Let their light shine!

Lydia hears about Jesus Toddler Bible Story

Lydia hears about Jesus when Paul and Silas visit the town of Philippi where she lived. The story of Lydia is from Acts 16:11-15.

Lydia, Paul and Silas Props for Toddler Group Bible Story

Lydia hears about Jesus Toddler Group Bible Story

Bible Truth for toddlers – Believing in Jesus is for everyone

Say hello to Paul and Silas! (everyone say ‘hello Paul’, ‘hello Barnabas’ and wave – get you puppets to wave too!) Paul and Silas believed in Jesus and so they went to all sorts of different places to tell everyone that they met that Jesus was the Saviour sent from God. They went to big towns and small villages, they told men, women and children all about Jesus. And today in our story they were travelling to a new place – and they weren’t walking there, they weren’t running there, they were sailing in a boat!

When they arrived at the town of Philippi (a very important place) they told people about Jesus.

One day they decided to go down to the river – they were sure that there would be a place by the river where people went to pray. They found a group who were praying to God and so they sat down with them and began to tell them all about Jesus.

Now one of the people sitting by the river was Lydia. She was a rich successful woman who had money and a lovely home and a great job selling purple cloth (which was very expensive!) but still, something was missing in her life.

She sat and she listened. She realised that she needed to believe in and follow Jesus. So that is what she did! Lydia now knew Jesus as her Saviour. Jesus came to save all sorts of people – people just like you and me.’

Lydia Bible Story Toddler Group Craft

A simple craft idea – we had a washing line and purple pieces of material.

Materials needed

printout of washing line
purple cloth cut into different shapes,
thin lollipop sticks (optional, although they do look lovely added to the craft)
glue (if using lollipop sticks make sure any glue you use will work)

Step by step instructions

Set up your craft table with supplies of purple cloth shapes, glue, lollipop sticks and the washing line printable.

Display a washing line craft that you have already made

Let the children choose the colour of the lollipop sticks and encourage them to glue and match to the shape on the printable. This is tricky for toddlers so don’t worry if it’s not an exact match.

Let the children glue the purple cloth shapes to the washing line. It’s fine if they only want to glue one piece of fabric.

Lydia hears about Jesus craft. Purple cloth on a washing line.

Lydia Toddler Group Craft Printable Resource

Lydia-made-purple-cloth-Washing-line Download

Joseph forgives Toddler Bible Story Idea

Joseph forgives is the second part of a Toddler Group Bible Stories series for Church Toddler Groups.

Joseph toddler bible story home made printable puppets

Back in November last year we did the story of Joseph in two parts. In week one we told the story of his special coat and how his older brother sold him to people who were on their way to Egypt. It was great to have some soft toy camels to take out of the story bag.

Joseph toddler group bible story puppets and toy camels

The following week we told how the brothers had no food – they were so hungry! But there was food in Egypt. They made the long journey and there they came face to face with their brother. They didn’t know him but he knew who they were. What would he do? Joseph forgave his brothers. We can forgive people too. God is able to forgive us!

Here’s Joseph dressed like an Egyptian (black and white printable below – we used sharpies to add colour and then made him into a puppet. Use wooden lollipop sticks)

The story takes up several chapters in Genesis (37, 39-46) We chose to tell only part of the story.

Joseph forgives free printables for toddler group Bible Story

Joseph the Egyptian Download

Joseph’s brother – sad Download

Scented flower craft for 3 year olds

This is a scented flower craft for 3 year olds to make. It’s ideal for young children and makes a lovely take home picture at toddler group. There is some preparation needed but it’s worth the effort!

Scented flower craft for 3 year olds

Materials needed for flower craft

Flower shapes printed onto coloured card or heavy paper (you want a weight of paper or card that will be easy for you to cut out and also heavy enough for the scent to be sprayed on to it and still keep it’s shape)
Green card cut into strips for the flower stalks.
Green card cut into leaf shapes
Coloured background paper
Glue sticks – we used these

Step by step instructions for scented flower craft for 3 year olds

Do all your prep beforehand – print flower shapes, cut stems and leaves. Lightly spray a scent over the flower shapes and leave to dry.
On the day lay your craft table with a PVC cloth
Put the flowers, stalks and leaves in separate shallow containers (don’t put everything out at once, keep some back to top up for toddlers who come to the craft table later in the toddler group session)
Remove glue stick lids and put out of the reach of toddlers
Have an example made and display
Let the children choose the colours and number of flowers for their own craft creations.

Scented flower craft preparation

Cheap body spray to make scented flower craft

Spray card flowers with a scent

What children can learn in making a scented flower craft

Young children can learn about colour – encourage lots of chatting about naming the colours of the flowers, favourite colours, matching colours.

Fine motor skills are developed through the use of glue sticks and handling the craft materials

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I encourage a reluctant 3 year old to make craft?

This can be tricky. Model the behaviour you would like to see. Make a flower craft yourself, ask your 3 year old to help you choose the colours. Keep the activity short though and if you only stick one flower take it as a win and tell your 3 year old how pleased you are that you made something together.

Links to other crafts suitable for 3 year olds

Black paper collage is a super easy craft to prepare and looks stunning.

This post all about Exploring Colour with Toddlers has lovely ideas for colour filled craft activities to help 3 year olds experience making with colour.

For more flower themed craft take a look at this post about Beautiful Flowers

Finally some Creation Bible Story Crafts for Toddlers are in this post – including some flowers!

Engaging Toddlers with Bible Stories: Free Mini Course

Engaging Toddlers with Bible Stories is a free training course full of practical ideas for telling Bible Stories in Church based Toddler Groups.

Getting started in Bible Storytelling in a Toddler Group is sometimes daunting this training course aims to

Give you confidence in your storytelling
Provide practical ideas for including your audience of toddlers and their adults in the Bible Story time
Offer a simple way of putting together a Bible Story script for Toddler Group Bible story time.

There are four short videos packed with practical ideas. And by short we mean short – you don’t need much time to watch.

Why a training course for Toddler Group Leaders?

I’ve been telling Bible stories to toddlers in baby and toddler groups for over 14 years and over that time I’ve learnt a lot. Being part of a team and listening to other people telling stories has been really helpful – we can learn so much from others. This mini course is really just what I’ve learnt so far!

Who’s it for?

Use this Toddler group training course as a refresher if you’ve been telling Bible Stories to Toddlers for years, or as a starting point if this is something you’ve never done before but would like to have a go. It is lots of fun to tell stories to young children and very rewarding and the more you tell Bible Stories to young children the better a storyteller you become.

Telling Bible Stories to young children in Toddler Group is very special. The Bible is full of wonderful stories about real people that are relatable. There are stories about families, animals, journeys, the ordinary everyday and the miraculous – and most importantly they are about the truth of Who God is and what he is like and how we can be in his family. Telling these stories is a privilege.

What’s included in this Toddler Group Training?

We cover how to put a story together, how to get your audience joining in and listening and we share some examples of stories to tell.

What do I need to take part in the course?

You just need a bit of time, a way of watching the videos (all are in this post or on our You Tube Channel), a notebook, a pen and a Bible.

How much does it cost?

It’s free! So jump in and have a listen. Start at the beginning or skip to the video that interests you the most. I hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

There are four short videos – it won’t take too much of your time to watch. They are full of practical hints and tips. Beginning with thinking about our audience to finding the focus of your story to putting a simple story together and then telling it.

All you need is a pen, notebook and your Bible. You can watch them all in one sitting or spread them out.

Getting Started In Bible Storytelling to Young Children – Introduction

Session 2 – Finding your Focus

Session 3 – Engagement with the Bible Story

Session 4 – Build and Tell your Story

I hope that you enjoy this mini course for Toddler Group leaders and find it helpful.

See this page for some hints and tips for telling great Bible Stories to young children for more ideas for your Toddler Group.

FAQ’s about Engaging Toddlers with Bible Stories: Free Mini Course

Can Toddlers sit and listen to Bible Stories?

Yes and No! Toddlers can listen well to engaging Bible Stories that are told in a way that is suitable for them. Think short, clear Bible Stories that use suitable language and include props and/or actions.

Are all Bible Stories suitable for toddlers?

It’s good to think about the suitability of Bible Story content when telling Bible Stories in Toddler Groups. Avoid violence and focus on the familiar – homes Jesus visited, animals in the Bible, Saying thank you to God. Bible stories that have a clear narrative with a clear problem and solution are straightforward to tell. For example Jesus calming the storm. The storm is the problem, Jesus calming the storm is the solution.

How long should a Toddler Group Bible Story be?

Great question. Toddler Bible Stories can be several minutes long. If you have props and ways of including toddlers by doing actions during the story, Toddlers can enjoy a good story in Toddler Group that lasts several minutes.

How do I stop parents talking in the Toddler Group Bible Story?

Stopping parents talking during a toddler group Bible Story can be very difficult. Here’s a few ideas to try

Always begin story time the same way. Choose a song or rhyme and ask everyone to sing or say it with you. Then tell the Bible Story.
As everyone settles ask parents – ‘please can adults be quiet during the story. It helps me a lot and I really appreciate your help in this.’
If parents talk during the story you can include an action for everyone to do, or ask everyone to repeat a phrase.
Think about your set up. Have everyone sit near enough to the story teller that they feel that they need to llisten.
Sometimes it’s really helpful to have other toddler group leaders sitting among the adults. They can set an example to other adults.

Our feet craft and song ideas for toddler groups

Our feet craft and song ideas for toddlers to enjoy in your church toddler group. In our amazing body series at our Toddler Group we have been learning about our feet. Our focus Bible verse is Psalm 139:14.

Our feet are amazing story time for toddler group

In the story time we used our feet to jump, stand, run on the spot, walk and stand as tall as we could on tiptoe. It was a very active few minutes. Then we sat down and we counted our feet and wriggled our toes. You could count toes depending on whether you want everyone to take their shoes off!

How to tell the story

Always begin toddler group story time the same way – with the same rhyme or song to get everyone settled on the Bible story mat.
Begin with saying hello!
Your opening sentence, ‘ Today we are finding out more about our amazing bodies!’
Can you find your feet. Let’s count them – 1,2
Feet are amazing. Let’s see what they can do..
Let’s all stand up
Let’s jump
Can you stand on one leg? That’s quite difficult to do
Can you stand on tip toe and reach up high?
Let’s sit down and count our feet and our toes together
God made us – he has given us amazing bodies!

You can end your toddler story time with a simple toddler friendly prayer, ‘Thank you God for our feet. Thank you that we are wonderfully made. Amen’

An easy feet craft for toddlers

The craft is super easy and fun.

Materials needed

Feet printable (included below) – print as many as you need for your group
Glue sticks – we use these
Tissue paper squares in assorted colours
Collage materials – these can be paper scraps, fabric pieces, yarn. Provide a choice of colours, textures and shapes in different containers. Make it inviting.
Wax crayons

Step by step

Set up the craft table with a washable cover
Set out the collage materials in shallow bowls
Remove lids from the glue sticks and set aside (we do this at our group because they are small and we don’t want toddlers putting them in their mouths)
Put out the wax crayons in a shallow bowl. Remove any that are broken.
Make a proto-type craft – and display it near your craft table to give some inspiration.
Place some of your feet printables on the table (keep most nearby – but if you put them all out at one you run the risk of a few toddlers using them all and you’ll run out)
Encourage the toddler group adults to sit with their toddler as they make
Have a place where the finished craft can be placed to dry ready to be taken home.

our feet craft collage toddler group — our feet craft for toddler group

Our feet Song time for toddler group

‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’, – which is the theme song for this series about our amazing bodies.

Rhyme, ‘I wiggle my fingers, I wiggle my toes. I wiggle my shoulders, I wiggle my nose. There are no wiggles left in me, and I’m as still, as still can be.’

‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ has lots of marching on the spot.

A great rhyme for a parent/carer to with with their young child/baby is ‘This little piggy’. Here’s a link to the rhyme.

