Fred Rogers, commonly known as Mister Rogers, an American children’s TV host, author, producer, and Presbyterian minister, famously said: ‘Play is really the work of childhood.’
The recent moves by the education department to validate games and play in the early years is something that is certainly not a new discovery. Parents are experts at things the government tends to make out as innovations.
Backdrop to Bible truths
But children do have a lot to learn, so it is good to teach them one area while they are learning another. Developing skills of creativity and movement can be a great backdrop for teaching Bible truths.
Take a look at some of these excellent activity books from a variety of Christian publishers:
The Tracing Glory books are a good example of merging the Christmas story with puzzles and craft. I’ve just discovered the Ornament activity book which is an ideal advent craft project but also a good book to use at other times of the year. I think it would be good to use it when you want to teach about the thread that links Creation to the Manger and the Cross. (ISBNs: 978 1 913 896 560; 978 1 914 966 590)
Games are another way to teach and some of the best resources I’ve come across for teaching scripture have come from the TnT team. The four books in The Game is Up set use games and activity to prove that you can take the Bible seriously but have fun while you are at it. Several Old Testament books are covered as well as the Gospels and Acts. (ISBNs: 978 1 857 925 500; 978 1 857 927 603; 978 1 857 928 204; 978 1 857 928 211)
If you’ve enjoyed Carl Laferton’s book The God Contest – The Story of Elijah, Jesus and the Greatest Victory there is also a puzzle activity book to accompany it. (ISBNs: 978 1 784 984 786; 978 1 784 987 015)
Build your own tabernacle
One activity book with a difference is God’s Special Tent: The Story of the Tabernacle and What Came After. With a pull-out section there are instructions about how to make your own model of the tabernacle. (ISBN 978 1 845 508 111)
You’ll find plenty to keep little fingers busy on holidays and rainy days. Catherine MacKenzie is the Children’s Editor for Christian Focus Publications
