No Hand

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

It was time for my kids to head towards bed. Pajamas were on, night-time snack had been eaten, and the Bible story had been read.

While my husband went ahead with our daughter, I directed our 1.5 year old son towards the stairs.

As we reached the foot of the staircase, he suddenly turned to me.

“No ‘and. No ‘and. No ‘and.”

He shook his hand at me to emphasize his point.

“Okay,” I took a step back. “You don’t have to hold my hand. That’s fine.”

He reached for the handrail, grasping the part that secures the railing to the wall. The railing itself was too high for him to use comfortably.

Using this support, he stepped onto the bottom step.

That was as far as he could go while holding that support.

He moved his hand, bracing it against the wall, and began taking the next step.

He paused. His other hand reached towards me. “Mama ‘and.”

“Okay.”

Grinning, I took his hand in mine and helped him climb the rest of the staircase. So much for “no hand.”

This wasn’t the first time he had done this. In fact, in the days leading up to my writing this account, he adamantly declared “no hand” in his one-year-old accent nearly every time we approached a flight of stairs together. Then, after taking the first step, he would reach out his little hand for me to hold as I helped him navigate the stairs.

You see, he has reached the age of wanting to be independent while not being very capable yet. He is delighted anytime I can teach him to do something on his own, such as doing the coat flip trick to put on his coat.

His “no hand, no hand,” got me thinking.

Have I ever said “No hand,” to God?

Undoubtedly I have many times.

Coming from my 1.5 year old, it is a sweet, though sometimes difficult, gesture of growing up. He should be gaining independence. It is good and right for him to want to gain more independence.

For me, in my walk with God, seeking independence by rejecting God’s help is a stubborn prideful thing. It is not good.

God wants me to depend on Him. The more I grow and mature in my relationship with Him, the more I will depend on Him.

Yet He gives me the choice.

We are told:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
in all your ways know Him,
and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB

I am to lean into God and let Him help me. I am not to live this life in my own understanding, or my own strength.

Today, may I reach out my hand towards my Heavenly Father and say, “Abba’s hand” as I lean into the help He offers.

Dinosaurs – 3.6 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 6

Dinosaurs

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more...

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Movement Moment

Move Like a Dinosaur

Supplies:

Prep:

  • Clear an area for running. A hallway, or other long area, would suit this activity well.
  • Tip: The recommended book (see below) is a great precursor to this activity.

Time to Play:

  • Stand with all your children at one end of the playing area.
  • Explain that you are going to move like dinosaurs all the way to the other side of the playing area.
    • Triceratops – Swing your horns
    • Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex) – Roar
    • Stegosaurus – Swing your tail
    • Brontosaurus – Take long steps
    • Pterodactyl – Fly
    • Velociraptor – Run fast
    • Ankylosaurus – Stomp
  • Be excited and have fun with your children.

Art Activity

Sand Painting on a FossilFree Triceratops Colouring Page

Supplies:

Prep:

  • If using Cheerios or other cereal, crush it into a sand-like consistently.
  • If possible, print the free dinosaur fossil colouring sheet I have provided. Otherwise plain paper can be used.

Time to Create:

  • Explain to your children that dinosaur bones are found in the ground. Tell them you will be putting sand on your dinosaur fossils.
  • Give each child a dinosaur fossil colouring sheet.
  • Pour a small glob of glue in the center of the dinosaur. Give your child a popsicle stick and encourage them to spread the glue around the picture.
  • Once your child is satisfied with how well they have spread the glue, take the popsicle stick away.
  • Give them a small container or bowl with sand in it. Show them how to take a pinch of sand in their fingers and sprinkle it on the areas of the picture with glue.
  • After your child is done sprinkling the sand on, tip the picture to pour off any loose sand. (For easier clean up, tip the picture over a spare paper to contain the loose sand.)
  • Set the picture aside to dry.
  • Tip for cleanup: Water dissolves school glue. If glue dries on the table, leave a wet cloth on top of the glue for a few minutes then wipe the softened glue off.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn the ABCs

Letters of the Unit

TUV

Letter Activity

Let’s Sing

5 Little Dinosaurs – Fingerplay

Let’s Read

Blippi: If I Were a Dinosaur

Author: Meredith Rusu
Illustrator: Adam Devaney

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Our God is an Awesome God

Let’s Read

BIBLE

Read the next story in the picture Bible you are working your way through. Need recommendations for a good Children’s picture Bible? Click Here

Brown Sugar Keeper

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“It’s your turn to open presents.” My sister-in-law’s words drew my attention back from helping my kids explore the gift they’d just unwrapped.

