Woo-Hoo! I Can Thank You!

Here is a very simple craft that will let your preschooler "thank" those community helpers that serve around you day in and day out.  Using paper bag puppets will let a child think about who is it that is "helping" our community and how we could tell them thank you!

You only need these very simple supplies:  paper lunch bags and crayons!

First, let you child make a puppet of himself!  Try to let them add as much detail as they can.  Their eye color, hair color, even the blue and yellow stripe shirt that they are wearing.  And all preschoolers love to color their mouth under the flap of the bottom of the lunch bag!

Next, pick a community helper.  Maybe a policeman.  Talk with you child about what a policeman wears as you make a police puppet.  Blue uniforms and a badge may be what your child will associate with him.  As you make this puppet, talk about what that person does to help those in your community.

Now you can let your child use the puppets to "thank" those community helpers!  If you have the opportunity to thank them in person, this activity helps eliminate some of the shyness that may keep your child from talking to the policeman or fireman, since they have all ready "practiced" at home!

Let's Build a Wall!

Nehemiah led all the people to work together to build the wall around Jerusalem.   

You can build a wall at home, too!














 Here's what you'll need:

Some ink pads, a sponge, scissors and paper.
And your "helping hands"!
That's it!

The idea is to "stamp" blocks onto the paper to build a wall.  

You can cut the sponge(s) into block shapes, 

squares and rectangles.

The scrubber sponges work well because the scrubber side

 is stiffer and is easier for little hands to hold while stamping.

Now you are ready to "build" a wall.  

You can let your child build it himself; with various shapes and colors of blocks.

Or you can have each family member have a special color 

or shape to "build" with! 

Woo Hoo!!  I'm proud of YOU!! 

What a great helper you were in building this wall!

A Room for a Friend

If your child had a friend coming to stay at your home, what would he put in the room for the guest to enjoy?  Here's a way to let your child do that!  

Collect magazines, newspapers or catalogs with pictures of things that might go in a child's room.

Let your child cut out pictures of items that he would put in a room for a guest.

These pictures could include bedding, furniture, toys and even pets!

Have your child glue stick the items where they think they would go best in the room.

Now you have made a room for a friend

just like the woman made a room for Elisha!

Helping Hands at Home Hats

Here's an easy way to make a Helping Hands Hat if you don't have a real hat to use; 

make a picture of a hat for the refrigerator!

If your child is younger, you can google a picture of a ball cap and print it.  

If your child is old enough, let them draw a picture of a cap.

Once they have their hat, they can cut it out (you can help) and trace their hand print on it.

All during the month of May, when your child is helpful, let them put a sticker on their hat!

You can use stickers of things that they like, princesses or puppies.

Or you can make the sticker match the "help".

A"star" of the day or being kind and not "bugging" a sibling!

Make it fun and it will stick!

Shake It Up - Home Version

If there are preschoolers in your home, then you probably have a few of these:

And that's all you need to retell the story of Paul and Silas in jail.  Preschoolers love the opportunity to knock down anything and everything.  This will let them.

Use your blocks to build a jail for Paul and Silas 

who look a lot like, Buzz and Tigger.

Time for the favorite part:  Earthquake!!!!!

While the Bible says that the jail doors came open, with a preschool earthquake it's very likely to knock down entire walls!  

Paul and Silas didn't escape!  They told the entire family of the jailer what happened!

Let's SEE....Like Saul!

When God opened Saul's eyes, he could see!

We can make fun glasses to wear while we talk about Saul!

All you need are some fun craft pipe cleaners in all your favorite colors.

To make the eye pieces take two pipe cleaners and make a circle the size you want your glasses to be.

Overlap and twist the two "eyes" together to fit.

Cut a long pipe cleaner in half and wrap around the outer edge to make the arms of the glasses.

These are so easy; no glue, no coloring, just bend and wear.  You can make a pair for everyone in the family!  Then wear them and see all the things God made that Saul could see after God opened his eyes.

Let's Go Tell Others About Jesus!!

Where can you go to tell others about Jesus?

Wherever you want to go!

How do you get there?

You draw a map!

Here's one I did, you can do it, too!

Give your preschooler a piece of poster board or a large sheet of paper.  Maps take a lot of room!  If you don't have poster board, just tape a couple of sheets of regular paper together.  The more sheets, the bigger the map.  Provide some markers or crayons and you're ready to begin!

Let them draw a map of your neighborhood, your city or any other place they know.

This map had home, with the tree out front, as well as the road to the park.  You know, the park with the pond and the swing....

As you are drawing, you can talk about who you might see on your trip.  Once the map is finished, take your map, jump in the car and follow your course you have set.

If you can't go right then, find a couple of "friends" to help you pretend you are going!

Enjoy your trip!  And remember, everywhere you go, you can tell people about Jesus!