What children can learn from our feet toddler story

God made our amazing feet
Gratitude for their amazing body

Our feet craft printable for toddler groups and families

Thank-you-God-for-my-FEET-1 Download

FAQ’S

How do I keep toddlers engaged with the Bible Story in Toddler Group?

This story about our feet is very interactive rather than a straight forward narrative the toddlers have activities to do that make the most of learning through movement.

How do I encourage gratitude in a toddler?

By focusing on our bodies and what they can do this story encourages toddlers to be thankful for their body which is wonderfully made.

Links to Bible Stories about feet

Thank you God for my feet – the Bible Story about the Lame man who is healed.

Toddler Group Bible Stories about our bodies

Thank you God for my hands – a Toddler Bible Story and activity about Tabitha

Thank you God for my nose – A Toddler Group Bible Story about Mary anointing Jesus

Thank you God for my mouth

Have a look at our Thank you God Book post that is full of ideas about our bodies. This is a great series of stories for Church Toddler Group. The post is full of free prinables to make a large book that you add to over several weeks.

Bartimaeus – a Toddler Bible Story all about being able to see – this is one of my favourite Bible Stories that I tell in our Church Toddler Group. This post has a little video of me telling the story.

Links to toddler crafts and songs about our bodies

I am wonderfully made crafts for toddlers (with ideas for song time at toddler group)

The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Group Resources

The Ultimate guide to Church Toddler Group Resources is all about getting back in the swing of all things toddler group after a few weeks away.

Follow the links for extra ideas for toddler group Bible stories and toddler Bible story crafts. At the end of the post I’ve added a friendly toddler group checklist so you can see what you’ve achieved and what you might need to do.

Toddler Group Resources – set up ideas

Every toddler group is unique, different spaces, different people but here’s some ideas that can be copied or adapted. Setting up a toddler group in a church or community hall can be really hard work. Toddler group leaders become furniture movers and it can take it’s toll. If you can get some help.

Below are some photos of our set up and the toys we have out each week.

One of the groups I help with meets in a community hall but is run by a church. To help parents and carers know who we are we have a notice board. It’s good to display something about your group so people know what they are coming to. We like to have this behind our welcome table.

Some ideas for your toddler group welcome table

A leaflet or booklet with key details about the group including dates when you are running and phone numbers of leaders or a website address. Include details of your church.
Information that is helpful for families from your local area including details of other toddler groups
A box of tissues
Some christian tracts or booklets
Smalltalk – printable information sheets from Care for the Family that cover a wide range of topics. I recommend taking a look at the list on their website. They are family friendly and helpful without lecturing.
Your sign in sheet – this can be simple with first name of the adult and the number of children with them.

Resources for Telling Bible Stories to Toddlers

Telling Bible Stories in a toddler can feel a bit daunting so here are some resources to make it easier and hopefully enjoyable.

Invest in some props – take a look at this post all about these knitted bible characters

Other props that are helpful

Pringle people are easy to make and very versatile.
Home made paper plate scenes that tell a bible story
Purple cloth for the bible story about Lydia
A home made cardboard box bible time house for telling the toddler group bible story series Homes Jesus Visited.

Sometimes you can make use of toddler group toys for props such as a toy lion for a bible story about Daniel or things you borrow from home such as a pan and wooden spoon for a bible story about Mary and Martha.

Choose a story bag or basket that is easy to use. I have a few favourites – it is easier for me if they are bags/baskets that hold their shape.

It better to have fewer props – don’t feel that you need a prop for everything in the story or you’ll just have so much to remember and get out of the bag you risk losing the flow of the story.

The ultimate guide to toddler group resources story basket with props for bible stories

The ultimate guide to toddler group resources story bags with props for bible stories

Plan which bible stories you want to tell in your toddler group.

We recommend planning a term at a time – include seasonal things like Harvest and have a few weeks for Christmas and Easter.

There are lots of toddler group bible stories on the blog. Here are some for you to try that have been put in handy six week segments. One is all about saying ‘thank you’ to God for our bodies – it’s a great series if you want to introduce a bible story time in your group. The other story series is all about what God is like.

It can be fun to have a theme – Animal bible stories, Number bible Stories, Weather bible stories

Other resources are available from Go Teach and Faith in Kids

Toddler group resources for crafts

At the beginning of every term it’s a good idea just to check your craft resources. Here are a few basics that we use nearly every week at toddler group and consequently often need topping up.

Paper – coloured sugar paper, plain white A4 paper for printing
Glue sticks
Coloured tissue paper
Wax crayons (remove any that have broken into small bits)

Here’s a post with lots of ideas for craft resources

Play dough for toddler group play

There are lots of play dough recipes – this is the one I use most

I hope this guide has given you lots of ideas. Here’s a handy checklist

Welcome sheet with important info for adults
Sign in sheet
Tissues
Smalltalk from Care for the Family
Props
Story bag/basket
Bible story plan
Glue sticks
Paper
Wax crayons
Tissue paper
Play dough
Are all the toys clean and unbroken?

I’m sure you can add ideas of your own.

Plant collage fun holiday family craft

Plant collage fun holiday family craft. Take a wander in your garden or some outdoor space and collect some leaves and petals. Only collect what you know to be safe and wash your hands after collecting and then again after making the collage.

It’s a good rule of thumb to teach children that they must not eat plants from the garden. Don’t eat any plant or part of a plant…. unless it is at a meal and on your plate!

Here’s a link to plants that are to be avoided – make sure you look at this list!

We collected leaves form our garden, a variety of shapes and colours and some rose petals and jasmine being careful to choose only leaves and flowers that we knew to be OK.

Once you have made your choice start to make your leaf collage using glue and sugar paper.

Above – the leaves and petals we collected. Below the collage on coloured sugar paper.

If you prefer to use edible plants only then herbs are a good choice. We used sage and basil with some rose leaves. (It’s still possible to have allergies to these plants but rare).

Plant collage using sage, basil and rose petals

Plant collage fun holiday family craft ideas

Use bright or dark backgrounds. Before gluing in place the leaves on the paper to see which you prefer

Experiment with showing the front and back of the leaves. The veins will be more pronounced on the underside and will ad texture to the collage

Layer the petals

Fill the paper or leave lots of space

Note down the date and the plants you used

Be careful of plants you don’t know, don’t eat any, pick what you know is safe.

This flower craft using paper cases is a fun, easy craft as an alternative to using real plants.

Learning to pray toddler group story

Learning to pray toddler group story. A Bible story idea for toddler group story time based on the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-13.

Jesus often prayed to his Father in Heaven and he taught his disciples a model prayer to help them to know how to pray. It’s a very short prayer and the story idea for toddlers takes a few aspects of it to help young children understand some simple truths about prayer.

Learning to pray toddler group story

In the story bag you will need some dolls/puppets to represent Jesus’ disciples, an emoji sad face (to represent saying sorry), an emoji happy face (to represent forgiving others), some bread (or picture of some food)

When Jesus walked on the earth he often went to quiet places (everyone say shush) to pray to God. One day his friends asked him, ‘Jesus, please can you teach us how to pray?’ Would Jesus help them? Yes, of course he helped them. This is what he said…

‘When you pray talk to the God who is in heaven. This is the true God, who has all power and is always good. He is the ruler of everything. He can hear you when you talk to him.

Ask God to give you your daily bread. To give you the things you need for today. Enough food to eat and water to drink. God knows what you need.

Ask God to forgive you, say sorry to him.

Ask him to help you to be a forgiving friend to others.

Ask for God’s help to do what you know is right.

God hears you when you talk to him. Don’t be afraid to keep asking for the things you need.’

Just like Jesus’ friends you and I can pray to God.

Paper plate sad and happy faces for use in learning to pray toddler group bible story

Emojis to represent being forgiving and being sorry

Three puppets to represent some of Jesus' disciples for use in learning to pray toddler group story

Some knitted dolls to represent the disciples

Learning to pray toddler group story craft

Craft Idea – make a collage of food we can thank God for.

All you need for this easy craft..

Paper plates
Pictures of food – we used fruit and veg
Crayons
Glue
Tissue paper shapes to decorate the plate

Paper plates decorated with collage fruit and veg pictures craft idea for learning to pray toddler group bible story

Here’s another activity about prayer that’s lovely to make and use.

Here’s some prayer prompt cards to download that you might like to use

childrens-prayer-card Download

There are lots of Bible Stories where people pray – here’s a link to one of my favourites

Nehemiah Builds the Wall: Free Toddler Bible Story & Craft Idea

Nehemiah Builds the Wall (Mr Keep Going) – Toddler Bible Story

Nehemiah and the Rebuilding of Jerusalem’s Walls for Toddlers

Looking for a simple, engaging toddler Bible story about perseverance and trusting God? The story of Nehemiah—our “Mr Keep Going”—is a fantastic lesson for young children on working together and not giving up when things get tough.

Storybag Props & Preparation

Puppets: Cardboard tube or Pringles tube puppets to represent Nehemiah and Sanballat. Toy builders set.
Play Props: Toy builder tools, a toy toolbox, construction hard hats, wooden play bricks, duplo or cardboard boxes.

Nehemiah toddler Bible story puppets made from Pringles tubes

Nehemiah Builds the Wall (Mr Keep Going) – Toddler Bible Story script

Say hello to Nehemiah! He lived a long, long time ago.

Nehemiah had a big job to do. The walls of the big city of Jerusalem were all broken down. Everything was a mess. God gave Nehemiah the job or organising a rebuild. But he had never built anything before!

Nehemiah said, ‘Yes I will rebuild the walls’. He asked people to help him and they got started. It was really hard work. Lots of people helped but there were some who thought, ‘ We are too important to do any building work.’

Did that stop Nehemiah? No. He kept going.

Say hello to Sanballat. He didn’t like God. He didn’t like Nehemiah and he certainly didn’t like the wall being built. ‘I will stop Nehemiah’, said Sanballat. He began to make fun of Nehemiah, ‘you don’t know how to build. Your wall is rubbish! If a fox jumps on it it’s going to fall down.’

Did that stop Nehemiah? No. He kept going.

Nehemiah asked God to help him and he trusted God and he kept going. Nehemiah is Mr Keep Going!

He didn’t stop building until the wall was finished!

Toddler Craft Idea: Fox Collage

Decorate a picture of a fox using orange paper scraps, felt or crayons

fox Download

Nehemiah builds the wall toddler play ideas

Provide some building activities with wooden bricks, duplo or cardboard boxes. Have a toy tool kit for children to use and some builders dressing up clothes and hats.

selective focus photo of a kid stacking building blocks — Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

person holding yellow and pink lego blocks — Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

If you would like to make the Pringle People to use for Nehemiah and Sanballat instructions are here

The Philippian Jailer toddler Bible story

The Philippian Jailer Bible story is found in Acts 16:25-34. Paul and Silas are in prison at midnight at the beginning of our story. By the end they are having a meal with the jailer and his family.

For young children a few details have been ommitted or simplified.

The Philippian Jailer Toddler Bible story

In the story bag – dolls/puppets representing Paul, Silas, the jailer, some play food. Take the items from the bag as you need them. You can add some movement in the story too.This is indicated in the text below.

Telling the story

‘Say hello to Paul and Silas. They had had a very tough day. People in the town of Phillipi weren’t happy with them talking about Jesus. They had been locked up in Jail! It wasn’t very nice at all. It wasn’t clean and tidy and it definitely wasn’t comfortable.

What could they do? They might have decided to moan and groan. They might have decided to be really angry and upset. But they didn’t do any of those things.

In the middle of the night when it was dark, they were praying to God and singing.

I think they were singing quite loudly because the Bible tells us that all the other people in the jail could hear them!

Suddenly the ground began to shake and shudder! (you could all shake and shudder here).The jail walls moved! The jail doors opened! Everyone’s chains fell off!

The man in charge of the jail was frightened. He would be in big trouble if Paul and Silas escaped. But they didn’t. Paul called out,’ Don’t worry, we are still here’.

