Effective Children's Ministry

Posts Tagged ‘Crafts’

It is always a blessing and inspiration to hear or read of other people’s ideas. We have been signed up to the e-newsletter of ChildrensMinistry.com for some time.
There is a quality and consistency about the tips and ideas their writers share.
This month’s e-news contains a link to a great selection of summer arts and crafts.  As the subject line in the email said : “Nine new ideas that’ll spark kids’ God-given creativity all summer long “.

The article outlines some simple, inexpensive but fun crafts, where the kids can express their own creativity.

Check it out here.  While you are there, why not browse the site. If  you like what you see, you could sign up for the e-news yourself.
Go to this page http://www.childrensministry.com/magazine/ then scroll down a bit. You will find an orange “E-newsletter sign up” place.

Cullen Wood of CullensABCs.com has a Youtube channel loaded with great ideas. Here’s one for the warm weather days. You can make ice cream without a machine if you follow Cullen’s instructions. A yummy treat for you and your child.

Do you have a child in your family or group that has special needs? I have  been very impressed at the regularity and quality of posts on
Our Out of Sync Life.

The author, Momma C. sums up her site like this:

God has blessed us with three beautiful children – one with Sensory Processing Disorder, a very Strong Willed middle child, and a Spirited Little Man. Follow us as we learn to train up our children to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, and mind.

Even if right now there are no children in your care with special needs, you will still find this blog very uplifting and illuminating. There are heaps of ideas for crafts, and other learning opportunities.

Momma C is a trained educator  and she also runs a companion site , ABC Jesus Loves Me.   This is a pre-school Bible curriculum, free for use in the home. It is especially helpful for children with developmental delays.

I’d encourage you to check out these wonderful sites.

Cullen Wood is an experienced Christian pre-school worker. She has her own channel on YouTube with sections for children’s action songs, activities, stories and Christian songs.

Cullen shows us how to help kids remember Bible truths and songs by using finger play. She interacts with Gator the puppet, encouraging little ones to focus and follow the teaching. She demonstrates craft and other activities that she has used successfully with tinies and shows how you can set up these fun times for your children.

Her site, Cullen’sABC’s is rich with all sorts of inspiring stuff. It’s ideal for anyone who has young children in their family or Sunday School class.

Every time I watch Cullen and Gator, I end up with a big smile! They are not only informatiove, but very uplifting. Best of all, from the comments made by her users, Cullen has quite a fan club of toddlers and tots!

If you are looking for an idea for decorating your class room or club room, a  great idea has been posted by Tony Kummer at Ministry-to-Children.com.

Here’s how Tony introduces it:

To complete our new children’s church decorations, we used the children’s painted hand prints as leaves to complete the tree mural. The project was not too complicated, but it took real coordination on the part of our adult volunteers to pull it off…

There are full instructions on the site, and even a video showing every stage very clearly. It looks fun!

ChildrensMinistry.com is a great source of ideas and materials. In this article there are heaps of ideas for fun activities of an easter theme, including “Donkey Relays” , papier-mâché piñatas, using ice cubes  and making yummy Easter snacks.

It’s a varied bunch of ideas where there is sure to be something to suit your facilities and your children. Check it out here.

Touch, smell and taste combine to help children think about the Easter story in this easy-to-make, mouth-watering recipe. Start the evening before Easter Sunday.  

PHOTO courtesy of Hartini.com

You need:
1 cup whole pecans (or other nuts)
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
6 oz caster sugar
Strong plastic bag
Wooden spoon, mallet or rolling pin
Masking Tape
A Bible 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (Important — don’t wait until you’re half way through the recipe!)
Place the nuts in the plastic bag and let the children beat them with the wooden mallet or rolling pin to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3. 

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Because living chicks come from eggs, eggs remind us of life. Explain that Jesus gave up his life to give us a wonderful new life.
Read John 10:10-11. 

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand and let them taste it. Add a pinch to the bowl. Explain that this reminds us of the salty tears cried by Jesus’ friends.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.
  

Now add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that although Jesus died, he did it because he loves us. He wants us to know him and belong to him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks are formed (7-10 minutes). Explain that the colour white reminds of something very clean. God will take away all our sin and make us clean inside if we are truly sorry and ask him to forgive us.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3. 

Fold in broken nuts. Then drop teaspoonsful of the mixture onto baking parchment on a cookie tray. Explain that each mound reminds us of the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.
 

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a small piece of tape and “seal” the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66. 

GO TO BED!   Explain that they may feel sad to leave the meringues in the oven overnight and that Jesus’ friends were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a meringue. Encourage them to look at the cracked surface and then take a bite. The meringues are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ friends were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9 

He Is Risen! Hallelujah! Happy Easter!

-Author unknown

You’ll find this charming kids’ activity at the WhyChristmas?com site. Click the picture to visit the post.