How often do you see visitors with their kids trying to talk them into going to their bible class, but they are shy and uncomfortable so they quietly protest? This week I was sitting in my adult class just before time to start when I overheard a visitor sitting behind talking to his dad about his first grade daughter. He said, “I thought I was going to have to bring her to class with me until she saw they were playing with Play-doh in her class!” He continued to say, “Usually I tell her she can go to her class or mine and that my class will be boring to her, we don’t get to play. Her response is typically, ‘We don’t get to play in my class either.'” So both this dad and daughter were thrilled when she was playing with Play-doh. He got to enjoy his adult class knowing his daughter was enjoying her children’s bible class.
Was she just playing? Not at all! She was using a Play-doh mat I created of Psalm 23 with these party sized Play-doh cups. She got to give the lamb a tail, make a river and more. She was learning scripture and having fun doing it! Who says Bible class needs to be boring? Not me! Let’s make Bible class a place our kids and their friends actually desire to be. We are not “entertaining” kids, we simply recognize how children learn best and “teach” this way. Your teaching does not have to include Play-doh, but it should capture children’s attention and make them desire to participate.
I’m attaching a copy of the Psalm 23 Play-doh mat I used this week. Feel free to download, copy and use as much as you would like. Send it home with kids to play at home. Want it to last? Laminate it! It’s super easy with a Home Laminator like this one from Amazon and it’s inexpensive. I am working on a full set of 24 at the moment since my kiddo’s enjoyed it so much. You can find all of these as they are uploaded to RaiseKidsForChrist.com on the Story Mats page. I will post when they are ready in the event any of you are interested in using them for your classes or to simply send home with families as a way of intentionally bringing God’s word into the home each week. (This may be a great idea for children’s gifts this Christmas with a small party sized Play-doh.)
Psalm-23-Play-doh-mat.pdf (6054 downloads )If you are not part of the RaiseKidsForChrist.com community, subscribe here for free downloads and one weekly email with updates of freebies, children’s ministry resources and so much more!
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