JULY 12, 2020 - CGKIDS

Parents - 

Below are some resources for our children in children’s ministry. Please note that our Preschool - 3rd grade children are hearing the same story so that portion of the resources for the Sunday will be the same. The response options are different and have been created to be age appropriate. However, if you choose to reenact the story, you can have all ages participate. If you have multiple children in your family the Godly Play option for the K/1 grade room is a good option to adapt to all family members. 

I want to highlight some resources for you to talk to your children about race, racism and diversity. 

• This book comes in a kid version and then also has a parent companion book if you are interested.  

• This book explores how God made us all different.

• Parent Cue article - Raising Kids who will initiate racial equality

• There are more resources for parents on our Gospel and Race Recommendation page.

For Our Toddler children:

1. Pray with your toddler. It can be something simple like - God we thank you for today. Thank you for Jesus and we thank you that He loves each of us. Thank you for Noah and for him building an ark!

2. Sing The Arky, Arky Song (Rise and Shine)

3. Watch the video above with today’s story.

4. Animals joined Noah on the ark. Color them!

For Our Preschool Room children:

1. Have your child say a prayer before they begin. If they struggle, it can be something simple like: Thank you God for today. Thank you for all the stories in Your book.

2. Remind the children that the story they are about to watch is from the Bible.

3. Watch the video above of our Godly Play story. 

4. Wonder - Have your child wonder what was his/her favorite part of the story. 

5. Respond -  Jacob had a dream about a ladder stretching all the way to heaven. I wonder what it looked like? Cut strips for the children to make a ladder to glue onto a piece of white copy paper. If you have pretzel sticks or veggie straws, they could use them to make one!

6. Sing with Mr. Larry and Ms. Gayle’s video. 

For Our Kindergarten and 1st Grade children:

1. Have your child say a prayer before they begin. If they struggle, it can be something simple like: Thank you God for today. We thank you for the promises that you made to the People of God and to us. 

2. Remind the children that the story they are about to watch is from the Bible.

3. Watch the video above. 

4. Respond -  Jacob had a dream about a ladder stretching all the way to heaven. I wonder what it looked like? Have the children cut strips to make a ladder to glue onto a piece of white copy paper. If you have pretzel sticks or veggie straws, they could use them to make one!

5. Sing with Mr. Larry and Ms. Gayle’s video or sing This is Amazing Grace.

For Our 2nd and 3rd grade children:

1. Have your child say a prayer before they begin. If they struggle, it can be something simple like: Thank you God for today. Thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus. Please help us make others aware of Jesus’ love for them and how He gave to save us from our sins. 

2. Remind the children that the story they are about to watch is from the Bible.

3. Watch the video above.

4. This story was on the longer side but it tells us a lot and there is a lot to wonder about. I wonder if you have ever been tricked? What happened? I wonder if you have ever tricked someone? I wonder why you did it? 

5. Respond -  Jacob had a dream about a ladder stretching all the way to heaven. I wonder what it looked like? Have the children cut strips to make a ladder to glue onto a piece of white copy paper. If you have pretzel sticks or veggie straws, they could use them to make one!

6. Read today’s story in the Bible - Genesis 25:19-34; Genesis 27; Genesis 28

7. Sing This is Amazing Grace.

For Our 4th and 5th Graders:

1. Have your child say a prayer before they start.

2. Read Matthew 5:16. Actions can speak louder than words and this is true with sharing Jesus with others. We have to make sure that the way we live shines Jesus’ light to others.

3. Take a post-it note or a index card. Cut out a square and then cut a cross out making it like a stencil. 

4. Read Jeremiah 1:7-8. No matter how young you are, God has a plan for you! What are some of your talents and resources? How can you use these to help others learn about Jesus?

5. Sing This is Amazing Grace.

*4th and 5th grade lesson has been adopted from Orange’s Focus Summer Curriculum. 

Resources:

• Check out YouVersion on how to adjust kids to a new “normal.”

• My friend and Midtown CGer has updated her website with parenting resources for mental, emotional and spiritual health of your children during these crazy times.

• The CDC has a whole page dedicated to children and COVID-19. There are more multiple links to additional resources on things you may be wondering about, including keeping them physically healthy and dealing with stress.