My daily heart tug and cry from the Jesus Storybook Bible
My 3 year old asks me to read baby Jesus at the end of each story. He gets that each story hints at His coming. Plus, it tugs at my heart strings reading it. This bible is so beautifully written.
Resurrection Eggs:
My boys REALLY enjoy that there is a book, DVD and actual eggs to follow along with. It's a great experience for them.
The eggs and a few books we've found to go with them
Materials and a DVD
Watching Miss PattyCake's Eggstravaganza
I have to limit this video to once a day. Munchkin asks for it over and over.
He wants to take the eggs everywhere we go. That's us trying to leave the house
Acting out waving the palm branches singing "Hosanna!"
Other Easter books:
In a basket by our breakfast table. We read during meals that daddy is working
VeggieTales, BOZ and other favorite authors
Berenstain Bears, Beginner's Bible among others
Easter ABCs, Legend of the Easter Eggs and more
DVDs
Resurrection Story versions
Easter Ideas:
Also the ever useful Pinterest for books, games, crafts, activities, gifts and more.
Hands on Easter Bible, Easter is for Jesus and Easter Extras
Books for the week : Top- Bible, book of the week, Letter book Bottom- Character, Fruit of the Spirit and Numbers book
I wanted to share an example of them picking out books to read one afternoon while playing.
Zacchaeus:
Songs from our Stephen Elkins book and CD collections plus a VT version in there
Zacchaeus song on Youtube
Character Training:
Self-Control
Bible reading with our Child Training Bible. We listened to the verses on the tablet with the You Version app. My husband and I also praying and working together as parenting team to direct our children more purposefully towards the heart of Christ during times of correction. Through prayer, understanding, Godly consequences and listening. It takes more time, energy, focus and keeping ourselves grounded in the word. Just as we are telling our children that God will equip them and they can trust Him, we are living that out as well. We don't simply want behavior modification, we are working on hearts here.
Other fun S activities:
Ship for the pirates
Veggie Tales Silly Songs
Now that Valentine's Day is behind us, we have begun preparing hearts for Resurrection Easter :-)
My throat closes up every time, my voice changes and tears sting my eyes with every reading. The Jesus Storybook Bible truly is a beautiful version for a children's bible. Munchkin excitedly asks about baby Jesus at the end of each story and I'm so thankful there is an eagerness for Christ.
Here is what preparing for Easter looks like in our house for our 28 month old and a 9 month old boys.
I went way over my book buying budget this month. I got very excited about introducing this topic to Munchkin primarily this year. At 28 months, he can at least start putting together that baby Jesus is now adult Jesus. We talk about how much He loves us and how special and important He is. My favorite books so far are "The Story of Easter", "An Easter Gift for Me" and "What is Easter?"
Walmart finds:
Target finds:
I bought two sets of pastel wooden blocks. One spelled out Spring and the other Easter. . By turning certain blocks around and in order, you can spell out most of the word Resurrection. I'll fill in the gaps with a paint pen when I get a chance to pick one up.
Our calendar cards and visual reflecting the journey to the cross:
Activities and crafts:
Coloring page of the Resurrection tomb:
Crafts:
Resurrection Eggs. Munchkin has greatly enjoyed watching the video, while opening the eggs following along with the words to the songs in the book:
Visuals:
We chose to do an Easter basket for this year. The basket contains faith based reminders of God's sacrifice to us including a set of figurines to act out the story, a chocolate fish to discuss being fishers of men and telling others about Jesus as well as eggs that hold Jesus stickers, stamps, etc.. We'll do an Easter basket as longs as it can used as a teachable moment. For us, It's about the excitement of Jesus, not a tradition.
Egg dying supplies. I think this will provide a wonderful opportunity to talk about what's inside and what wasn't inside the tomb.
Videos from Nana and Papa:
It's a capsule that grows when placed in warm water. We talked about how God came out of the tomb alive.
Printables came from Mama's Monkeys. They were the perfect way to frame conversations and learning about Jesus:
His favorite Easter printable: the Jelly Bean Prayer
Eggs from Oriental Trading company filled with scripture candy and faith toys:
