3-5s: Exploring the Feeding of the 5000

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Here are some ways to help young children to connect with the story of Jesus feeding the 5000.  The focus is food so there is plenty of opportunity to speak to the children about the food they like as they play.  This might feed in, later, to thank you prayers.

Tell the story with props (e.g. felt bread and fish)

Make popcorn to show how, with the right help, a little can go a long way…

Play with toy food and utensils

Play with playdough, plastic forks, spoons, knives, plates and cups

Magnetic prayers to thank God for all the things He gives us.

Jesus Calms the Storm Session Ideas: 3-5s

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Here are a celection of ideas to help explore the story of Jesus calming the storm with 3-5 year olds…

Tell the Story with Story Stones

Play with some water and think about floating and sinking.  Jesus won’t let us sink!

Make storm music

Play with some water streamers made of crepe paper, lolly sticks and elastic bands

Talk about times we are worried and how we can ask Jesus to help us.  Blow some bubbles and let the children pop them as a sign of Jesus ‘popping’ the worries.

Lent: Sandpaper Reflections

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Here’s an activity to help the children to see how Jesus is able to identify with their everyday experiences because of the human experiences He had himself.  This activity focuses on having the strength to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult, knowing that Jesus himself was tempted but stood strong.

Give the children some sandpaper, a paperclip and a copy of this verse:

Because He Himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:18

  • Feel the roughness of the sand paper and think about times when it’s hard for you to do the right thing.
  • Cut out the Bible verse  clip it onto the sand paper (glue is hard to stick to sandpaper!) and decorate the verse with colouring pens or pencils.
  • Stick it onto the wall or put it by your bed for the rest of the week and remember that Jesus is with you, knows what it is like, and will help you to be strong when you need to do the right thing

Using Bible Stories in Toddler Groups

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Running toddler groups in church can be a great way of building relationships with the local community as well as providing a place of support, care and fun for families.  It’s also a great opportunity to gently let the story of Jesus be known in what we do, who we are and the hospitality we provide.  You are likely to have some books for the children to read with their parents and it’s a good idea to include amongst them some really good quality Bible stories.  Here are some recommendations:

Stories Jesus Told

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The Big Bible Story Book

The Big Bible Storybook

The Beginner’s Bible

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Christmas and Easter are wonderful opportunities to tell the stories themselves and this is a great version for reading aloud:

The Lion Storyteller Bible

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Who knows what conversations might arise from the questions children ask their parents!  Happy reading 🙂

Lent: Blessings Jar

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This is an idea for the whole family to get involved in!

Take a jam or coffee jar and decorate it (I used sparkly paper because I like that type of thing!)

Cut up some bits of paper and put them by the jar with some pens or pencils.  Put the jar somewhere accessible to everybody at any time e.g kitchen table.  When something good happens or someone has been kind to you, write it on a slip of paper and put it in the jar.

Make a routine of opening the jar once a day or once a week when everyone is together, reading the slips and saying thank you to God for His blessings!  Maybe you could even glue them all into a book to look back at in the future to see how God has blessed you!