The jailer ran into the room, he was shaking with fear, ‘What do I need to do to be saved?’ he asked Paul.

What would Paul say? He told the jailer about the Lord Jesus, the only one who can save. And the jailer believed in Jesus.

The jailer took Paul and Silas into his home and he and his family looked after them and they had some yummy food to eat.

The next day Paul and Silas were set free and the people who had hurt them and put them in jail said, ‘We are sorry Paul and Silas.’

This was the beginning of the church in the town of Phillipi.’

For another story about the new church in Philippi have a look at Lydia hears about Jesus

Philippian Jailer Bible Story Toddler Play Ideas

Make a music area for the children to explore. Collect toddler friendly musical shakers and drums and place on a mat. Allow children to explore making music. You could do this at the end of song time and play some music/songs in the background.

colorful xylophones and hand bells on display — Photo by Lena Ti on Pexels.com

a kid covering his eyes with maracas — Photo by Lena Ti on Pexels.com

Make musical instruments using yogurt pots, uncooked rice, lentils and beans and paper lids secured with tape. Decorate the pots with stickers and glitter glue

Decorated transparent cup filled with grains and covered with colourful paper — A colorful homemade shaker filled with dried grains brings creativity to sensory play.

Song ideas For Toddler Group

Paul and Silas were singing praises to God in prison – here are some songs you could sing with the children in your T

From my head down to my toes God loves me

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands

My God is so great so strong and so mighty

Paul and Silas in Jail craft For Toddler Group

Paul and Silas collage showing them singing in Philippian Jail

Scroll down for the printable downloads you need for the above craft. Cut out the pieces you need and provide an A4 piece of sugar paper for the background. You also need crayons and glue.

Printable Resources – Philippian Jailer toddler group craft

Bible Men (3 up)Download

Prison bars (6 up)Download

Singing (Musical notes) (6 up)Download

The first Christians

The first Christians is a simple story about sharing and meeting together. It’s based on Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-37. These two Bible passages aren’t really a narrative (as in a straightforward story with a beginning, middle and end). They are more of a selection of facts about the first Christians in the early church – what people did and where they went. Consequently it’s a bit more of a challenge when telling to very young children.

Pictures help! For each piece of information about what the first Christians did or where they went I printed a picture onto A4 card. You could just as easily use props.

Just a couple of things to note – doing these things didn’t make people Christians, they did them because they were Christians. Kindness and sharing are things that are good for all people and often qualities people share and are not the preserve of Christians alone.

God helped the first Christians to share story

Have some dolls/puppets to represent the first Christians

Jesus had gone back to heaven and had sent the Holy Spirit to help his friends. Now lots and lots of people believed in Jesus. But what did they do every day? How did they care for each other? Where did they go? The Bible tells us…

They spent time learning more about God from the Bible.

They went to each others homes and spent time together.

They remembered how Jesus had died for them by sharing bread and wine together – just as Jesus had asked.

They prayed together – talking to God, saying thank you to him and asking for his help.

They went to the temple together.

They shared what they had with each other.

And every day more and more people believed that Jesus was the Saviour sent from God.

Sharing craft ideas

A group craft idea as simple as having a long roll of paper and letting children decorate with crayons, pens and stickers. If you have the space display your group art.

You could also focus on sharing meals together and make a dinner plate craft.

Some additional ideas on a pinterest board..

The Pearl of Great Price

The Pearl of Great Price is one of the stories Jesus told about the value of being in God’s Kingdom. It’s a very short story found in Matthew 13:45-46.

The Pearl of Great Price Story idea

Jesus told a story about how valuable it is to be part of his family.

Once upon a time there was a man whose job was to buy things and sell things. He was looking for something very special. He was looking for a beautiful, expensive piece of jewelry called a pearl.

He went form one market to another. He looked at all the things on sale. But nothing was quite what he was looking for. But he didn’t give up. He kept looking..

Until one day.. there it was! The most perfect and beautiful pearl.

He looked in his pockets – he had some money but it wasn’t enough. Oh no! What could he do?

He went home and started to collect all his things together, his clothes, his furniture, his carpets, his books .. everything he had and he took his things to the market and sold all of them.

Then he took his money and he bought the pearl. It was worth more than everything he had sold! He was happy!

Jesus told this story to help us understand that being in his family is worth more than anything else.

The Hidden Treasure is a similar story. Here’s a link to a story and craft with a printable.

Pearl craft idea

What you need

Cheap paper plates that are easy to cut and fold
Tissue paper
Glue sticks

For younger children you can do the cutting beforehand. Here’s a picture gallery of the stages. The pearl is made of scrunched up tissue paper. Make it large and be aware of chocking hazards.

Pearl shell craft — Fold the plate and draw on the scallops

Pentecost

Pentecost Bible story for young children with some craft ideas courtesy of Pinterest.

I’ve started the story in Luke 24:36-53 so that we can set the day of Pentecost in the context of the great commission. The disciples were told to tell others about the Lord Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit enabled them to do just that. The rest of the story idea is based on Acts 2

Bible story idea

Bible Truth for toddlers – Jesus keeps his promises

The Lord Jesus had died and come back to life again. Many people saw him and he spent time with his disciples. He had a very special job that he wanted his disciples to do. What could it be? He told them to tell everyone about him. Not just the people close by but people who lived far away too. But how could they do that? It was a huge job to do! The Lord Jesus promised that he would send God the Holy Spirit to help.

And then Jesus went back to heaven, where he still is now.

His friends waited. If Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit they knew it would happen. Jesus always keeps his promises.

The friends and followers of Jesus all met together in a house. It was a special time, there was a big festival called Pentecost and lots and lots of people were travelling to Jerusalem from all over the place to celebrate. They spoke different languages, wore different clothes and traveled from here, there and everywhere.

Meanwhile in the house there was suddenly a sound like the wind, and something that looked like flames rested above the heads of Jesus’ friends. Suddenly they could speak in languages they had never learned.

They were able to tell the people in Jerusalem who were from here, there and everywhere about the Lord Jesus! God, The Holy Spirit had come and he was helping them. And that day lots and lots of people believed in Jesus and became his followers.

Prop Ideas to help tell the story

I’ve used some picture from Lamp Bible Pictures and attached them to large lollipop sticks. Here’s the link to Lamp Bible Pictures. I purchased the Power Point and printed the pictures that i wanted to use.

Pentecost crafts Pinterest Board

Here’s a few craft ideas – look out for the super play dough mat idea.

Here’s a link to a fuller retelling of the Ascension

Valentine Collage

Valentine collage to make using coloured tissue paper.

Tissue paper is a wonderful paper that can be torn, layered, crumpled and glued. It comes in a whole variety of colours and is relatively inexpensive. I use it a lot in crafts with children.

This Valentine themed tissue paper collage is very simple to prepare and make. The added hearts are a nice touch but if you don’t have a paper punch to make heart shapes stickers would be great.

All you need to make the valentine collage

A4 or A3 sugar paper
Glue sticks
Hearts cut from paper (and/or heart stickers)
Tissue paper torn into shapes – I used pink, red and yellow in large squares and some green in smaller shapes

Young children can be given the torn tissue paper shapes. Older children could select the colours they wish to use and tear the paper themselves. Tissue paper tears easily but usually there is a direction in the paper that tears in a straightish line – so experiment and see how the older children get on. If they are having trouble tearing the paper easily suggest that they turn the paper 90 degrees and try again.

Some other ideas for Valentines Day

Card to make

Valentine heart wreath to make

Is Jesus the forever king?

Is Jesus the forever king? Is the final part of our story series, ‘Who is the forever King?’ We began with King David and God’s promise to David,

Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7:16.

We have told simple stories about David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah. These kings are all mentioned in Matthew 1 in the genealogy of Jesus, the son of David.

Now we have arrived at the birth of the forever king – the Lord Jesus.

All of the previous puppets can be displayed – then add the Manger picture at the end.

To tell the story – you need

Mary
Angel Gabriel
Joseph
Donkey – optional as it isn’t mentioned in the bible
Baby
Manger
Shepherds

Here’s link to how to make a paper plate nativity – angels, manger with baby, shepherds

OR you could use dolls –

Is Jesus the forever king?

Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-16

We are still looking for the forever King! The king that will be on the throne of David forever. Lets see if we find him today.

A long time ago there was a woman called Mary. One day she had a very surprising visitor with a very surprising message!

It was an angel, a big strong messenger sent from God who said to Mary, ‘ You are going to have a very special baby. You must give him the name Jesus. He will be God the son and God will give him the throne of David. His kingdom will never, ever end.’

The forever king was going to be born! He was going to be the very best king and the most powerful king in the whole world.

Mary listened to the angel and she was willing to be the bay’s mum.

But then just before the baby was going to be born Mary and Joseph had to go on a long journey to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was their home town (and it had also been King Davids home town). They might have taken a donkey to carry their bags. It took quite a while.

‘Are we nearly there yet?’ No not quite. They carried on. Are we nearly there yet? Almost. They carried on. Are we nearly there yet? Yes we’re here! But oh no there’s no where to stay.

Mary and Joseph ended up staying where the animals were. And that night the Lord Jesus was born. He was an ordinary baby – with fingers and toes and a nose and mouth and eyes. But he was God’s forever king too.

Outside Bethlehem there were shepherds looking after their sheep. It was really dark with stars shining in the sky. Suddenly an angel was there with them. They were terrified.

‘Don’t be afraid’, the angel said, ‘today in the city of David, a Saviour has been born. You will find him all wrapped up and lying in a manger.’ Then lots of angels filled the sky singing. And then they were gone and it was dark again.

‘Let’s go and find him’ the shepherds said to one another. So the rushed down the hill, through the town and they looked for the forever king who is the Saviour – and they found him.

Jesus is the Saviour sent for you and me. Is he the forever King? Yes! The shepherds found him and we can find him too.

Jesus is the forever king craft ideas

To make the stained glass nativity you need

Paper plates – I used a brown plate
Yellow tissue paper – this can be shredded like straw. This is quite messy so if you prefer less mess use torn tissue paper.
Crayons
Christmas wrapping paper odds and ends
Nativity picture printed on card – see download. This needs to be cut out beforehand. Older children could do this themselves – just cut the page in half for them.

Nativitiy-Scene-paper-plate Download

To make – decorate the nativity first then fold and glue to plate. Cover the plate with tissue paper straw and add any other decorations to the rim of the plate.

Is Josiah the forever King?

Is Josiah the forever king? is the penultimate story in the series ‘Who is the forever king?’ We began with King David and in the final story we will find the forever King – The Lord Jesus.

All the different king puppets used to tell the stories are from Free Bible Images.

In the series we have told simple stories about different kings who are in Matthew 1. So far in each story there is a link to the House of God – the temple. It’s planning (David), it’s building (Solomon), going to God’s House to pray (Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah). It’s an important link. These men were all on David’s throne and they are connected both to God’s House-the temple and God’s House – the family kingly line from which the Lord Jesus would come. David had wanted to build God a house but God had promised to make David into a house.

Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7:16.

So now we come to Josiah, and his connection with the temple is in repairing it and finding the Book of the Law. For ease we use the word Bible when telling the story.

Is Josiah the forever king? story from 2 Kings 22,23

Say hello to King Josiah! Josiah became king when he was very young. He wanted to obey God. But things had got very bad. The beautiful house of God that Solomon had built with the beautiful wood and stone and all the gold was in a mess. No one had bothered to look after it.

Josiah decided to sort out the mess. He sent in the builders! They moved out all the rubbish, they hammered, they sawed, they hammered some more and then they stopped. ‘What’s that? they said to each other. ‘It’s not just more rubbish. It’s not a stone. What is it?’

The builders had found something that had been lost for a long time. They found part of the Bible. It had been lost and forgotten.

They hurried to King Josiah. ‘Look what we have found?’

Josiah read the Bible. ‘Oh no’, he thought, ‘we haven’t been living the best way’.

