Summer ideas for kids build relationships with God and others. Amaze children and families with these eight dazzling summer ideas that will help them grow closer to God.
“Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer’s year,” Billy Graham said. “It brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.”
We couldn’t agree more! Summer is the perfect time to celebrate God’s love. So check out all these great summer ideas for kids.
8 Sensational Summer Ideas for Kids
Bring the students in your children’s ministry on eight summer adventures. Check out all these exciting summer ideas for kids:
1. Good Samaritan Shadow Play
Involve kids in retelling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Age Level: 10 to 12
You’ll need:
- 2 large white bedsheets sewed together
- a clothesline
- clothespins
- a lamp
The Activity
Before class, hang the bedsheets from the clothesline. Place the lamp on the floor 10 feet behind the curtain.
Say: God wants us to love our neighbors. A man in the Bible wanted to know who was a neighbor. This man didn’t really want to love everybody. He was hoping it would be okay to show love to only friends and family. Let’s see what Jesus said.
Form two groups. Have one group go behind the curtain and the other be the audience. Assign a role in Luke 10:30-37 to each child behind the curtain. Then turn off the lights except the lamp. Have kids pantomime their parts behind the sheet and in front of the lamp, while a willing reader reads the Scripture. Then have the groups switch roles.
Show Love to Others
Afterward, ask:
- How might the beat up person have felt?
- How do you think he felt when he saw the priest approaching him?
- What about when the priest left without helping him?
Say: The Israelites didn’t like the Samaritans. If Israelites needed to cross Samaria to travel somewhere, they’d travel hundreds of miles out of their way just to avoid entering Samaria.
Ask:
- How might the Israelite have felt when the Samaritan stopped to help him?
- Why do you think Jesus said the Samaritan was a true neighbor in the story?
Say: The Samaritan showed love to a person who normally would have nothing to do with him. God helped the Samaritan love the Israelite. God helps us love others, too.
Ask:
- When and why can it be hard to love others sometimes?
- How can you show love to others even when it’s tough?
Close in prayer, thanking God for loving us. Ask him to help us love others.
Larry Shallenberger
Erie, Pennsylvania
2. Wall Art
This creative idea will help kids reflect on biblical lessons you teach all year.
Age Level: 6 to 12
You’ll need:
- bulletin board paper
- tape
- tempera paints
- a vacant classroom wall
The Activity
Select a wall in your classroom that kids can paint after each lesson. You may choose to cover the wall with bulletin board paper or let kids paint the wall itself after each class
session. Place stored tempera paints nearby.
After each lesson, invite kids to spend five minutes finger painting things they remember about the lesson on one section of the wall. Write the Scripture or story title above the group of paintings. You can revisit the wall during any lesson or teaching time to remind kids of the lesson and event.
Once the wall is covered or the year is completed, simply repaint the wall or tear down the paper.
Jack Flannery
Hamilton, Ohio
