you interact with any children in your life, but they are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any of these tools at your discretion and as you see best fits your kiddos. Our hope is that you will have access to any of these suggested things online or by using things you may have around the house. You may want to use a basic notebook or journal for writing down responses or personal thoughts, drawing a sketch or idea, listening to God and writing down what He says, or any number of things.
As you read, there are also some basic discussion questions that can be discussed together or independently with any scripture:
What does this say about God?
What does this say about people/humanity?
Is there an instruction to follow or obey?
What am I going to do about it? (How will I respond?)
(Who am I going to share this with?)
Monday: Come alive again!
Story
A Christmas Carol
Scrooge “comes back to life” after the ghosts of his past, present and future visit him and show him what a precious gift every day of our lives are.
Song
Alive!
Reflection questions
While we were not dead like Lazarus, there are lots of things we were not able to do this past year because of the Covid virus (i.e having friends come over, going to church in person,going to the movies,going to school in person). What are some of the activities you have missed most this last year? Does being able to do these things again after so long make them more special?
(Older kids) We don’t know much about Lazarus after his resurrection experience with Jesus, do you think he lived his life differently afterwards? Why or why not?
Should encountering Jesus in our daily lives change the way we live?
Activity
Plant seeds- we are like sleeping seeds, until we are planted by faith and watered by scripture, fed by prayer and nurtured into our growth. As you plant, reflect on what it is about life that you love and give thanks.
Craft
Ex: coloring book of Jesus’ miracles. You may want to draw or paint some of the activities they have missed over the year.
Tuesday: We can change after we encounter God
Story
Green Eggs and Ham
The main character discovers new blessings in weird situations, after being devotedly pursued by Sam- I- Am.
Song
I Have Decided
Reflection questions
Have you changed in the last couple of years (physically, things that interest you, etc.)?
The main character in the scripture story went through a big change: from persecuting Christians as Saul to being one of the most important leaders of the early church as Paul. What happened?
Are there other characters in the bible who change after encountering God or Jesus?
Do you think that people today can change to the degree that Saul/Paul did? Why or why not?
Pray and Reflect on something about yourself. Could change for the betterment of God’s purpose for you?
Activity
Choose a science experiment that shows something changing. Even baking something and pointing out how the heat in the oven is what transforms batter into pastry. Other experiment ideas: putting melted chocolate on a sheet of wax paper and leaving overnight (it will cool and harden): putting Mentos candies in a bottle of coke and see what happens (stand back).
Craft
1) Paper butterflies https://onelittleproject.com/coffee-filter-butterflies/
2) Pipe Cleaner butterfly rings: https://onelittleproject.com/pipe-cleaner-butterfly-rings/
Add 2 Corinthians 5:17 to it! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Wednesday: Do you want to be healed?
Reflection questions
What does this story say about Bartimaeus (persistently calling out to Jesus after being shushed by the crowd) and Jesus?
Before healing Bartimaeus Jesus asks him a question--what did he ask him?
Why do you think Jesus asks that question?
Compare this story to the lame man in John 5. How are they similar? What is different? What do these stories tell us about God? Ourselves? Can this apply to more than physical ailments?
Activity
What do you want to ask God for today? Is there something in your life that you need to cry out to him for--healing for you or someone else, a relationship that is hard, finances for your family, something you struggle with in school? He responds when we call out to Him and seek Him for answers! Spend time quietly or with the help of an adult and verbalize to the Lord the answer to His “what do you want?” Go for a thoughtful walk, or sit under a tree, or write in your journal.
Craft
1. Make a pair of glasses with paper, cardboard, pipe cleaners...
2. Use this set of ideas to focus on blindness and gaining sight: http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2012/06/bartimaeus-in-sparks.html
Scripture to coincide: Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Thursday: An Attitude of Gratitude
Story
Thank you, Omu
additional suggestions:
The Giving Tree
Did I Ever Tell you How Lucky You Are?
Song
Gratitude
Reflection questions
Jesus healed 10 lepers on his way to Jerusalem, how many came back to thank him?
Why do you think the other 9 did not come back?
Can you think of a few instances in the last week when someone was kind to you? What was your response?
Who do you identify with in the story? Why?
Activity
Make a plan to show gratitude to someone in your life. Write a letter, card, or email. Draw a picture. Visit them in person. Do a random act of kindness in return or pay it forward if you can’t return the favor to the same person.
Craft
Make a tree shape on a piece of paper (or use template below). Then on several slips of paper (maybe green? red? orange?) write things that you are grateful for. Challenge yourself to fill the tree, even past this one day, and try to add things you don’t normally think of or that may not seem like good things on the surface!
Tree template: http://static.kidspot.com.au/cm_assets/79429/apple-tree-template-jpg-20160118153545.jpg
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