“Okay,” I picked up a medium-sized box wrapped in festive paper.

I checked the label. It was from my in-laws. I glanced up to double-check they knew I was opening it.

I ripped off the paper to reveal a brown shipping box.

I opened the box.

Inside, I found a wide glass jar with a flip lid, a fresh bag of brown sugar, and a set of sugar keepers or brown sugar savers.

I smiled. These would be useful.

At one point, I had kept my brown sugar in a tall plastic container, but the container was now scratched and cracked. Recently, my brown sugar lived in the original bag with a twist tie or clip to seal it shut. This meant I was often battling hard, dry brown sugar.

A few days later, after the hubbub of Christmas had calmed, I prepared to put my new gift to use. With the jar freshly washed, I looked at the sugar keepers.

They were simple terracotta discs with the imprint of a maple leaf.

The instructions were straightforward. Soak in water for 20 minutes. Dry off the outside and place in sugar.

I filled a measuring cup with water and put the sugar keepers in.

My kids glanced up from their playdough at the sound of the sizzle and whistle of the keepers soaking up the water.

Once the kids returned to their playdough, I had a moment to read the back of the sugar keepers’ package.

The package listed several other things the sugar keeper could do:

  • Keep cakes and cookies moist
  • Keep raisins, coconut, and other dried fruits fresh

I glanced at my kids. Could it keep playdough soft? I might have to try.

I looked back at the package. It had a second side to the wording.

Apparently, the sugar keeper could be dried in the oven and would then be useful for keeping things dry. It could:

  • Keep spices and salt dry
  • Keep chips crispy
  • Keep electronic equipment dry

These uses surprised me. I had no idea how many things a little terracotta disc could be useful for.

It was then that an allegory took shape in my mind.

I, as a Christian, am meant to bring life to those around me, just as the sugar keeper is to bring moisture (and thus give life to) brown sugar.

Is it my own life that I bring to those around me? No, it is the life Jesus gives. The life which, by the Holy Spirit, lives in me.

Similarly, the sugar keeper does not give its own moisture to the sugar. The keeper must first be soaked, thus being filled up with water so it has something to give.

Giving moisture is not the only thing a sugar keeper can do. It can also suck moisture out of everything around it.

Likewise, giving life is not the only thing I can do. I can also drain the joy and hope out of everyone I cross paths with.

This happens when I am living in the flesh, not walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26 clarifies the difference. (For sake of time I will abbreviate the passage, but the full section is worth reading.)

The works of the flesh include: Jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, and envy. (Gal. 5:19-21)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a CSB)

I don’t want to be a life drainer. I want to be life giving to those around me.

I want to share a taste of the life Jesus gives with those I cross paths with. I want to give joy, hope, encouragement, and love to them.

I want them to see Jesus in me.

How can I do this?

The more I draw near to Jesus – seeking Him through the Bible, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship – the more I will be filled with His life.

The more I am filled with Jesus’ life, the more it will seep out of me to bring life to those around me.

God will be at work through me.

Today, may I seek Jesus more so that I may be a life giver, not a life drainer.

Outer Space – 3.5 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 5

Outer Space

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more...

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Movement Moment

Fly to the Moon

Supplies:

  • Optional: Hula hoops (1 per person)
  • Optional: Space helmets (1 per person)

Prep:

  • Clear a large area for active play.

Time to Play:

  • Gather your children and explain that you are going to play a pretend game. You are going to fly to the moon! (Be excited.)
  • If using hula hoops, explain that the hula hoops are your spaceships. Place one hula hoop per person on the ground with room around them. As you do so, assign each child to stand beside a hoop.
  • Say, “We’re going to fly to the moon, but first, we need to get ready.”
  • “Put your space suit on.” Pretend to step into a full-body suit and do up the zipper.
  • “Put your space boots on.” Pretend to put on heavy boots.
  • “Put your space helmet on.”
  • “Put your space gloves on.”
  • “Open the door to your spaceship and climb in.” If using hula hoops, step into the centre of the hoop.
  • “Buckle up your seat belt.”
  • “Now get ready to blast off.” Crouch low.
  • “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … Blast off!”
  • Jump up and run around the room several times.
  • Point to a far corner of the room. “There’s the moon! Let’s go land on it.”
  • Run together to that corner and “land” your spaceships.
  • Unbuckle your seat belt, open the door, and climb out of your spaceship. Pretend to moon walk with slow-motion movements and exaggerated jumps.
  • Climb back into your spaceships, close the door, and buckle up. Blast off to fly back to Earth. Run around the room several times before landing on Earth.

