Bible Time for Busy Bees

Author: M. Christine Weber

A picture in our family Kid’s Bible depicts Jesus, toddler in arms, surrounded by angel-faced children seated criss-cross-applesauce on a shady lawn. I never noticed the painting much until a couple of years ago, when my son turned two. Then I wondered, Where’s the kid charging through the group? The one pulling up grass by the fist-full to toss into the angelic children’s hair?

If you are a parent with a child like mine, you probably know the challenge of bringing the Bible alive in a way that can keep little hands and bodies busy. Helping their impressionable minds to focus and hearts to engage is often an all-out stretch of ingenuity. Forget the old analogy of herding cats; it’s more like an attempt to wrestle bees.

Here are a few fun and easy bee-wrestling techniques to use during your family’s devotional time.

Tales From Toyland

Bring out the blocks and have your children help “build” the great walls of Jericho; then let them run circles around it until the end of the story when the blocks get to come “tumbling down.” Or borrow a toy of interest from an older sibling. While that may mean that Lazarus looks remarkably like your daughter’s Ken doll, you will definitely have the kids’ attention!

Silly, Silly Socks

Here’s an idea! Grab a pair of your old socks and draw silly faces on them. Use your homemade sock puppets to act out the evening’s Bible narrative. For an entertaining variation, turn off all lights except a flashlight and tell your tale through shadow puppetry on the wall.

A Play-dough Production

Squishy, bouncy, and altogether irresistible, play-dough can keep even the most boisterous of kids busy for long periods of time. Take advantage of this pat-a-cake playtime by encouraging each family member to create and perform one of the key elements from the day’s Bible story.

Flannel-graph Fun

Remember that ancient flannel-graph Mrs. Simms used when teaching the lessons in Sunday School? Ask to borrow one from your church’s storage closet, purchase an inexpensive version online, or even make your own. Allow your child to place pieces on the board and move them around as you discuss the bedtime Bible story.

Let The Performance Begin

For children, life is seen as a forum for make believe. Imagination, dress-up, and role-playing are all ways our kids try on ideas and information. Encourage them to act out parts from a Scripture narrative as Mom or Dad read aloud. This will enable your children’s minds and emotions to better process the lesson and its simpler concepts.

An Artistic Impression

Another item you’re likely to find in your church’s storage closet is a Bible-story coloring book. Xerox a copy (if the publishing company allows for reprints), or, if it’s easier, look online. There are sites loaded with free coloring pages which coincide with various Bible stories. Print off a stack to keep on hand for your child to draw or paint on while you read.

Strike Up The Band

When was the last time you read a Psalm out loud to the tempo of live music? Give your family a fresh representation of King David’s lyrics by reciting the words while your kids keep time with their drums and tambourine. Noisy? Yes. But fun and unforgettable as well.

Nourishing our children’s hearts in the reality and strength of God’s Word is one of our greatest privileges as parents, and one of our greatest challenges. An added blessing I have discovered is that in the midst of my simple pursuits to make the Scripture come alive for my kids, I experience the benefits of its truths reviving in me. May it be so for you also.

Need help finding Biblical coloring pages? Check out:

Coloring Pages - www.coloringpages.net/bible.html
Teacher Help - www.teacherhelp.org/color.htm
Biblical Printables - www.bible-printables.com