Josiah called the people together to come with him to the house of the LORD. Josiah stood up and he read the Bible, God’s Word to all the people. And King Josiah and all the people made a promise to obey God.

King Josiah was a really good King but he grew old and died. Is Josiah the forever king? No. We still haven’t found him. Let’s keep looking.

Is Josiah the forever king? craft ideas

Is Hezekiah the forever king?

Is Hezekiah the forever king? is story number four in the series, ‘Who is the forever king?’ These stories lead up well to the birth of Jesus, who is the forever King. We began with King David.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. – Luke 1:31,32

For these stories we have used lollipop stick puppets with Free Bible Images visuals

Is Hezekiah the forever king puppet for storytelling

Is Hezekiah the forever king? story idea from 2 Chronicles 29-32, 2 Kings 19

Say hello to King Hezekiah! King Hezekiah was a good King. He obeyed God and he trusted God and he cared about the people.

But he had a big problem. The King of Assyria wasn’t very nice. He came with his army and started to say horrible things to King Hezekiah. He wanted to get all the land for himself.

What could Hezekiah do? He believed that God was powerful. He believed that God would keep the people safe.

The King of Assyria didn’t give up. He wrote a letter, ‘ Dear King Hezekiah, your God can’t help you! We are more powerful than anyone. we always win. We are more powerful than your god. No one can stop us!’

King Hezekiah went to God’s house. He took the letter and laid it out and he prayed. ‘Lord God, the Assyrians are very powerful but please show them that you are greater than them, because you are the God of everything and the only true God.’

Could God hear King Hezekiah? Yes! Could God help? Yes!

God said to King Hezekiah, ‘I will defend this city’. And God did. The King of Assyria went home.

King Hezekiah did lots of good things but as he got old he wasn’t a wise king. He grew old and he died.

Is Hezekiah the forever King? No. We haven’t found him yet. Let’s keep looking.

Is Hezekiah the forever king? craft ideas

Is Jehoshaphat the forever king?

Is Jehoshaphat the forever king? is the third story in the series ‘Who is the forever king?’ that leads up to Christmas.

We began with God’s promise to David, ‘Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7:16. We have found out that neither David or Solomon are the forever king so we are still looking!

In this third story we meet Jehoshaphat. The story is based on 2 Chronicles 20. The lollipop stick puppet is made using a free image from Free bible Images

Is Jehoshaphat the forever king? Bible Story

Say hello to King Jehoshaphat? King Jehoshaphat wanted to follow God and wanted the people to follow God too so he made sure that they were taught all about God.

But one day he was given some very bad news. There were enemies about to attack! Not just one army, not two but three! It was awful. What could king Jehoshaphat do? He didn’t have enough soldiers to fight three armies.

He knew what to do. He went to God’s house and he got all the people to come with him. Not just the grown ups, but the mums and dads and children, the grandparents. Everyone. And he talked to God. ‘Please help us! We are in big trouble’

Could God hear? Yes! Could he help? Yes!

God told the people, ‘Go to meet these three armies tomorrow but you won’t need to fight them. I will rescue and save you.’

The king and all the people went to bed. They got up very early in the morning and they went to meet the armies. Jehoshaphat said to them, ‘Believe in the LORD’.

And as the people got near to the armies they started to sing.

But what about the three different armies? They got all muddled up and started fighting with each other! God’s people were kept safe because God looked after them.

But Jehoshaphat made friends with a bad king and made some bad choices. Was he the forever king? No, we still haven’t found him yet. We need to keep looking.

Is Jehoshaphat the forever king? craft idea

Make and decorate crown biscuits – link to recipe here

Is Jehoshaphat the forever king biscuits to make

Make crown shapes to decorate with home made finger paint

here’s a link to How to easy to make finger paint and a link to the recipe for the home made dough for the crown shapes

Is Solomon the forever King?

Is Solomon the forever King? is the second story in our series ‘Who is the forever king?’ This is a great series to use in the weeks before Christmas.

Solomon led a very full life so we’ve chosen to focus on the building of the temple as it follows on from the story ‘Is David the forever king?

The puppet is made from these free pictures from Free Bible Images

Is Solomon the forever king? Bible story from 1 Kings 8

Say hello to King Solomon! Solomon was King David’s son and he had the job of building the special house for God where people could come and pray and worship.

But Solomon was the King. He wasn’t going to do any of the sawing, hammering, lifting or carrying in the building work. He had loads of people who could do that. He organised everything. He bought lots and lots of wood, stone and lots and lots of gold. King Solomon wanted this house for God to be the most special building ever made. And it was.

When all the building work was done it was the most beautiful place.

Solomon want inside, all the people came and Solomon talked to God. All the people listened.

‘O Lord, there is no one like you. You keep your promises. I have built this house for you but you are so great that you are everywhere all of the time. Please hear your people when they pray to you in this place and please forgive them.’

King Solomon was a good King most of the time but after he had built god’s house he did things that were wrong. He grew old and died. Is Solomon the forever king? No. We haven’t found him yet.

Is Solomon the forever king? craft ideas

Is Solomon the forever king? craft idea using a cardboard tube to make a king.

Make King Solomon from a cardboard tube.

All you need

Cardboard tube
Paper to wrap around for clothes
Circle shape for face
Gold crown
Material for cloak and pipe cleaner belt.
Glue, crayons, tape

Here’s some more ideas from Pinterest..

Is David the forever King?

Is David the forever King? Is the first story in a series, ‘Who is the forever king?’ We used this series of stories in the run up to Christmas, beginning with God’s promise to David, ‘Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7:16.

We begin with the story of David wanting to build a house for God (temple) and then each week find out if Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah or Josiah are the forever king. These five kings are not the only kings of God’s people but they are in in Matthew’s gospel and have stories that are suitable for telling to young children.

We made some great lollipop stick puppets using free downloads from Free Bible Images. We printed the pictures onto card, cut them out (with a generous border) and taped them to large lollipop sticks.

Is David the forever king? puppets to use when telling the story

Each week we focused on one king – so we made some visual aids that we could add to each week. (The word ‘no’ was added at the end of the story). This helps to remind everyone of the stories and holds the theme together.

Is David the forever King? story from 2 Samuel 7

Say hello to King David! King David lived a long, long time ago. He was a good King who followed God and trusted God. One day David looked around at his beautiful house. It was really lovely, well made, warm and dry. It looked wonderful. As David looked at his house he had an idea. ‘I would like to build a house for God. A special place where people can go to worship him’. Now David knew that God is everywhere all at once, he wanted to build a really special place where God could be worshiped.

It does seem like a very good idea.

But God said, ‘No, David. You can plan the special house where people can come to worship me but your son will build it.’ And then God made a promise to David, a very special promise, ‘your kingdom will last forever, there will always be a king on your throne.’

What an amazing promise. David did as God said and made all the plans for the special house where people could come and worship God.

But was David the forever king that God had promised? No! David grew old and he died. And his son became King. We are still looking for the forever king. Who can he be?

Is David the forever king? craft idea

Make some crowns – you can buy card crowns to decorate of make your own using strips of card. Add stickers, tissue paper and coloured shapes to decorate.

Is David the forever King Crown craft for toddlers

Let’s make play dough at home!

Let’s make play dough at home! It’s cheap, easy and much better than shop bought.

What’s so great about making play dough at home?

Play dough is great for children to develop their fine motor skills – there’s lots of squishing, squeezing, rolling and pinching!

It’s also good for developing language – talk about the shapes you are making, how the play dough feels, name the cutter shapes you might be using. Chat with your child while you play with the dough

Making the dough is simple

Recipe

Ingredients
2 cups of water
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup of salt
2 tbsp cream of tartar
2 tbsp of cooking oil (NOT olive
oil or nut oil)
food colouring (optional)

Instructions

1.Place all ingredients in a large microwaveable bowl.

2.Heat in the microwave on full power in 50-second bursts,
stirring in between, until all the ingredients are almost
combined.

3.When almost combined, reduce the heat time to 30 seconds
between stirring.

4.When combined, tip onto a floured surface and knead until
smooth (It will be hot at first, so be careful!)

5.Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months

Here’s a downloadable version of the recipe for you to print and keep and share

playdough Download

If you’ve never made play dough before here’s a few photos to show the different stages –

Just a few notes

Choose your food colouring wisely – some colours just aren’t as nice once mixed in to the dough

Add a scent if you like

Olive oil will make the dough sticky and unusable – save your money and use a cheap vegetable oil

Use cheap flour

If you prefer you can cook the dough in a large pan over a low heat, stirring all the time.

There are lots of ideas for making play dough mats on the web. Here’s a link to one site that has lots of great ideas.

God sees us – Hagar

God sees us is a truth from the Bible. The story of Hagar from Genesis 16 illustrates this truth in a really beautiful way. Hagar is comforted knowing that she is seen by God, who cares for her.

To tell the story use a doll to represent Hagar.

knitted doll to represent Hagar for What is God like story series for toddlers

God sees us – Hagar story idea

Say hello to Hagar!

Hagar was very sad. (Can you look sad?) She ran away from her home. (Make the sound of running by tapping hands on knees – encourage everyone to do this action with you). She sat down and looked around. There was no one there. No one. It was very quiet. (Everyone say ‘shush’).

But God knew where Hagar was. He spoke to her, ‘It will be alright Hagar. Go back home.’

Hagar listened. She knew that God could see where she was. She knew that God is everywhere. Hagar said, ‘You are the God who sees me. You are the God who looks after me.’

God sees you and me too. He cares for us and is able to look after us.

God sees us – Hagar craft idea

Make a happy and sad paper plate face. On one side make a sad face and on the other side a happy face.

Glue plates back to back with a large lollipop stick between them so they can be held and turned. Hagar was sad but at the end of our story she is happy. Here’s some ideas from Pinterest.

God is everywhere – Jonah

God is everywhere is a truth we learn from the Bible. We are using the story of Jonah to illustrate this truth in a way that is easy for toddlers.

To tell the Story you need –

Jonah (we used a figure from happyland),
a big fish (the one pictured is VERY big – made over a tent) and
a toy boat.

Jonah and the Great Big Fish story

God said to Jonah, ‘go to the big city called Ninevah (can you say that? repeat the name together) and tell everyone there about me.’

Jonah listened to God.

But Jonah didn’t like the people in the big city of Ninevah.

‘I don’t want to! I’m not going to go!’ He said (have you ever said that?)

Jonah thought to himself, ‘I will go far away – so far away that God won’t know where I am.’ He went and got on a boat and sailed away, far, far away from Ninevah.

But then the rain came and the wind blew – and out of the boat came Jonah – and splash into the sea!

Down, down, down he went. ‘Please God, help me!’ he prayed. Could God still hear Jonah from inside the great big fish? Was God too far away? No he was not far away. He was right there with Jonah.

God is everywhere. Jonah couldn’t run away from God.

God knew exactly where Jonah was, God always knows where we are; and he sent something to help. It wasn’t a boat – it was one great big fish. The one great big fish opened up it’s mouth and swallowed Jonah. He was safe!

The one great big fish took Jonah back to land. God said, ‘Jonah, go to Ninevah’. And this time Jonah did exactly what God said.

God is everywhere, all of the time. So wherever you go God is already there!

God is everywhere – Jonah in the big fish craft

Picture of large fish with Jonah inside for God is everywhere story

To make Jonah in the big fish you need

Printouts of the big fish
Some men to represent Jonah
Blue crepe paper for the water (these are attached at the top of the picture so they can move)
Glue and crayons

whale-1 Download

Here’s a link to how to make a giant fish for telling the story.

Jesus visits people’s homes story series

The series “Jesus Visits People’s Homes” features stories suitable for toddler groups. These narratives highlight relatable home settings for young children, making Bible stories easier to grasp. Six stories depict various homes Jesus visited, including Simon’s, Levi’s, and Mary and Martha’s. Each story is linked to craft ideas, such as creating home collages from shapes. Additionally, play activities are suggested, like setting up a home corner to encourage imaginative play related to the stories.