Art Activity

Cardboard Tube Rockets

Supplies:

  • 1 cardboard tube per child (use an empty toilet paper roll or cut a paper towel roll shorter)
  • Coloured construction paper
  • 1 paper cone per child (either use a cone-shaped paper cup or roll one using coloured paper)
  • Markers (or crayons)
  • Glue stick (or tape)
  • Hot glue gun and glue (alternatively use tape, but this is more difficult)
  • Scissors
  • Optional: red, orange, and/or yellow tissue paper or streamers

Prep:

  • Ahead of time, use the hot glue gun to secure the cone on top of the cardboard tube. This forms the body of the rocket.
  • Cut out 2-4 triangle fins (per child) from the coloured paper.
  • Optional: Cut 1-inch wide strips of tissue paper that are about 6 inches long. Prepare around 3 strips per child.

Time to Create:

  • Invite your child to the table. Encourage them to take a moment to colour the tube and cone with markers. (Drawing gently on a curved surface is great fine motor practice.)
  • Allow your child to choose which colours of triangle fins to add to their rocket.
  • Fold the edge of each fin, then, using a glue stick, attach each fin around the base of the rocket.
  • Optional: If you have tissue paper, allow your child to choose 3 strips. Attach these strips inside the bottom of the rocket leaving them trailing out behind like fire.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn the ABCs

Letters of the Unit

  • QRS

Letter Activity:

  • Supplies: 1-2 strings per child

Time to Learn:

Let’s Sing

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Let’s Read

I Want to Go to the Moon
(Book + CD)

 

Author: Tom Saunders
Illustrator: Cynthia Nugent

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

For actions and additional verses, click here.

Let’s Read

BIBLE

Read the next story in the picture Bible you are working your way through. Need recommendations for a good Children’s picture Bible? Click Here

Wrong Thinking

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Parmesan cheese, please.” My 3 year old daughter pointed across the table.

I sprinkled some of the cheese on her pasta. “There you go.”

She took a bite, then picked up her water to take a drink.

As she tilted the cup to take a drink, she tipped it too far, pouring cold water onto her pant leg.

“Oh…” She put the cup back down. “Now I’m wet. I can’t be wet.”

She proceeded to roll her affected pant leg up past the wet spot.

“There,” she declared, “now it will dry faster.”

I frowned. “It will dry slower, not faster, when it is rolled up. Your pants need to be spread out to dry faster.”

“No. It will dry faster.”

I sighed. I knew pressing the point would get me nowhere. I had tried before, several times…

“Well, you get to choose if you want your pant leg rolled up or not.”

It was time to change the topic.

“Look. I see a squirrel in the tree outside. I wonder what he’s trying to do.”

It wasn’t until I had a few minutes to slow down several days later that it occurred to me that there is an allegory here for me to learn from.

As I was reflecting on my daughter’s attitude of not wanting to listen to me in this manner, the thought crossed my mind: “Is there any area of my thinking where I have been refusing to listen to God?”

With my daughter, sometimes this same attitude has shown up in statements such as, “if I don’t get a turn now, then I never will get a turn.”

My reply has been, “That’s not true. You need to wait for one more minute and then it will be your turn. You need to tell yourself the truth.”

To her reply of “Why?”

I say, “Because it hurts you when you don’t tell yourself the truth. It makes you feel grumpy.”

The question begs to be asked: Is there any area of my life that I am not telling myself the truth?

Probably.

My wrong thinking may be fueled by pride, ignorance, fear, or nearly anything else. It may seem harmless right now, but when I continue to think that way, eventually it will hurt me and likely cause harm to those around me.

Is God trying to explain to me the truth so that I don’t cause myself all sorts of trouble by believing the lie I am telling myself?

Yes.

Much of the transforming work God does in my life takes place in the mind.

As Romans 12:2 tells us: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (CSB)

How does God transform my thinking?

There are many ways. Time spent reading the Bible is hugely significant. Spending time in prayer, listening to sound Bible teaching, and fellowshipping with other Christians all play large roles as well.

God wants to help me know the truth. As I seek Him, He will transform my thinking (though I may not clearly see it myself).

Today, may I have the courage to honestly ask God to show me where I have been thinking wrong, and then to help me change it.

Looking for a Bible-based devotional? Check out my post:

Grow Your Faith: 5 Inspiring and Free Christian Devotionals