Faith filled Activities for families with young children
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Thanksgiving is right around the corner. There will be many opportunities to teach gratitude in this time, and perhaps establish rituals that will continue to lift up this important attribute of faith year around.
Caring Conversations Use your travel time, whether it is daily commuting or special holiday trips, to lift up those things in your community for which you are grateful.
This is also the time to begin thinking about advent! If you don't have an advent calendar or would like to create a new calendar with your family, check out this simple idea. Pictured here, this advent calender uses family activities around our community rather than candy or gifts to count down the days to Jesus' birth. Here are some ideas to include on your calendar. (NOTE: The list is printed to the right, along with numbers to cut out and glue onto your clothes pins!) 1. Create an advent wreath 2. Pick gifts from the angel tree at Bethlehem 3. Bake cookies and share with a neighbor 4. Make wrapping paper 5. Read a Christmas book 6. Put up the nativity set with the animals 7. Make Christmas cards 8. Unwrap a new book to read 9. Call Grandma and Grandpa to say "hi!" 10. Go sledding 11. Take a drive around town to look at Christmas lights! 12. Add Mary and Joseph to the nativity set 13. Have an indoor picnic under the Christmas tree 14. Make a gift for your teacher 15. Bring dog and/or cat food to the Tri-County humane society 16. Sign up to serve as greeters, ushers, or communion servers during one of the Christmas Eve services 17. Find a Santa with a red kettle and make a donation 18. Make salt dough ornaments 19. Decorate Christmas cookies to share at church during coffee hour 20. Add the shepherds to the nativity set. 21. Donate toys to "Toys 4 Tots" 22. Read the Christmas story by the light of the Christmas tree 23. Explore pictures of Christmas from around the world. 24. Add baby Jesus to the nativity set Serving Others Whether it is Christmas or Thanksgiving, our focus is on food! This becomes a good time to lift up the reality of those who are food insecure - families and individuals who may or may not be able to eat today! Here are some ideas for family friendly service:
Rituals and Traditions Working gratitude into our daily routine, no matter our age, has some proven health benefits! Here are a couple of ideas that might be a fit for your family!
Psalm 23 is a wonderful psalm to use as a reminder of all we have to be grateful for. As a shepherd cares for sheep, so does God care for us! Check out this activity from Vibrant Faith ministries! Prayers Vibrant Faith at Home has some wonderful ideas to help us follow through with our intentions to pray as a family. Check it out here! |
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