Jesus visits people’s homes story series. These stories can be used at toddler groups. I really enjoyed telling these stories to young children. There is something familiar about the setting of the domestic home that children can easily relate to and understand – a good place to start when telling Bible stories to very young children.

Here you’ll find six different stories to tell all about homes that Jesus visited and the people who lived in them. Click on the links for the story ideas.

Jesus visits people’s homes links to the stories

Jesus visits Simon’s home – Mark 1:29-34

Jesus visits a crowded home – Mark 2:1- 12

Jesus visits Levi’s home – Mark 2:13-17

Jesus visits Jairus’s home – Luke 8:40-56

Jesus visits Mary and Martha’s home – Luke 10:38-42

Jesus visits Zacchaeus’ home – Luke 19:1-10

Most of the links will also contain a craft idea. For an optional idea see if you can make collages of homes and houses using shapes. Provide various shapes of houses/flats and smaller squares for windows and doors and glue.

Jesus visits people’s homes story series craft ideas

Model of a flat roofed house — Make a house

Jesus visits people’s homes play ideas

Set up a home corner with tables, chairs, a cooker, sink, pots and pans and crockery and pretend food.

Some more ideas for a home corner are in this blog post.

Making and exploring with texture

Making and exploring with texture is our final look at craft ideas based on three key area – colour, shape and texture. Thinking of these three key areas can help us as we plan creative crafts for young children. Sometimes it’s easy to get into a way of doing things and it’s really good to reflect on what we are doing and providing for children to make. It’s helpful for us to ask – What are we exploring about colour? What are we learning about shape? Are there different textures to explore?

Making and exploring with texture in craft – some ideas

What creates texture? Think about using materials that aren’t smooth A4 paper! Here’s a list of ideas

Yarn
Fabric (different types of fabric have different textures)
Corrugated paper
Tissue paper (flat and scrunched up)
Crepe paper
Sugar paper
Leaves
Flowers
Paper straws
Wooden lollipop sticks
Thick paint/watery paint
Cardboard tubes
Felt
Pasta/rice
Cup cake cases
Feathers
Sweet wrapers
Finger paint
Egg boxes
News paper
Sequins
Ribbon
Cotton wool
Sponge
Mesh – lemons are often packaged in this!

The above list can be used to make collages and pictures. You can also use the following to explore texture and make 3D crafts or just use to enjoy and explore.

Play dough
Salt dough
Boxes of various shapes and sizes for ‘junk’ models.

Give children opportunities to make texture collages. This can be an open ended activity with everything laid out for children to choose which items they wish to include.

When it comes to exploring textures PVA glue is my top choice when making texture collages but glue sticks can work well with too. Make sure you have a try yourself to see what works. Also, be mindful that if you use glue sticks with cotton wool the cotton wool sticks to the glue stick pretty quickly!

making and exploring with texture collage

Include texture in craft activities. Some ideas include…

making and exploring with texture angel craft

Texture, colour and shape – there are overlaps between these three but if you aim to consider them when you are putting together a craft for young children you will make it a richer experience. You don’t have to include all the ideas all the time, sometimes you might want to make black and white pictures or just use circles or see what children can make with only having fabric and glue. Sometimes less is better! But it’s good to ask these question as we plan crafts……

What are the children discovering about texture?

What are they learning about shape?

How are they exploring colour?

Here’s a link to Studio in a school you tube channel that has lots of ideas.

Paul meets Jesus

Paul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus. The story is from Acts 9:1-19. We’ve used the name Paul for the story as it’s easier for young children to stick to one name – but of course you could use the name Saul.

To tell the story – have a story bag or basket with Paul and Ananias and a bright yellow cloth or similar for the bright light.

Puppets representing Paul and Ananias to use when telling the story Paul meets Jesus

Paul meets Jesus story idea

Paul was not happy! He was really, really cross. He was angry with all the people who believed in Jesus. Paul believed in God. He worked very hard to keep all of God’s rules. But now people had started to go around telling everyone that Jesus was God the Son who had died and three days later come back to life again.

Paul was angry. He wanted to stop people talking about Jesus. But what could he do? He decided that he would find as many people who believed in Jesus as he could and put them in prison. That would stop them telling everyone!

So Paul started to go to the town of Damascus. He knew people there were talking about Jesus and he wanted to shut them up!

Suddenly, as Paul was on his way there was a really bright light – a light from heaven. Paul fell to the ground and then he heard someone talking to him. It wasn’t one of the people with him, it wasn’t an angel. Who could it be?

Paul why are you being so horrible to me? the voice said.

‘Who are you?’ Paul asked

‘I am Jesus’, came the reply. ‘go into the city and you will be told what to do’.

Paul got up but he couldn’t see anything and the people with him held his hand and helped him into the city.

Meanwhile Ananias was at his home. God said to him, Ananias, go to Straight Street to Judas’ house. When you get there pray for a man named Paul.

Ananias had heard all about Paul and he wasn’t too sure at first but God told him to go and so he did.

When he met Paul he prayed for him and then Paul could see again. And Paul knew that Jesus really was alive in heaven. He realised that Jesus is the Son of God and he started to tell everyone he met about Jesus.

craft ideas

Here’s a link to another story from Acts – Tabitha

Jesus goes back to heaven

Jesus goes back to heaven is the retelling of the ascension. After Easter it’s good to continue the story to explain what happened next. There are several stories that you could tell; The Road to Emmaus, Thomas and/or Breakfast on the Beach but you can also go straight on to the Ascension.

It’s important that we teach that The Lord Jesus didn’t die again. He lives forever! And he will come back again. The story is based on Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11

Jesus goes back to heaven – story idea

We have used a set of pictures from Lamp Bible Pictures to help tell the story. They are a powerpoint but we print the pictures onto card and add a lollipop stick so they can be held easily when telling the story. I put them in a story bag/basket and take them out when I need them. We have also used the set of disciple pictures (omit Judas) also from Lamp Bible Pictures. These can be used for lots of stories so worth having. If you can have someone to help hold the pictures do.

Story basket with pictures of Jesus goes back to heaven

Jesus had died but was alive again! His friends saw him and spoke to him. Lots of people saw him. He wasn’t a ghost. He could eat food! He was really alive again.

He had a job for his friends to do, ‘I want you to tell other people all about me. Tell them about the things that I said and the things that I did. Tell them how I died for them and came alive again.’

Jesus told his friends to tell everyone the Good News that he was the Saviour. They were to tell everyone in all the world starting right where they were. Jesus was going to send The Holy Spirit to help them.

When Jesus had spent time with his friends they went for a walk together. Then something very special happened. As they were standing Jesus blessed them. And as he was blessing them Jesus began to go up, up, up and Jesus was taken back to heaven. He went up, up, up and into the sky and was gone. They couldn’t see him anymore.

While they were looking up into the sky two angels came and spoke to them, ‘Why are you looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has gone up to heaven will come back again. ‘

Jesus is still alive. He is the King over everything and is seated on his throne in heaven. But one day Jesus will come back to earth again. He won’t come as a baby. He will come as the King of everyone.

Ascension craft ideas

Making and exploring with shapes

Making and exploring with shapes is just some ideas of how we can introduce children to shapes during craft time. We’ve already though about making and exploring with colour.

Have you ever looked back at the craft activities you’ve set out for children and discovered that most of them involved a piece of A4 paper? Maybe not, but sometimes this is what happens as it is a standard size and if you have something printed it will often be on A4 paper.

These are some ideas to add variety. Some of these crafts do include A4 paper but shapes are added! Or the printed shape is cut out. Of course children can decorate a picture of a fish but it is lovely to have a fish shape to cover with shiny paper!

Use the shape of what you want to create.

This can be as simple as a fish shape or a person shape. Make giant leaves or an enormous egg. Decorate a star.

Use paper plates – different colours, sizes and shapes

Paper plates make for brilliant making. They come in different colours and shapes and sizes. You can use them as they are for making faces or fold them and cut them into different shapes. Here’s some ideas.

Make greetings cards for special occasions.

You can buy blank cards in different sizes (and colours) and decorate for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentines etc. As you can see we’ve made a lot of cards with hearts.

Start with different shaped paper

Sometimes long and thin paper can make for a lovely picture. It’s good to start with a shape that isn’t A4 or A3. If you are making a caterpillar or a field this is great. If you want a tower it works just as well.

Wreath shapes

Wreath shapes are great shapes to use to create seasonal makes. You can make your own from paper plates or buy cardboard wreath shapes. Add tissue paper, pictures cut from greetings cards, shapes cut from patterned paper.

Use shapes to make pictures

Provide cut out shapes for children to make their own creations. These are some ideas – children can make up their own or follow an idea.

making and exploring with shapes collage

Making and exploring with shapes craft idea

Make 3D crafts

Use cardboard tubes, paper plates to make 3D objects. Have rolls of card to make crowns or hats. Lollipop sticks, cereal boxes, yogurt pots, clean egg cartons (no egg residue) are all useful to collect ready to use.

Instructions for the 3D angel are here.

Use cup cake cases

Cup cake cases can be used flattened out or as flowers or a Moses basket. You can cut them in half or into quarters. They are a great addition to craft materials and come in different sizes and colours (Avoid the waxy type as they won’t stick to anything!)

Useful craft supplies for incorporating lots of different shapes in your toddler group crafts when making and exploring with shapes

Paper punches – to cut your own hearts, circles, leave shapes etc. If you don’t want to buy a whole set I’d go for a large circle.
Cup cake cases – large and small (choice of colours/patterns)
Paper plates – round and square
A4 sugar paper cut in half
Blank greetings cards
Tissue paper squares and circles
People cut outs
Sugar paper squares/rectangles
Stars/sun/moon shapes

These are just some of the ways I’ve tried to make sure we aren’t always using A4 paper for craft.

Exploring colour with toddlers

Exploring colour with toddlers.

When we plan crafts for children it can be helpful to think about three basic things; colour, shape, and texture. This post is all about colour. How can we include an experience of colour (or the lack of it) in our craft times with young children? Here’s some ideas..

Coloured paper as the base for creating.

It’s good to give coloured paper as the base for making sometimes. Take a look at whether or not you tend to always start with white or off white paper. When can you start with something else? Sometimes white/cream paper is exactly what you need to use but not always.

Black paper can give a good contrast to colours.

Black paper collage exploring colour with toddlers

Children can use black paper as the background for a colour filled collage.

Exploring with colour black paper collage of the moon and stars

Black paper makes a great base for a moon and stars picture. Other ideas include mark making with white wax crayon on black paper.

Sometimes you may like to start a picture craft with a background colour like this picture of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac in their tent.

Exploring colour with toddlers a picture that starts with a green background.

Exploring colour with toddlers -Painting

Powder paints are great for young children. Use non spill pots, easy to hold brushes and provide aprons. Large pieces of sugar paper are great. Children may want to cover the paper with layers of paint or be happy with just a few marks here and there. Let them decide. (Just try to prevent so much coverage that the paper disintegrates!). Sometimes children want to use there fingers and make hand prints. This is great!

Exploring colour with toddlers child's painting covering an A3 page with red, yellow, blue and green coloured paint

Crepe paper printing

Crepe paper printing is a fun way of discovering that colours change when mixed together. (It can leave fingers stained too so warn parents).

For each picture you need

two pieces of sugar paper – we used A3
crepe paper of various colours in strips.
You also need a water spray bottle.

Children can choose the colours of crepe and lay them on the paper (they don’t need to cover it). Then spray with water. Place the other piece of sugar paper on top and pat down.

Pull apart and remove crepe paper. The beauty of crepe paper is that the colour runs when wet. The children can see some lovely effects when the colours blend and mix.

When we do this activity at toddler group some children love having the opportunity to make lots of pictures so if you can allow them to experiment and enjoy the process.

crepe paper printing to see colours mixing

Exploring colour with toddlers a crepe paper print

Wax resist washes

Use wax crayons to mark make on white sugar paper and then paint over a colour wash (very watery powder paint). You can use several different colours on the same picture or just one.

