Happy Earth Day! Here’s a Messy Worship read-aloud favorite…The Earth Book is colorful, encouraging, and full of kid-friendly ideas of how to take care of the earth.
Category: Toddler
Praise Song for the Pandemic
Some of you are parenting teens that are telling you all of what they’re thinking and feeling. And some of you get a grunt at best.
Some are giving you a play by play of their emotions but not all teenagers are open books, right? Its like a big guessing game to know what they’re thinking and feeling sometimes.
This video might be a great conversation starter with them. A four minute prayer/psalm.
from Abbey of the Arts and music by Giants & Pilgrims.
Watch it together and ask these 3 questions:
How did you feel as you watched the video?
Was there anything you hadn’t thought of before or took notice of while you watched?
At the end, it says “a place to begin”, what new beginnings do you hope come out of this?
This is hard stuff to navigate, conversation makes it easier.
Blessed are the parents, doing it all.
Toddler and Preschool Yoga for a Chilly Day
Looking for something to do on a chilly day? Here is a 10-minute toddler & preschool yoga ‘class’ that we enjoy at the WECC…grown-ups can play too (or use it to take a parent-break)!
‘Father Abraham’ with Andrew!
Looking for a great brain-break, sing-along dance party song? Get grooving to ‘Father Abraham’, led by Andrew and his awesome wife, Rachel!
This Little Light of Mine! Shine!
Need a little light in the day? A brain-break sing-along? Try this!
Toddler God-Talk…Baptism!
If there’s one thing we know about toddlers, it’s that they make the schedule…and it changes every few minutes!
Toddler ‘Worship’ is found in brief, everyday moments when you can connect the dots from what they are busy doing to how God is there too.
Baptism is a great ‘connect the dots’ topic for toddlers…bring on the water!
In the tub during bath time, in an overflowing sink, in a wide bucket on the floor…let your toddler get their hands on water. Have any plastic people or a doll? Throw them in! Show your toddler how to mark the cross on the forehead of their doll, themselves, and you! As you mark the cross say, ‘You are a child of God‘.
I Was Baptized, Happy Day! is a baptism song that we love to sing with toddlers and preschoolers at Westwood.
I was baptized, happy day! God is in my heart to stay. God is with me, night and day! I was baptized, happy day!
All done with water? When your child was baptized, they received a candle and a blessing. Light a candle together or give your child an LED candle to hold (teach them how to turn it on and off- toddler power!). Sing This Little Light of Mine!
“let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Lay Down Your Burdens
Joshua Larson, our Messy Worship Music Director, shares many of his own compositions with us to sing at Messy Worship. His wife Karen and son, 6th grader, Jack make up the Messy Worship Band. We are so lucky to have them leading us!
Grab some tissues, your kids, and a few minutes to sing together as your home worship today. God is good, everyday! Every day, God is GOOD!
Lay Down Your Burdens, By Joshua Larson
Lay down your burdens for Jesus our savior. Lay them down, lay them down. Hope springs eternal for Jesus our savior. Lay them down, lay them down, lay them down
People get ready for Jesus our savior, lay them down, lay them down. A new beginning with Jesus our savior. Lay them down, lay them down, lay them down.
Lay down your burdens for Jesus our savior. Lay them down, lay them down, lay them down
Let's Go(d) Fly a Kite!
Hold onto your [winter] hats folks, it’s a windy day!
Something about the wind swirling around my face helps me visualize God everywhere, being breathed in, creating motion and direction, and surrounding me. And if I’m the ‘kite’- I soar, I crash, I try again and again and again, and the wind [God] is always there for me.
Looking for a DIY kid project for today? Homemade kites!
Talking with our kids about Coronavirus
A Westwood parent and public school educator shared an awesome resource with us about how to talk with kids of all ages about Coronavirus. From toddler to teenager. Take a look!
https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/talking-to-children-about-coronavirus/
And then the rain (snow) came…
In preparation for when your prayers include colorful expletives and your patience hits the tipping point…let’s get our ‘inside day activities’ prep on!
Got any indoor activity ‘winners’ to share? Please include them in our comments!
ELEMENTARY:
Totally trying this at my house today! Click on the link to get fitness challenge ideas for every color card!
The ‘additional Uno Fitness Exercises’ appear in a google doc with printable Uno cards!
All you need is a piece of paper (or a few, if they get into it- employ the recycling bin!) It’s a magic trick and origami paper folding combined!
This was an activity we used in The Message to talk about Jesus’ Baptism- the kids were facinated!
PRESCHOOL:
An Alphabet Hunt – Create ‘flashcards’ and hide them around the house. (26 letters = tons of searching!) Add on ideas…create 2 sets of flashcards and spread one alphabet on the floor for your kid to match their ‘found letter’ on.
idea adapted from: http://www.paperheartfamily.com/inside-activities-for-high-energy-kids
The living room has never been so dangerous! Use pillows, place mats, paper…
If any of this sounds physically impossible- just channel your inner animal and get moving!
Get those preschool wiggles channeled into a game!!
TODDLER:
Keep ’em occupied AND wash your floor at the same time!
If you have tape to share, give your toddler a fine motor challenge!
