5 ADAPTABLE IDEAS for Summer Bible Time with Little Ones

Are you looking for summer activities to do with the little ones? If so, you’re in for a treat. My sweet friend, Laura Sassi is guest blogging today about 5 adaptable ideas for Bible time.

Laura understands kids and creativity! You may remember reading my reviews of her books: DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE; LOVE IS KIND; and MY TENDER HEART BIBLE to just name a few.

Plus, Laura has blogged here before with “5 Simple Steps for Using Faith-Based Picture Books to Point Little Ones to God.” I’m thankful for Laura, her writing talent, and her willingness to share five more fun and helpful tips with us.

5 ADAPTABLE IDEAS for Summer Bible Time with Little Ones

by Laura Sassi

When my kids were little, summer was a great time to slow down and enjoy reading Bible stories together in a more relaxed setting, often outside. Here are a few of the Bible story books we enjoyed together, along with the one that I grew up to write.  You and your children probably have some favorites as well. 

Now, in celebration of summer time Bible reading with little ones, here are five activities that can be adapted to whatever Bible stories—from the Bible or a Bible story book—you and your children read this summer. I hope they inspire fun conversation as you plant seeds of faith in those tender little hearts. 

ONE: Rebuild the Bible story… creatively.

My kids loved building their own story worlds when they were little. They would do this using the most imaginative of supplies including sand, blocks, legos, sugar cubes, recyclables, and more! Maybe your kids enjoy this too.  If so, a fun way to recapture the Bible story you have read and pondered together is to rebuild it using any of the above or something else that your kids come up with. After your building time, be sure to have them tell you all about their creation and how it reflects the message of the story.  

TWO: Do some Bible story-inspired baking or cooking!

Once your children start investigating, they will realize that food is actually a part of many Bible stories.  Think of all those loaves and fishes Jesus miraculously fed the crowds or the feast Queen Esther prepared for King Xerxes, or the meal Rebecca had Jacob prepare for Isaac.  Any of those stories (and more) could be made extra memorable by following them up with a little cooking (or baking) and eating. As you prepare and then eat the bible-inspired fare, reflect together on the message and truths in the story you have read.

THREE: Retell the Bible story with improvised puppets.

My kids loved doing this when were little. Instead of retelling a bible story using purchased puppets, improvise with items around the house. For example, use spoons of all sizes, or shoes, or stuffed animals. The wackier the substitutions, the more memorable the retelling will be.  Afterwards, be sure to reflect together on the message and truths you discovered in God’s Word.

FOUR: Chalk all about the story during summer Bible time.

After reading and pondering the Bible story together, grab a bucket of chalk and head outside to the nearest available sidewalk or drive.  Do any or all of the following:

• Draw your favorite moment in the story.
• Decoratively write your favorite word or verse from the story.
• Create a chalk hopscotch or foursquare court.  Then, as you hop or bounce the ball to each other, retell the story in short sentences to create the full sequence.

As always, wrap it up in a time of reflection and prayer.

FIVE: Do some messy outdoor Bible story-inspired crafts.

Summer Bible time is a great chance to get outdoors and do some of those messier crafts that aren’t ideal for inside. Some messy, but fun, suggestions include making something related to your Bible story out of papier maché or anything that involves paints. You could make papier maché animals to go with Noah’s ark, for example, or spread out butcher block paper to trace your children and then have them paint their traced figure to be a character in the story they just read.  Again, be sure always to loop back to the big message and truths discovered in that day’s story.

Laura Sassi has been a teacher, homeschool mom, children’s ministry director and more, but her passion is for telling stories in rhyme and prose. She is the author of nine books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, which was a 2015 Christian Book Award Finalist; Goodnight, Manger; Love Is Kind, which was a 2020 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor Book;  Little Ewe, Bunny Finds Easter and Happy Birthday Christmas Child. My Tender Heart Bible, her rhyming Bible story collection, released this past winter and My Tender Heart Prayer Book is due August 2023. 

Connect with Laura on the web: 

https://www.facebook.com/LauraSassiTales

http://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/

twitter.com/laurasassitales

https://www.instagram.com/laurasassitales/