Exploring colour with toddlers a blue and white wax resist

Exploring colour with toddlers single colour collage

Make a colour collage (lots of shapes and textures to explore here too) This can help children to learn the names of colours and also help them to start to think about how the colour makes them feel. You can ask, ‘Is this colour warm or cold?’

exploring colour with toddlers collage of red paper, card and textures

Explore the way light and colour come together

Make simple sun catchers or a stained glass effect. These pictures are colorful but come to life when light shines through them. Here’s a link to detailed instructions on how to make these gorgeous colour filled crafts.

Home made finger paints

Finger painting on a paper plate can provide a lovely opportunity for children to mix colours. Here’s a link to a recipe from Rainy Day Mum.

Use colourful materials

Sometimes you might want to limit the colour choices to make nightime pictures or a single colour collage but at other times have lots of options available. Here’s some ideas

Paints
Chalk
Tissue paper
Crepe paper
Wax crayons
Felt tips (washable) We sometimes use these but not all the time. They make mark making easy for young children.
Colourful collage materials (see the post all about texture)

These are just a few ideas about making and exploring with colour with toddlers. We haven’t begun to talk about primary and secondary colours or the colour wheel and I’ve only mentioned one idea about hot and cold colours or how different colours make us feel!

The ideas in this post are just some activities that we’ve used to include lots of making and exploring with colour in our toddler group. They would all be great to do at home too. Feel free to share your own ideas about crafts with colour in the comments.

But if you’d like to think more about colour take a look at this really interesting video Color theory for Noobs

Crepe paper printing craft

Crepe paper printing craft ideas. Crepe paper and water make for great craft. It’s not exactly mess free but almost. You will have lots of soggy crepe paper at the end so you do need to have some newspaper and a tray to put your used crepe paper out of the way. Paper towels and some wipes are useful too as hands can get dye on them. But don’t let any of that put you off this lovely creative activity that really is suitable for all ages.

All you need

Water and some spray bottles (that have only ever been used for plain water)
Crepe paper cut into strips
Sugar paper (2 sheets for each picture)
Cover your table with newspaper
Have something on hand to put the wet crepe paper in to
Wipes and paper towels for hands

To make –

Take a sheet of sugar paper
Lay on crepe paper – let the children choose the colours they would like. They can layer them if they wish. They don’t have to cover the paper.
Spay with water (you’ll see the colours start to run. Experiment with just how wet you want the picture to be – too dry isn’t great but neither is too wet!
Place the second sheet of paper on top (like making a paper sandwich with crepe filling)
Pat down
Peel apart
Take the crepe paper off and throw away

Crepe paper printing in pictures

This is a great craft for toddlers. It doesn’t matter if they can’t operate the water bottle as the main point is to experiment with the colours and see how they mix and change

You can also develop the basic craft into an Easter themed craft by using egg shaped paper.

Easter egg shape decorated with crepe paper printing

You can also add the symbol of the cross using black crepe paper.

Older children can experiment with how they want the colours to look – like in the picture above with rays of light coming from the centre of the cross.

Enjoy being creative with colour with this craft. The pictures will need some time to dry so keep that in mind. But it is really fun so have a go at some crepe paper printing craft!

Here’s another Easter craft idea with a free printable – you could make both!

I used this crepe paper from Amazon. (Affiliate link – when you click and make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you)

Jesus feeds four thousand people

Jesus feeds four thousand people is a story from Mark 8:1-10. A large crowd has gathered to listen to Jesus and have stayed so long that they have no food. Jesus shows his compassion and feeds everyone from a small amount of bread and fish.

Jesus feeds four thousand people story idea

Jesus was talking to lots and lots of people about God. There were mums and dads, grandads and grandmas and children! They had been listening for a long time. They had been listening – for – 1,2,3 days!!! Can you imagine that!?

I think they had some time to sleep too and some food to eat. But the food had all gone and it really was time to go home.

Jesus called his twelve special friends together, ‘We must give everyone something to eat,’ he said. ‘They have to be able to walk home and some of them have got a long way to go’. Jesus cared about all the people.

His friends didn’t know what to do. ‘We are so far away from anywhere,’ they said.

Jesus asked them, ‘how much food do you have?’ They looked at what they had – it wasn’t much. Just 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 small loaves of bread and some fish. Oh dear. Not really enough for Jesus and his twelve friends never mind everyone else!

Jesus told everyone to sit down. Jesus thanked God for the seven loaves and the few fish and then he started to share it out. All the tired and hungry people; all the mums and dads and grandmas and grandads and children had more than enough to eat. And once they were full, they started to go home.

Jesus’ friends had to tidy up – there was so much food that there were 7 baskets of leftovers!

Craft Idea

Jesus feeds the four thousand craft of a basket and bread and fish

To make the bread and fish in a basket

Basket download
Bread and fish download
Crayons
Glue
Shredded paper for the basket decoration

7 loaves & come fish – LOAVES & FISH (3-up)Download

7 leaves & some fish – BASKET Download

Here’s a link to a similar story

Black paper collage toddler group craft

Black paper collage to make those colours pop! There is nothing wrong with using pastel coloured sugar paper or the off white recycled sugar paper but black paper makes a great alternative. You can really enjoy the colours of the collage. They stand out and the collage looks vibrant.

All you need to make a black paper collage

Good quality black paper that can take plenty of glue. If you want to you can use card.
PVA glue and glue speaders (Glue sticks are an option but PVA works better in this activity as it will stick all the collage materials so that’s what we used for this make)
Collage materials – card shapes (ours were from a charity shop and I’m pretty sure were once part of a make your own greetings card kit), feathers, stickers, tissue paper, pictures from magazines, ribbon, fabric pieces, yarn
Light coloured crayons – white, yellow

To make – This is a great craft for letting children choose what to use. I like to lay out all the collage materials in a way that makes it easy for young children to see what there is. A couple of ideas are to sort the collage materials by colour or type. Before the children begin decant some PVA glue in to shallow containers that won’t spill easily. Then let the children create. Some children will want to pack their paper with loads of materials and others may be happy with one or two things on the paper. Let them choose what they want to do.

Collage on black paper toddler group craft

Take a look at this helpful article about collage and young children.

The article mentions collecting recycled items for a collage ‘busy box’ which is a great idea. Ask your friends and family for donations of yarn and fabric offcuts, paper and greetings card pictures, ribbon – all sorts of things we can use for collage.

Here’s a blog post about craft supplies – some bought and some collected!

Valentine’s Day Bible verse craft

Valentine’s Day Bible verse craft that is lovely to make and easy to prepare ahead. To make this you need a few bought items and some card. Psalm 136:26 reminds us that God’s love never ends.

Hearts for Valentine's Day craft made with heart stickers

Valentines heart craft with a Bible verse

everything you need to make Valentine’s Day Bible verse craft

Heart shape printed out onto card. Older children can cut it out. You’ll need to cut the shape out for young children (toddler group age)
Heart stickers (if bought on a roll you can cut them into small strips)
Crayons/pencils

Valentine Craft Download

to make

Print heart onto card (paper would be ok if you don’t have card)
Cut out
Colour (I used crayons – pinks, yellows, reds)
Add heart stickers to the border

to use

You could add a ribbon so this craft becomes a wall hanging! Either use a hole punch to make a hole at the top centre and thread a thin ribbon through (Yarn would work too) or tape a loop of ribbon to the back of the heart. If you want to make wall hangings I would suggest you print the heart shape on card so it holds it’s shape. You could laminate it too.

If making in your church group see if older children can find the verse in the Bible and have a go at learning it.

Here’s a link to some other Valentine’s Day crafts

Three women and a baby – women in the Bible 3

Three women and a baby is the story of Moses’ birth, his mothers’ plan to keep him safe and his rescue. Three women make sure that Moses is safe. You can read the story in Exodus 2:1-10.

To tell the story I used some pictures from Free Bible Images. They have a great selection of Bible characters that you can print onto card, cut out and make into lollipop stick puppets. Here’s a link – you will need to have a look at the different sections to find pictures suitable for Moses’ mum, sister and Pharoah’s daughter. The characters aren’t named, just have a look and see what you would like to use.

I also used a doll for the baby and an oval storage basket and some blue cloth for the Nile.

Baby Moses in a basket props for story telling

Three women and a baby – story idea

In our Bible story today there are three women. Let’s find out what they did.

A long time ago there was a really bad king. He was very cross that God’s people, who were living in his country, were having families with lots of children. ‘I’m not happy about this!’ he said to himself. Then he had a very bad and horrible plan. ‘Get rid of all the baby boys’, he said. That was a horrible plan. he was a very bad king.

There was a family that had just had a baby boy. They weren’t going to get rid of him. They loved him very much. So they kept him a secret. Every time he cried they said ‘Shush’ (can you say that?). But as he got bigger he cried louder. What could his mummy do? His mummy trusted God and she made a plan to keep her baby safe.

His mummy (take puppet from story bag) had a plan. She began to make something. Shall I show you what it was? It was a basket. She made it waterproof and very strong with a lid.

When it was finished she wrapped up her baby son and put him gently into the basket. Then she took the baby in the basket down to the river. The baby’s big sister came too. (Take her from the story bag) Now they weren’t going to just any part of the river. The mummy knew that someone important would be going to this part of the river too.

The mummy put the basket in the water and she went home. But big sister hid and watched and waited.

Sure enough down to the river came the third woman in our story. She was very important. She was the bad kings daughter! (Take her from the story bag) She looked at the basket. What’s inside? she thought. So she opened the lid! And there inside was the little baby boy and he was crying. The King’s daughter felt sorry for him. She knew that he was a baby belonging to God’s people.

Now the baby’s big sister did a very brave thing. She stopped hiding and called out, ‘Shall I go and find someone who can take care of the baby for you?’

‘Go, and get someone’, the Kings daughter said.

Who could she find to care for the baby? His mum!

These three women rescued the baby boy and he was called Moses, which means taken out of the water. Moses mummy trusted God to keep her little baby boy safe – and he did. God can always be trusted.

Maybe when you were a baby you were put in a Moses Basket? It’s called a Moses basket because of this true story from the Bible.

Moses in the basket craft idea

All you need to make a simple paper plate Moses in the basket craft

Paper plate
Cup cake liner
Blue and green tissue paper
Baby – see download (He is sad because he was crying)
Glue

baby-moses-x-24 (1)Download

Jesus calls Levi

Jesus calls Levi is found in Mark 2:13-17 , Luke 5:27-28 and Matthew 9:9-13 In Matthew’s gospel Levi is called Matthew. When you tell the story it’s up to you which name to use.

To tell the story you need some props for Levi and the Lord Jesus , a picture of a house, some of Levi’s friends. I’ve used a set of power point pictures from lampbiblepictures.co.uk You have to purchase from the site but they are good value. I won’t be using them as a power point but as printed pictures that I’ve attached to lollipop sticks. I’ve also made a large house picture that opens up to reveal Levi and his friends having a meal with Jesus.

Jesus calls Levi – Bible story

There was once a man called Levi who had a job that meant that most people didn’t like him very much at all! I wonder what that job was? Let’s say hello to Levi and find out.

Hello Levi! (Take Levi out of the story bag)

Levi! Aren’t you going to say hello?

He’s too busy counting all the money. Levi is a tax collector. Everyone thinks he is really awful. His only friends are other tax collectors. He probably takes too much money and keeps some for himself.

One day someone comes along to just where Levi is sitting doing his job, collecting the money. But this isn’t just anyone walking along, this person is Jesus. He knows all about Levi. He knows he isn’t a good person. he knows he does things that are wrong and unfair. What is Jesus going to do?

Jesus looks at Levi and he says to him, ‘Follow me’.

Levi stops counting the money. Levi gets up and he follows Jesus. And Levi wants his friends, all the other tax collectors to meet Jesus too so he invites them all to his home for some food.

Some people were cross! ‘Look at what Jesus is doing’, they said. ‘Doesn’t he know how bad those people are?’ But Jesus said, ‘I’ve come to help the people who know they need me.’

Some of the pictures below are from Lampbiblepictures. The large house picture opens up to show Levi’s friends

Large Bible time house for story telling

Pictures for telling the bible story Jesus calls Levi

Jesus calls Levi – craft idea

I really like a ‘lift the flap’ craft and this one is very simple. Part of the craft is the house and inside are some people.

All you need

House printed on to A4 (portrait) and folded in half (if you use the download below the house will be in the lower half of the A4 page – and this is right.)
Group of people printed out. You need a group of 4 for each house. (Have some extra as children often use more than 1)
Tissue paper, crayons, glue to decorate the house and the people

Friends of Levi in a lift the flap house craft

Lift the flap – House Download

Lift the flap – Crowd Download

Sarah laughs! – women in the Bible 2

Sarah laughs when she is told she will have a baby. She is old, too old to have any children and she just can’t quite believe the message of the three visitors (who we know are messengers from God) and so she laughs. This is where our story begins.

It ends with the birth of Isaac whose name means ‘laughter’. God kept his promise to Abraham and Sarah; God always keeps his promises.

Read the story for yourself from Genesis 18:1-16 and Genesis 21:1-7.

Sarah laughs! story idea

Are you ready to hello to Sarah? she was a real person who lived a long time ago. Let’s get ready to meet her! Say ‘hello Sarah!’

Sarah was married to a man called Abraham. They had lots of things – lots of people working for them, lots of sheep, lots of goats, lots of money. But there was something they really wished that they had. They really wanted to have children. Now God had promised that they would have a huge family but they were getting really old and still no family of their own. It was difficult for them to believe God and to wait patiently.

Days and days went by. Months and months. Years and years. Then one day Abraham was sitting outside his home. (He lived in a tent!). It was a warm, sunny day. Abraham wasn’t really doing anything in particular when he saw three men walking along. He got up and started running. He wasn’t running away he was running to them. ‘ Please come to our home and have something to eat’, Abraham said. ‘Yes’, they said.

Abraham hurried back to his tent and asked Sarah to make some bread. He went to his servant and asked them to make some hot food. The visitors sat outside and ate the lovely food.Now, they weren’t just people like us – these men were sent from God with a special message. ‘Where is Sarah? they asked. She’s in the tent, Abraham replied. ‘This time next year she will have a baby son’, the LORD said.

Now Sarah heard what was said. She thought, ‘I’m too old to have a baby!’ and she laughed.

But nothing is too difficult for God and a year later Abraham and Sarah welcomed a new baby son. They called him Isaac which means ‘laughter’! God always keeps his promises.

Sarah laughs bible story props

Have dolls or puppets representing Sarah, Abraham and baby Isaac. Make a tent by draping a blanket over a clothes horse.

Sarah laughs bible story puppet with Abraham puppet outside their tent

Craft idea

Make a tent – this is a fun ‘lift the flap’ craft. All you need to make this lovely craft is

A4 paper for the background
Different coloured paper for the tent. Fold this as shown in the picture
Abraham, Sarah and Isaac printed out. (downloads at the end of this post)
Crayons/felt tips to decorate
Tissue paper to decorate the tent
Flower stickers to use around the tent

Abraham-Sarah-x-2 Download

Baby-x-12 Download

Eve Bible Story for Toddlers: Creation & Family Craft Idea

Welcome to our first lesson in a new series exploring women in the Bible for toddlers. Because Eve was the very first woman, starting with her story is a natural fit.

In this lesson, we cover two main truths that are simple for toddlers to understand:

God made Eve

God made Adam

The Bible Story is based on Genesis 2: 4 -24

Let’s say hello to Eve Bible (Toddler Story Script)

Story Bag Prep: Place puppets or dolls representing Adam and Eve inside your story bag before starting.

Say hello to Adam! Adam was a real person who lived a long, long, long time ago. He was very special because he was the very first person ever! He wasn’t ever a baby! He wasn’t ever a toddler! So how did he get to be the first person ever?

The Bible tells us that God made Adam. God had already made the birds and the fish, the sun, moon and stars. God had already made all the trees, plants and flowers. He had already made the elephants, tigers, lions and all the other animals. Everything in God’s new world was beautiful. It was all very good! God had made all these things by just speaking.

But then God did something different. He made Adam out of the dust. And God breathed life into him.

Now Adam needed somewhere to live so God made a beautiful garden for Adam. He gave Adam a job to do, ‘Look after the garden,’ God said. He gave Adam one rule to keep,’ Don’t eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden,’ God said.

But when God looked at Adam in the garden there was something that wasn’t good! ‘It isn’t good for Adam to be alone’, God said. There were lots of beautiful plants and amazing animals but they weren’t enough.

So God made Eve, the very first woman to be Adam’s best friend. Are you ready to say hello to Eve? Hello Eve!

Adam and Eve weren’t just the very first man and the very first woman, they were the very first family. God loved them and gave them the very best place to live. And they were happy!

If you want to tell the next part of the story then there is an idea in this post that covers Genesis 3.

Craft idea – make a family collage

All you need for making a family collage

People shapes – either buy or cut out your own
Tissue paper
Fabric scraps if you have any
Crayons
Yarn for hair – try to have a variety of colours
Glue
Backing paper

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Set out a variety of collage materials where children can reach them.
Have the children select their paper people shapes and glue them to the backing paper.
Let them decorate the shapes using tissue paper, yarn, and fabric.

Tip for Toddlers: Allow room for creativity! It is fine if they put yarn on the body for clothes or glue tissue paper where the hair goes. The goal is to let them express how they want their picture to look.

Make a gingerbread house paper craft scene

Make a gingerbread house inspired scene with bits and pieces of paper and wrapping. Making a real gingerbread house is lovely but sometimes it’s good to just have a rummage through odds and ends of paper and card and create something festive.

I always keep wrapping paper scraps and christmas card pictures as they make great almost free craft materials.

Here’s some inspiration for your pictures..

Here’s my finished gingerbread house street scene

Gingerbread house street scene made with paper and craft materials

This would be a great activity to make at home in those days between Christmas and New Year or on Christmas Eve!

All you need to make a gingerbread house inspired scene

Paper for the background – I put two A4 pieces together with tape. (Have the tape on the back of your picture)
Paper to cut into house shapes and trees. I went with simple shapes.
Wrapping paper and Christmas cards cut into shapes
Small hearts, snow flakes, circles
Optional – glitter, sequins, tinsel
Glue

Use whatever you like – and whatever you have.

If you want to do this with very young children prepare the shapes of paper beforehand and make them slightly bigger so they are easier to hold and stick. Children’s interests vary so if children love making they will spend a bit longer creating a paper picture. If you are doing this at home make your own version alongside your child or create a street scene together.

Older children can be encouraged to make the shapes for the trees and houses themselves and create their own gingerbread paper art from scratch. Give them lots of choice of materials.

There’s an idea in this post for making a mini ‘gingerbread’ house using biscuits. It’s very easy to do and lots of fun!

If you would like to make an edible gingerbread house here’s a link to a Mary Berry recipe.

The Saviour is here! – Christmas 3

The Saviour is here is our third Christmas Story in a series of three. We began with Isaiah foretelling the birth of Jesus, The Saviour is Promised and then we told the story of Angel Gabriel visiting Mary, The Saviour is on his way.

The story is based on Luke 2:1-20

The Saviour is here! Bible Story

Bible Truth for Toddlers – Jesus is the Saviour

In the story bag you need – Mary, Joseph, a donkey, the baby, a manger,shepherds, sheep and angels. Take them out as you need them.

‘Say hello to Mary and Joseph! They had to go on a long, long journey. All the way back to Joseph’s home town of Bethlehem. It wasn’t a good time to travel, Mary was soon to have her baby that the Angel Gabriel had told her about. But they had to go. Maybe they had a donkey.. Off they went..

Down the road, over the hills.. Are we nearly there yet? No! On and on they went. Are we nearly there yet? Almost!

But oh no, Bethlehem was so busy. So many people. Where could Mary and Joseph stay. They asked at the hotel. ‘No room here’, the man said. But you can stay in the stable with the animals.

And that’s where the special baby, sent from God, was born. Mary wrapped him up and put him in the manger – all safe and snuggled up.

That same night, out on the hills outside the town there were shepherds looking after their sheep. It was dark! When all of a sudden there was a bright light, the brightest light they had ever seen and there was an angel! The shepherds were scared. ‘Don’t be afraid’, the angel said, ‘I bring you good news! Today a Saviour has been born for you. You will find him in a manger and all wrapped up.’ And then there were loads of angels filling the sky and singing. Then they were gone and it was dark again.

The shepherds looked at one another. ‘Let’s go and find this baby, the Saviour who has been born,’ they said. So off they went..down the hill, through the town, are they nearly there? Not yet! Looking here, looking there, are they nearly there? Almost! – until they found Jesus. They found the Saviour.

Jesus is the Saviour, he is the Saviour God sent for everyone everywhere.

Christmas craft idea

To make the stained glass nativity you need

Paper plates – I used a brown plate
Yellow tissue paper – this can be shredded like straw. This is quite messy so if you prefer less mess use torn tissue paper.
Crayons
Christmas wrapping paper odds and ends
Nativity picture printed on card – see download. This needs to be cut out beforehand. Older children could do this themselves – just cut the page in half for them.

Nativitiy Scene (paper plate)Download

To make – decorate the nativity first then fold and glue to plate. Cover the plate with tissue paper straw and add any other decorations to the rim of the plate.

The Saviour is on his way – Christmas 2

The Saviour is on his way is our second Christmas story in a series of three. We began with, The Saviour is Promised – a Story all about Isaiah and now we meet Mary and the Angel Gabriel. The Bible Story is from Luke 1:26-38 and includes the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary.

If you have told the first story in the series include the four things Isaiah said about the special baby to be born and have an action for each sentence

A child will be born – rock a pretend baby in your arms
A Son will be given – point up to heaven and then bring hands down
He will be King forever – put a pretend crown on your head
He will bring peace – clasp your hands together

The Saviour is on his way – Bible story idea

Bible Truth for Toddlers – God keeps his promises

Do you remember Isaiah? He told people what God wanted them to know. He had written down a promise that God had made – God was going to send someone – Isaiah told everyone that…

A child will be born – rock a pretend baby in your arms
A Son will be given – point up to heaven and then bring hands down
He will be King forever – put a pretend crown on your head
He will bring peace – clasp your hands together

But a long, long time had passed. Days, weeks, months and years and years and years went by. Had God forgotten his promise? No! God never forgets anything!

One day a young woman called Mary was at home. (Say hello to Mary!)It was just an ordinary day. Mary was cleaning the house (some actions here – maybe dusting or sweeping).

But then something extraordinary happened! An angel came to see her! Now angels are not like fairies. Angels are big and strong! (actions here too – make a big shape with your arms and then flex muscles). The angel that came to see Mary was called Gabriel (ask everyone to repeat the name). He had a message from God.

You are going to have a very special baby,’ he said to Mary. ‘This baby will be God’s Son and he will be King forever.’

The Baby was going to be born! rock a pretend baby in your arms

The Son was going to be given! point up to heaven and then bring hands down

He was going to be King forever! put a pretend crown on your head

The Saviour God promised was on his way. God always keeps his promises.

Craft Ideas – make Angel Gabriel

Joseph and the Angel

Joseph and the Angel is from Matthew 1:18-25. In Luke’s Gospel we hear about the Angel visiting Mary and in Matthew’s Gospel we find out how Joseph knew that the baby was from God. In this story we have the special name – Immanuel, a name that only appears a couple of times in the Bible, here in Matthew and Isaiah 7:14. Matthew is telling us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise.

We also read that Joseph is to name the baby Jesus.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1: 21

In Luke’s account we read that Mary has also been told to name the child Jesus.

..you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

Luke 1: 31b-33

To tell the story – if you are tellling a series of Christmas stories you will probably want to focus on the message the angel gave to Joseph.

