I'm a Big Fan!

Here's preschool activity to let your little one 

show everyone that he is a BIG fan!!

I made my spirit stick from tissue paper,

but you can use newspaper, 

copy paper or any type of paper that you'd like.

I use one regular size piece of tissue paper, 

but you can use more, if you want yours to be

fuller or more colorful.

Fold the tissue paper in half and 

let your child cut the strips to within a inch or so of the end.

You might want to draw a line

for them to know where to stop

so they don't cut all the way through.

You can make the handle from a paper towel 

tube or two toilet paper tubes.

Crease one and fold it  in half.

Then slide it inside the other,

crease and fold the outer one to match.

Wrap the tubes with tape, forming them

into a circle.  

Tape the uncut side of the tissue paper

to the end of the tube.  

Roll the tube down the

length of the paper.

Tape the end to the handle.

Now your child can be a 

BIG FAN

of

GOD'S PLAN!!

Spying Out the Land

Here's an easy craft to let your child 

"spy" out around your house!

Cut the paper to fit the width of your rolls.

If your child would like to 

decorate their paper,

you can use crayons, markers or stickers,

whatever they would like.  

Tape your paper around the tubes.  

Put the tubes together using a piece of tape

on each end.

(If you want a prettier design, you can hot glue the tubes

together for your child)

 Use a hole punch to make a hole on the outer side

of each tube and knot a piece of string through for

a neck strap.

**NOTE:  If you make a neck strap, this toy must be used with 

adult supervision.  

Should you want to make it safe for independent play, 

use velcro to attach ribbon to the sides

for a neck strap in place of the string. 

Happy Spying! 

Hard Things Calendar

Here's a weekly calendar to let your child practice doing

 the "hard" things that they have to do.  

You can gather a few supplies to make the calendar.

You can make a template on your computer or

simply draw a chart with 8 squares.

Crayons or markers and scissors

and, as an option,

laminating sheet and magnets

You can type the name of the day

or have your child write it

or write it for them.

Next, talk with your child about the hard things that

God tells them to do through those who are in 

authority over them, 

and let them draw a picture of each

task on each day.

Some examples would be picking up toys, playing nicely with siblings, eating vegetables, going to bed without arguing,

taking turns on a swing, etc.  

Once you have something to practice

each day, 

you can laminate the page, if you wish.

To make it more fun, you can cut the days apart,
then put a magnet on the back so these can stick to a refrigerator or other surface.

(You can purchase a sticky-back magnet roll at Walmart.  Or  reuse those magnets that businesses send out in the mail by cutting them and using a glue stick to put on the back of each day.)

The Tale of the Whale

  

Gather a few supplies:
(Wiggly eyes are optional, 

but they just make everyone

more fun)

Any type of paper plate 

will work fine

and any type of heavy paper 

or cardstock

Flatten your toilet paper and 

use it to mark the width 

of your "stick". 

While you cut this part,

let your child color the whale.

Cut out a triangle for the fish's mouth

then tape the toilet paper roll to the back of the plate

as a guide.

Next, let your child draw Jonah.

Wiggly eyes definitely make him 

seem very afraid of being swallowed!

Now your child can retell the story of Jonah 

by moving him back and forth, 

through the tube on the back of the plate,

The whale can swallow Jonah,

then spit him out on the land.

Sneaky Snakes

It was a sneaky snake that told Eve that 

God didn't know what was best.

That was not true!

This is an easy craft for making your own 

Sneaky Snake

You need paper, tape, scissors and wiggly eyes.

And you can include some coffee stirrers 

to make your snake a puppet

Cut the paper in strips to make a chain

Make a chain snake.  You can make him all one color,

or multi-colored.

It's a fun chance to talk about patterns, too!

Add some wiggly eyes 

and draw on a tongue.

If you'd like to make your snake a puppet,

tape coffee stirrers to the front and back ends.

Now you can talk about things that 

might  be said to get you to not

believe God knows what's best.

Who will we listen to?

A silly snake? No!

Our awesome God! 

Gideon's Light!

This activity is a fun way for you and 

your child to re-enact Gideon's battle!  

You only need two items:

Cups and glow sticks...

and a darkened room or go outside after dark.

Let your child "break and shake" 

his glow stick so it begins to shine.  

(let him do yours, too.
It's fun to break something and not be in trouble)

Put the activated glow stick under a cup

and march around in the "dark".

On your signal, blow your trumpets;

your clenched fist works well, or you can make one.

(we made some for a previous activity here)

Shake off the cup and hold the glow stick high in the air

and shout,

"For the Lord and for Gideon!"

Gideon's Puppet Army

 You and your child can re-enact the story of

 Gideon and his army with these 

easy-to-make puppets! 

      

Collect just these few items:

craft sticks, markers, pipe cleaners and

wiggly eyes.

Sticky-back eyes are less messy, but you can glue eyes on if you need to.

Use the markers to make the rest of the facial features and hair.

You can add clothes, too, if you like.

I have the long pipe cleaners, so I cut them in half.

Wrap a pipe cleaner around each "soldier" to make

his arms.

Now you can let some of the army men who look afraid go home.

And you can have some of them "cup" their hands

scoop up a drink of water.  Others can lean down to the water to drink.

As you retell the story, remind your child that God does what He says He will do! 

He fought the battle for Gideon!