Play! Listen! Talk!

We talk a lot about how children are unique, made in God’s image in their own special way. And, to be honest, usually those words just pass right by me. But today in our class, who would have thought making a Bible-times scroll would reveal so much uniqueness!

In the scroll activity, kids were crumpling up paper bags to give them an old-time look before gluing a message of Jesus’ love on the bag and rolling it up to make the scroll. (The story was Philip explaining God’s Word to the Ethiopian traveler.) It was quickly apparent that kids LOVE crumpling up things and each one had a unique approach—some used just one hand, some used both hands, some used their whole arms, and even dainty Kenna stomped with her foot! Fortunately, the message of Jesus’ love endured despite all the crumpling.

It’s what I love about teaching about Jesus through play. Each child gets to participate in a way that fits him or her. And those personalized play experiences are the open door that allow me to enter with words about Jesus.