In the story bag – Joseph doll or puppet, some carpenters tools, Mary puppet, an angel,

Actions to include – sleeping!

Joseph and the Angel story

Mary (take her from the story bag) knew that she was going to have a very special baby. An angel had been sent from God to tell her!

But someone was very sad that she was having a baby. He didn’t really understand. He didn’t really know what to do. His name is Joseph. Are you ready to say hello to Joseph – ‘Hello Joseph’ (take him out of the story bag)

Joseph was all ready to marry Mary but then he found out she was having a baby. He wasn’t the father. He didn’t know what had happened but he decided that he couldn’t marry Mary. He was sad. Oh dear!

Joseph was a carpenter – he spent the day making things with wood, hammering, sawing.. and then he went home and went to bed. Soon he was fast asleep. (Pretend to be sleeping)

Now that was when something extraordinary happened. An angel appeared in his dream (this isn’t something that happens when you or I go to sleep). But it happened to Joseph. The angel had a really important message from God.

‘Joseph, you can marry Mary. Her baby is sent from God. He will be Immanuel, which means God with us. He is the one that God promised to send. When he is born you must name him Jesus because he is the Saviour’.

The next morning Joseph woke up. He got up. What was he going to do? He did what God had told him to do. He believed that this baby was God with us, the one who is the only Saviour. He married Mary and he cared for her.

You could finish with a question for the adults – ‘who do you believe Jesus is?’

angel craft

Make a rocking angel.

All you need

Paper plate folded in half
Circles for faces
Wool for hair
Shiny paper to decorate
Paper doilies cut into 1/8’s (depending on size). They just need to be a right fit for wings.
Glue
Crayons to decorate faces of angels

Here’s a link to the Bible story – The Angel visits Mary

The Saviour is Promised – Christmas 1

The Saviour is promised is the first of three Christmas stories. We begin seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus with Isaiah and the prophecy of Jesus’ coming into the world.

Why tell this part of the Christmas Story? It helps to put Christmas into context. It reminds us and helps us to see that this was God’s plan and that Jesus’ coming as a baby was a fulfillment of God’s promise.

Tell the story simply – there is a story idea below.

The Saviour is Promised – Bible Story

Bible reference – Isaiah 9:6-7

Bible Truth for Toddlers – God promised to send The Saviour

In the story bag we have Isaiah and a scroll with some key sentences (these remind the storyteller of key sentences!)

‘Today someone who lived a long, long time ago has come to see us. His name is Isaiah. Are you ready to say hello? Hello Isaiah! (Take him out of the story bag).

Isaiah was God’s prophet – he told people the things that God wanted them to know.

Now God’s people were in trouble. Everything was getting worse and worse. People were sad and frightened. God knew all about the trouble they were in. God sent Isaiah to talk to them and give them a message

I wonder what that message was? Isaiah wrote it down so we can read it too!

Take your scroll from the story bag and read it out. God says..a baby will be born, a Son will be given, he will be King forever, he will bring peace.

Wow – what an amazing promise from God. A real baby will be born who will be just like you and me and yet also different from you and me because this baby will be God’s Son given to us. He will be the king and he will bring peace between people and God and people and each other!

The people heard what Isaiah said but not everyone believed the promise. But God always keeps his promises. Next time we find out more about this promised baby.’

Puppet representing Isaiah to use in storytelling

If you’d like to do some background reading about Isaiah 9 have a look at this article from Desiring God

The Saviour is Promised craft ideas

You could make scrolls but as this story is part of a Christmas series you could make a Christmas Collage using pictures cut from wrapping paper and Christmas cards. Add sequins, shiny stars – anything you fancy that is seasonal.

Here’s a link to a similar idea Christmas Star to make

David and Psalm 139

David wrote Psalm 139. We are going to focus on verses 1-16. It’s a personal Psalm that shows us that the Creator God knows us as individuals. This is comforting and challenging; God knows everything about us. We can’t hide from God, we can’t escape him but it is comforting too; he knows us and he leads and guides us. Our story also mentions that The LORD was with David – see 1 Samuel 16:18.

David and Psalm 139 Bible Story for young children

Bible Truth – God knows about me

To tell the story use a story bag with a doll for David, a sheep and a crown. You could write the shortened and simplified Psalm 139 (see below) out on a big piece of paper for the adults to say together. You can add actions to Psalm 139 too – point upwards for God and then do simple actions for the main words.

Say hello to David! (take David from the story bag). David lived a long time ago. He had two different jobs at different times. When he was young he was a shepherd who looked after sheep. (take sheep from story bag). What sound does a sheep make? (everyone make a ‘bah’ sound). Later on David became a very important King (take crown from the story bag).

The Bible tells us something special about David – it tells us that the LORD was with him. The LORD is a way of speaking about the God who made everything and rules over everything.

David wrote a song all about how God knew him, God was with him and God had made him –

God knows me!

He knows what I think

He knows what I say,

He knows when I sit down and when I stand up.

Everywhere I go God is there. He is always with me.

God knew all about me even before I was born because he made me!

David was sure that God knew all about him, that God was always with him and God had made him. Being sure of these things helped David to be a good shepherd looking after the sheep and a good King looking after God’s people.

Craft ideas

Make a sheep – David was a shepherd

sheep-2 Download

Decorate people shapes using tissue paper and fabric

People shape cut outs decorated with tissue paper and fabric

I found this blog post really helpful when thinking about this Psalm – https://jemwwg.wordpress.com/bible-study-notes/old-testament/psalms/psalm-139/

In the beginning God made – days 4-6 – craft ideas

In the beginning God made – days 4-6 – craft ideas suitable for using at toddler groups and with young children in church or at home. Genesis 1 tells us how God made the world. Everything was made in a precise order and all of creation was good!

These crafts are easy to make. You need a variety of craft supplies and some preparation is needed. Below is a list of everything you need but be creative and use what you have. Magazines are great for finding pictures for crafts so have a look at what you have at home and ask people to be on the lookout for pictures on calendars and greetings card. It’s much easier than printing pictures from the web! The star shapes I have used were from a box of craft items that I found in a charity shop.

If you are running a toddler group or church group ask for donations of wool, fabric, greetings cards and used calendars. It’s like collecting treasure in the form of craft materials!

In the beginning God made – days 4-6 – craft ideas – everything you need

Tissue paper (various colours)
Paper plates – cut into moon and sun (see photo)
Small cup cake cases (I used metallic – brightly coloured would be fine too)
Small pasta stars
Star shapes
Pictures of birds cut from magazines
Pictures of animals cut from magazines
People shapes
Wool and fabric
Crayons
Glue (if using the pasta stars you will need PVA glue and glue spreaders. Glue sticks are fine for everything else)
Fish shape printed out
‘In the beginning God made…’ labels printed out
Animal stickers
A3 paper
Black A4 paper or card

I really like the large people shapes but if you would rather use pictures of people you can.

In the beginning God made – days 4-6 – craft ideas collage using pictures of people

Enjoy making! have a look at this post for craft ideas for Creation Days 1-3.

In the beginning God made – days 1-3 – craft ideas

In the beginning God…crafts days 1-3 for toddler groups and young children to enjoy making. In Genesis 1 we learn all about days of creation. These crafts cover the first 3 Days of Creation from Genesis 1:1-13.

All you need

Patterned muffin cases and cup cake cases – trim these to look like flowers
Blue paper
Large lollipop sticks
Shiny paper
Black paper – A4
Cotton wool shapes (make up remover pads are great!)
Blue and green tissue paper
Red dot stickers
Tree shapes
Cardboard rolls (toilet rolls or you can buy cardboard rolls if you prefer)
Blue paper – A4
Blue paper, different shades cut into waves
Brown paper cut into hill shapes
Glue sticks
Crayons

In the beginning God made light

To make ‘In the beginning God made light’ use the black A4 paper and put the label in the centre. The children then add the shiny paper shapes and can use white crayons to decorate.

Label (3×8) ‘In the begining God made light Genesis chapter1’Download

In the beginning God made sky and sea

To make ‘In the beginning God made sky and sea’ use the blue paper and tissue paper to make the sky and sea (different shades work well) and then add the label.

Label (3×8) ‘In the begining God made sky and sea Genesis chapter1’Download

In the beginning God moved the water and there was land

To make ‘In the beginning God moved the water and there was land’ you need some blue paper for the sky and sea plus some brown for the land. You can add some clouds too.

Label (3×8) ‘In the begining God moved the water and there was land Genesis chapter1’ (1)Download

God made the land on Day Three, when he also made the trees and plants. You could add cut outs of plants and trees to the above picture or make some extra crafts.

In the beginning God made trees and flowers

Label (3×8) ‘In the begining God made flowers Genesis chapter1’Download

Label (3×8) ‘In the begining God made trees Genesis chapter1’Download

Here’s a download for the tree shape. It’s best to print it onto card. Ahead of time make two slits opposite each other in the cardboard roll. After the tree shape has been decorated it can be slotted into the tree trunk.

Tree-Roll Download

The next three days of creation include the sun, moon and stars, birds and fish and animals and people! When God saw everything he had made it was very good. 🙂

There are lots more ideas on this pinterest board

Lydia hears about Jesus Toddler Group Bible Story

Bible Truth for toddlers – Believing in Jesus is for everyone

Lydia Bible Story Toddler Group Craft

Lydia Toddler Group Craft Printable Resource

Other Toddler Bible Stories from the Book of Acts

Share this:

Joseph forgives free printables for toddler group Bible Story

Share this:

Materials needed for flower craft

Step by step instructions for scented flower craft for 3 year olds

What children can learn in making a scented flower craft

Frequently Asked Questions

Links to other crafts suitable for 3 year olds

Share this:

Why a training course for Toddler Group Leaders?

Who’s it for?

What’s included in this Toddler Group Training?

What do I need to take part in the course?

How much does it cost?

Getting Started In Bible Storytelling to Young Children – Introduction

Session 2 – Finding your Focus

Session 3 – Engagement with the Bible Story

Session 4 – Build and Tell your Story

FAQ’s about Engaging Toddlers with Bible Stories: Free Mini Course

Share this:

Our feet are amazing story time for toddler group

How to tell the story

An easy feet craft for toddlers

Our feet Song time for toddler group

What children can learn from our feet toddler story

Our feet craft printable for toddler groups and families

FAQ’S

Links to Bible Stories about feet

Toddler Group Bible Stories about our bodies

Links to toddler crafts and songs about our bodies

Share this:

Toddler Group Resources – set up ideas

Some ideas for your toddler group welcome table

Resources for Telling Bible Stories to Toddlers

Plan which bible stories you want to tell in your toddler group.

Toddler group resources for crafts

Play dough for toddler group play

Share this:

Plant collage fun holiday family craft ideas

Share this:

Learning to pray toddler group story

Learning to pray toddler group story craft

Craft Idea – make a collage of food we can thank God for.

Share this:

Nehemiah Builds the Wall (Mr Keep Going) – Toddler Bible Story script

Toddler Craft Idea: Fox Collage

Nehemiah builds the wall toddler play ideas

Share this:

The Philippian Jailer Toddler Bible story

Telling the story

Philippian Jailer Bible Story Toddler Play Ideas

Song ideas For Toddler Group

Paul and Silas in Jail craft For Toddler Group

Printable Resources – Philippian Jailer toddler group craft

Share this:

God helped the first Christians to share story

Sharing craft ideas

Some additional ideas on a pinterest board..

Share this:

The Pearl of Great Price Story idea

Pearl craft idea

Share this:

Bible story idea

Prop Ideas to help tell the story

Pentecost crafts Pinterest Board

Share this:

All you need to make the valentine collage

Share this:

Is Jesus the forever king?

Jesus is the forever king craft ideas

Share this:

Is Josiah the forever king? story from 2 Kings 22,23

Is Josiah the forever king? craft ideas

Share this:

Is Hezekiah the forever king? story idea from 2 Chronicles 29-32, 2 Kings 19