Need a photo frame craft for kids?

This is an sample craft from my Free Downloadable Teaching Guide/Activity Kit available to accompany my book Mouse's Christmas Gift.

 Click here to download the Teaching guide/Activity Pack

Isn't Mouse cute?

Step 1: Collect the needed items.

Idea: Let the kids decorate their own frame. You can purchase any Christmas foamies or use markers.

Step 2: Take the photos. Option: Have the kids pose with a battery operated candle, or the book.

Step 3: Print pictures, attach pictures to the frames, and give to the families the following meeting.

Need a fun idea for a family ministry outreach?

Need a fun idea for a family ministry outreach?


Idea: Host a "family" gingerbread house building party!

In early December I attended a fantastic event at Harbour Shores Church in Indiana. I was so impressed with how it was organized, and saw great potential for other churches to duplicate the morning with the families in their churches.

Step One-- Invite families

Families registered online and decided if they ordered one, two, or more gingerbread house kits. They prepaid for the event.

Step Two-- Buy supplies, light refreshments, and prepare the work space

Event organizers made sure to have work space set up in the church gym, and enough gingerbread kits for everyone.  In addition to the gingerbread house kits, extra frosting and toppings were provided and laid out at each work station.

Light breakfast food was served as the participants arrived. The menu included fruit, muffins, doughnuts, juice, and coffee.

There was also a station to do a sticker/coloring craft if the participants wanted to do so.

Families mingled, found their work stations, and ate their refreshments.

Step Three-- Read a Christmas story and present the gospel

I attended the event and read Mouse's Christmas Gift. This was a great way to introduce spiritual truth into the event. After the story, I took approximately 10 minutes to present the gospel, using an object lesson.

Step Four -- DECORATE the gingerbread houses

After the devotional time, families worked together to decorate their gingerbread houses. So much fun and so many smiles!

The entire event lasted just under 2 hours.

Gingerbread Houses + Mouse's Christmas Gift = Special Morning

I had a great morning today with Harbour Shores Church! A big shout out to Lora Schultze and her crew for all their efforts. It was an honor to share Mouse's Christmas Gift with everyone!

#wewillmakeadifference

#wewillbealight

#wewillcelebratejesus

Mouse in a Matchbox - Craft Idea for Kids

This week I am heading to Springfield, Missouri to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother and extended family. On Saturday, I am doing another Story Time Event with Barnes & Noble. 

This is the craft that I am bringing to share with the children. 

I can't believe I haven't shared this craft on the blog yet. 

Isn't it cute?

And so easy to make!

The craft is one of four ideas in the FREE DOWNLOADABLE teaching guide that Zonderkidz helped me format. 

I purchased the matchboxes (and emptied the matches) at Meijer. ($1 for 10 boxes).

 I cut pieces of felt for the blanket, 

and I cut make-up remover cotton pads into two pieces for the mattress.

 The paper doll is from the download. It comes in three sizes, but I chose the smallest size, made a screenshot, and created a document so that I can print a bunch all at once on white cardstock. 

Finally, assemble it!

I tell each child that Mouse loves to hear their stories. 

I hope many children end up telling Mouse their stories in the days and months to come.

FREE TEACHER/ACTIVITY GUIDE for MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT

This is content that I am reposting because you will not want to miss out!

Have you heard about the FREE, DOWNLOADABLE Teacher / Activity Guide that Zonderkidz helped me create for Mouse's Christmas Gift? 

It is perfect for parents, teachers, Children's Ministry leaders, Awana leaders, or anyone who is interested in teaching spiritual truth to children. 

It includes teaching lessons, application worksheets, and crafts. 

Here is the link to the download.

FREE TEACHER/ACTIVITY GUIDE

Merry Christmas!

Blog Tour #2 Denette Fretz--Little Acts of Service Can Grow

The creativity of others is truly inspiring and this week's blog tour host, Denette Fretz, has come up with some amazing content.

Please visit her blog to learn about a wonderful object lesson "Little Acts of Service Can Grow."

She has all kinds of goodies--

• an object lesson using either acorns or sponge animals that grow when you add water 

• downloadable service coupons for kids to make and give to someone they would like to serve

• and a craft idea making acorn bells. 

Check it out using the link listed here:



Denette Fretz blog post

Teaching Children Spiritual Truth Utilizing Mouse's Christmas Gift FREE DOWNLOAD

Zonderkidz helped me produce this wonderful teaching guide.

It is available FREE here and also in the column to the right on my blog. They will be offering it on their website soon. 

Here is the link to the guide:

Teaching Children Spiritual Truth Utilizing Mouse's Christmas Gift

The packet is intended for ministry to children ages Pre-K to 3rd grade. It is adaptable for Sunday School lessons, Children's Church lessons, Christian School lessons, Home School lessons, family devotions, or one-on-one time with a child. 

It includes both a lesson to tell the Christmas story from the Bible and a lesson to utilize the book Mouse's Christmas Gift. The lessons can be combined into on longer session or may be used in separate sessions. 

The lesson utilizing Mouse's Christmas Gift has three distinct pathways of application. Select the one that best fits your needs.

For older children, there are application worksheets.

The packet also includes four craft ideas. 

If you utilize centers, each application could become its own center for three rotations of approximately 10-15 minutes each. Add one of the crafts, and you have material for four separate centers.