Creche: Jesus calms the storm treasure basket

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Sometimes it’s hard to think of how babies can be included in the themes of a story we’re telling at church.  I’ve been finding out something about treasure baskets recently.  Have a look at this excellent post from Little Acorns to Mighty Oaks that explains so much more about how treasure baskets can be made and used.

I wanted something I could use with the story of Jesus calming the storm and thought that a box with a rough/smooth theme would fit the bill- reflecting the rough/smooth water of the storm/calm. I cheated a little bit and put a velcro curler into the box (plastic is not usually allowed but the velcro on it has a great texture!)

The box includes:

  • cork backed coaster (smooth)
  • wooden block (smooth)
  • wooden spoon (smooth)
  • ribbon (smooth)
  • pine cone (rough)
  • natural exfoliator pad (rough)
  • unused shoe brush (rough)
  • velcro curler (rough)
  • pastry brush (rough and smooth)

Toddler Play: Heuristic Play (Exploring with Stuff!)

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Heuristic play is a method used in lots of nurseries and pre-schools to help children to explore, create and use their imaginations.  For children in church it’s brilliant because it helps them to start thinking, questioning and exploring and well as inspiring some awe and wonder!  As they are allowed to freely explore, it also helps the children to build their independence and creativity.  Even the adults can’t resist having a go themselves!

Heuristic play involves having collections of items (plenty of each to go round) which the children can then play with without adult intervention.  Play can be themed if you are looking at a particular story.

Use items such as: corks, kitchen roll tubes, boxes and tins, napkin rings and bangles (and mug trees to put them on!), shells, pinecones, corks, pegs, stones, egg boxes, ribbons, muffin tins, bottle tops.

Click here to see a Pinterest board of heuristic play ideas.

Here are some examples we have used in church:

Have fun watching imagination and creativity develop!

Baby Play: Treasure Baskets

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Treasure baskets are a great way for babies who can’t yet crawl to discover textures, sounds, shapes, smells and colours.  They can reach into the basket and pull out anything that strikes their fancy, exploring everyday items with wonder!

The only rules about creating treasure baskets are that they should not contain plastic and should not contain anything the child might choke on. Use fruit, vegetables, metal, leather, stone, ribbon, fabric, brushes, felt: the possibilities are endless.  Here are some examples used in a church creche and toddler group:

Click here to see a Pinterest Board of treasure baskets you can make yourself.

All Age: Jigsaw Intercessions

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This is a really easy, tactile idea to use for a guided group of children and it would also work in an all age service.  All you need is for everyone to be holding a jigsaw piece (it’s a great way to use jigsaws that have pieces missing so can’t be used any more!)

Have either an adult or a child introduce each section and then leave space for response, either silent or out loud.

Hold the jigsaw piece in your hand and pray for yourself

Ask God to help you.  Thank Him for the good things in your life.  Ask him to help you see the big picture of the plan He has for your life.

Look at the parts of your piece that reach outwards.

Pray for people who reach out and help and show love to others.  Thank God for the people who help and show love to you.

Look at the parts of your piece that have spaces waiting to be filled. 

Pray for people who have lost something or someone or who feel that they have something missing in their lives.  Ask God to help them to know that they are loved by Him.

Try to fit your piece into the piece of the person next to you (it probably won’t fit!)

Pray for people who find it hard to fit in, people who have moved to a new place, people who feel they have no friends, people who are being bullied.  Pray that they will find peace, friends and happiness.

Hold your piece and think of someone from your community, your friends or family that you would like to pray for. 

Thank God for that person and ask God to bless and help them.

All Age: Beach Ball Prayers

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I recently did an all age service on the theme of  ‘be ready’.  I had an idea for using beach balls and I was a bit worried about how it would work, but it actually turned out quite well!

We talked about things we could say thank you to God for and not waiting to say it or forgetting to thank Him, but telling Him straight away.  We then asked people to think of something they were grateful for.  When we’d given people some time, we played some music and threw two beach balls into the congregation- one for each side of the church.  The idea was that you threw the ball to someone.  When they caught it they had to say ‘Thank you God for…’ and then throw the ball on.  You had to be ready, because you didn’t know who was going to get the ball next!  If you didn’t want to say anything when you caught the ball, you just had to throw it to someone else.  When the music was finished, the throwing stopped and the leader at the front said a thank you prayer for everyone.

Magnetic Thank You Prayers

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This prayer activity is especially helpful for using with children under 5 as it helps them to choose things that they would like to say thanks to God for (sometimes it’s very difficult to think of something on the spot!)

You will need: a baking tray, laminated pictures, sticky magnetic tape.

Print off some pictures of things that children might like to say thanks to God for.  See the photo for examples, but I used pictures of food, people, toys, animals, weather etc.

Cut out and laminate the pictures and stick a little bit of magnetic tape on the bakc of each one.

Encourage the children to pick a picture and then work with them to say ‘Thank you God for….Amen!’