My Book of Prayers

Here's an easy 

Prayer Journal 

for your preschoolers!

You just need a few items:

construction paper, markers or crayons,

a hole punch, ribbon or yarn 

and scissors

Fold the construction paper in half

to make the pages of the book.

Punch two holes through 

all the pages

Tie a piece of ribbon or

yarn through the holes

and tie with a bow

Label, or let your child, the 

prayer book however

you would like!

Fold each page back 

over the "binding"

so it will lie flat to draw inside.

Let your child draw who/what

he would like to thank God for

in his prayers.  Like his mom and dad.

(who may need some clothes)

His house....

You can add pages of prayer requests 

as well as thankful prayers,

just like Jesus taught us to pray!

Friends & Traveling Buddies

Jesus chose 12 friends to travel and learn from Him while 

He lived here on earth.

This craft will let your child make some friends, too.
Their friends can go with them for a car ride
or to the park,
just like Jesus and His friends went places together.

Here's what you need.
If you have craft sticks for the body
you can decorate them with whatever you have.

This guy needs half of a pipe cleaner for arms,

are the rest of his outfit and features

are just drawn on with marker.

Or, if you're feeling crafty,

you can make clothes from construction

paper and a hat from felt.

These can be glued on.

Wiggly eyes are always fun.

You can make 12 people, to help your

child visualize how many friends traveled

with Jesus.

Or just a few, to remind your child

of his closest friends who go

places with him.

Amazing Painting Bubbles

This is an easy way to let your little ones 

"paint" using bubbles.

You can go all green for St. Patrick's Day

or use any colors that you'd like! 

You'll need some dish detergent, 

a small cup, card stock, a straw,

food coloring, a marker and newspaper.

You might need scissors if you 

decide to cut your picture out.

Start by drawing, or letting your child draw

whatever he would like to paint.

We chose green things since it's near

St. Patrick's Day.

Put about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dish detergent

in the bottom of a small cup.  Add water, just to about 1/3

full.  Add 5-6 drops of food coloring to

make the color deep.

Now for the fun part! Let you child blow

into the straw to make bubbles.

You might want to practice with

a cup of plain water, first, 

just to make sure they blow and

don't suck the water up the straw.

It's non-toxic, but it won't taste good!

Blow until the bubbles run out of the cup. 

Press the card stock down onto the bubbles and 

then pick up the paper.

Repeat as many times as your child would 

like to until you get the coverage that you

want with the bubbles.

Once you're happy with the coverage, 

let the card stock dry and cut out

your picture, if you'd like.

How amazing is it that 

bubbles can paint?? 

Pretty amazing! But not as amazing as Jesus!

Something A-Maze-Ing

Want to have an A-Maze-Ing time?  Make a maze!  Here's an easy maze activity that can be adapted to any size.  If you have a group of kids, find a larger box lid so the kids can work together to maneuver the ball through the maze.  Or use a smaller box for a travel-size game.

Here's what you need:

a box lid with sides, straws, 

glue, scissors 

and a pencil, maybe.

Either use the pencil to draw the maze on

the box lid; or just cut and arrange the

straws to you get an arrangement you like.

Once you have it the way you like it, 

take out one straw at a time and draw

a line of glue in it's place.

Replace the straw to dry.

Once all the straws are in place 

and have dried,

you can tilt the lid to move a

ball or matchbox car

through the maze.

You can have an a-maze-ing time

and talk about the amazing things

that Jesus came to do

while you play!

The Amazing Book

Here's a book your preschooler can write.
It's a book of Amazing Things!
This is a fun way to see what
your child sees as amazing.
And it's a great way to remind him
that while all of this is amazing,
Jesus can do even more amazing things!

Here's what you need to make your book:

Construction paper, markers or crayons

a hole punch and some ribbon or yarn.

Fold the construction paper in half 

to make the pages of your book.

Stack the pages together and use

the hole punch to make two

holes for binding.

Run the ribbon through the holes 

through all the sheets of paper.

Make a smooth binding 

in the middle.

Let your child make a large "A"

on the front of his book for

"Amazing"

Then let him draw on the pages

things that he feels are amazing.

Or you can cut out pictures from

magazines and gluestick them to the pages.

On the very last page, 

write 

"Jesus can do even more

amazing things than these!" 

Let your child "read" you what he thinks is amazing in this world.

This will give you countless chances to remind your child:

Jesus came to do amazing things!!

String of Hearts

We know that God loves everyone 

and here is a way to help your preschooler 

think about all the people in his life that God loves 

AND 

practice his cutting skills, too!

You will need

some construction 

paper, markers, 

scissors and tape.

Cut the construction 

paper in half and then 

fold each half down

the center.

You end up with card-like pages

Draw half of a heart on one side,

fold in the middle. 

Make your heart as wide as

you need to let your preschooler

succeed in cutting it out. 

Let your child cut on the lines 

and open his hearts.

Cut an opening on one side and 

link your hearts

taping the slit.

For every heart you link,

let your child name someone

that God loves;

family, friends 

and even those we don't know.

God loves everyone! 

Up and Down with Zacchaeus

What's more fun than climbing a tree?

Well, not much.  But most moms of preschoolers
prefer that they don't climb trees.  So here's a
craft that will let them help Zacchaeus climb
a tree and come down again, too!

Here's what you need:

A toilet paper tube, some green tissue paper, 

a small piece of cardstock,

scissors, markers or crayons, tape

and a craft stick.

Fold a piece of tissue paper in half

lengthwise, leaving the edges

 just a little uneven.

Roll the folded tissue around one end 

of the toilet paper tube and

tape it, making sure both edges

are caught in the tape

You can make tissue paper as long as

you'd like,  the more layers, the more leaves.

Just roll it and tape it as you go, on

top of itself.

Cut the tissue into strips, cutting down

close to the top of the tube.

Crumple each section to make leaves.

Cut a rectangle for your child to

draw Zacchaeus on, making sure

he will fit inside the tube. 

Tape Zacc to the end of a craft stick,

or a straw will work, too.

Now your child can make Zacchaeus climb

up the tree (through the center tube)

and look for Jesus from his high viewpoint.

Have fun helping him go up and down,

again and again......