Creche: Welcome Songs

June 3, 2015June 3, 2015Leave a comment

Here are some songs to welcome children to a session. For children under 5 it’s great to build up a reassuring routine and songs are an important part of this process. Enjoy singing!

Welcome song (To the tune of Frere Jaques)

Hello, welcome,

Friends are here,

Let’s all join together,

God is near,

God is near.

Thank you song (to the tune of ‘Happy Birthday’)

Encourage children to think of something they’d like to say thank you to God for and then get singing (filling in the blank with the name of whatever or whoever it is!)

Thank you Jesus for ——

Thank you Jesus for——

Thank you Jesus for ——-

Thank you Jesus for ——

Salad Spinner Pentecost Flames

June 3, 2015June 3, 2015Leave a comment

I found a cheap salad spinner (£4 in IKEA!) and was finally able to try out some spinner art! It’s brilliant: quick, clean (because the spinner sits in its own bowl) and each piece is unique! The process of making the art really lends itself to Pentecost themes so here’s an idea to help celebrate the occasion…

You will need: A salad spinner; red, yellow and orange paint, small paper plates, a tub of hair gel (optional)

Put a plate on the bottom of the inside of the spinner and blob some paint in. Put the lid on and spin!

It only takes a few seconds of enthusiastic spinning and this is what you get… I think that trying to get the plate balanced across the bottom of the spinner would have helped this one (above) to be a little less lop-sided!

Some sites recommend adding a blob of hair gel and it does make the paint a little more runny. Experiment and see what works best for you.

I love it! I tried it out yesterday with some 2 year olds and they loved it too. All ages pleased in one go.

Basic Assembly Structure

June 1, 2015Leave a comment

After years of doing assemblies, I have finally hit upon something of a formula. This may or may not work in your particular context, but hopefully will be of some use!

Timings are obviously very approximate.

5 mins	Hellos and game (based on the theme of the assembly) for one or two children to participate in up front Click here to see a Pinterest board of game ideas
5 mins	Storytelling e.g. acting out with the children, using props or from a good storyteller Bible
5 mins	Short talk about the assembly with an illustration if possible (including an example from my own life where appropriate) Click here to see a Pinterest board of object lesson ideas
2 mins	Short prayer (or reflection time if not a church school). Generally this works well with a lit candle.

Here are some assembly examples following this structure:

David and Goliath (Good to be me)

Abraham (Changes)

Pentecost Play Dough Mat

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015Leave a comment

Here is a play dough mat to help children explore the story of Pentecost.

Click here to print out the mat, laminate and let the children use play dough to make tongues of fire coming from the heads of the disciples.

Prayer Cube

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015Leave a comment

When teaching younger children about prayer, I have found it easiest to concentrate on ‘Sorry,’ ‘Please,’ and ‘Thank you’ prayers. This cube helps to make prayers fun! Throw the cube and pray whatever prayer lands face up. If it is a ‘sorry’ prayer we always tell the children that it’s Ok to say the prayer in your head because sorries are between you and God. Enjoy!

Click here for a printable version.

Story Bags

May 31, 2015May 31, 2015Leave a comment

Story bags are brilliant at helping children to become involved in the story you are telling. They involve a collection of toys that will both help you to tell the story and also help the children to play out parts of the story afterwards. They need not be very expensive to make up (most stuff comes from the pound shop!) and can be borrowed by parents to use at home during the week. Click on the links to take you to some examples.

Nativity Story Bag