Melanie's 24 devotions based on the Christmas carol, "Hark the herald" has inspired me to use her devotions as a springboard to write my own personalized version for my kids (geared for 2-4 year olds).
Day 1. Luke 2: 8-10
Good news versus bad news
Find an example of good and bad news. I am going to talk about losing our dog Buku which was bad news to us and how when we found him, that was good news and relate that to Jesus who is good news for all people.
Activity: My kids are young so we are going to look at a hand mirror and make happy and sad faces and then draw on their easels happy and sad faces.
Day 2: Luke 2:11
We cut our first Christmas tree!
The Long Awaited Savior
Discuss "waiting." For my kids, I will talk about how long it felt for us to wait for my baby to be born and how often the kids told my baby via my belly to "come out!" Explain how many people from long time ago waited for Jesus to be born and how exciting it must have been that he finally arrived.
Activity: Make something that you need to wait for. I'm thinking of a cake, jello, or bread with yeast that you need to wait to rise several times, or maybe even that homemade butter.
Song: O Come, O Come, Immanuel
We made butter!
Day 3. Luke 2:12
A sign
Explain how a baby wrapped in cloths will be a sign to the disciples so that they would know who Jesus was. Discuss Jesus' humble birth. Compare his manger to a cradle, crib, etc.
Activity: Swaddle dolls with receiving blankets. Or for boys who might not like to swaddle dolls, wrapping with toilet paper some stuffed animal or action figure.
Song: Away in the Manger
We made jello.
Day4. Luke 2:13
Angelic Messengers
Ask kids to imagine a bunch of angels telling everyone the good news of Jesus' birth.
Activity: Paint hands and imprint two hands in a "v" to look like angels' wings and cover the whole big sheet of paper. I would use black paper because it was night and the white paint will come out better. Older kids can draw angel faces as well as bodies.
Song: Hark the Herald
First day of snow! And it was a lot. We went sledding on our backyard "hill" and also bought lights for the tree and house.
Day5. Luke 2:14
Peace
Discuss when their hearts can be not peaceful (anger, anxiety, etc.) Explain how the definition of peace is salvation and how when Jesus saves you from your sins, you can experience true peace.
Activity: Explain how the dove is a symbol for peace. Color, paint, or glue white tissue paper on this dove coloring page. I would print it on blue construction paper so there's contrast.
Song: "Peace like a River"and "My Peace I Give Unto You"
Day 6. Luke 2: 15, 16
Rushing to see the good news
Discuss how the shepherds rushed to see Jesus.
Activity: Grab a mop or whatever make-believe staff you can make, and have a race from one room to another "rushing" to see Jesus.
We didn't do an advent activity yesterday, so we made it up by doing two today: making a snowman and Mexican hot cocoa with almond milk.
Day7. Luke 2:17-20
Spreading the news
Talk about how the shepherds shared the news and praised God.
Activity: This might be a good time to make some homemade Christmas cards sharing the good news to other people.
Song: Go, Tell it on the Mountain!
5 comments:
Day 3. Missing "a" before sign in the first sentence?
Day4,5,7 vs. Day 1, 2, 3, & 6: spaces?
On a side (but related?) note, Michael Card's "Shepherd's Watch" is still a very moving musical take on Luke chapter 2 for me. It's got it all there.
I love this devotions list! I wished I had checked it first before making another one! I like your idea because it's geared more for the younger ones. I will have to try again next year...or find some way to incorporate them. I love the Tukbaegee idea too! Too cute.
Hi Becky,
I looked on Amazon for the CD but the reviews were only OK. Apparently, it's a recording other than Michael Rosen.
As for The Three Billy Goats Gruff, check out the link (in the post) provided. I love this classic tale and the illustrations were beautiful! I'm not sure about the CD but if it's a close retelling of the book, I'm sure it's great!
Dan,
I actually own that C.D. Thanks for reminding me of that song.
Can't believe you wrote the devotions! Great job!
Post a Comment