COVID-19 has caused all kinds of rituals to evolve. Amanda Rabineau, a mother of four from Vestal, New York, says her local church moved its Sunday school and worship service to the online platform Zoom. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, parents are forced to work from home, and schools closed to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. If children in your neighbourhood are taking part in the Big New Zealand Easter Egg … You are trying to minimize social interaction to keep your child safe; therefore, playing within the compound or indoors is recommended. The lessons for the older two groups are taken from the Scripture Union, Drop Us a Line, Let Us Know What You Think, © 2023 by Train of Thoughts. A weekly update on music, movies, cultural trends, and education solutions. Afterward, the whole family sat on their couch to watch the pastor preach and to sing songs together. For children who wouldn't have had a chance to learn the story, an animated version of the Bible story is shared on the screen by the leader to ensure all children understand the story. Their work is appreciated and encouraged by leaders and parents. Members of the McClenahan family (L-R) Helen, daughter Isla, son Cade, and husband Tyler watch Pope Francis' special prayer from the Vatican at home, as efforts continue to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Seattle, Washington, on March 27, 2020. 50 Activities for the Elderly in Lockdown and Isolation. You can pass the football at each other if you are only two, or play keepie uppies. logged you out. Elementary Sunday School Lesson: Halloween. You can also make them dance or karaoke if you have the right equipment. Other options to tabletop football include mini ping pong ball set and table tennis. These drills work to reduce the disorganization, confusion, fear, panic, and potential injuries that may occur during a live event. It has been months since lockdown was effected in many countries worldwide, but we have not gotten used to being restrained. The Christian Science Monitor has expired. The program finishes with another action song that is played for them to imitate and sing along. continue to use the site without a Try the above games to keep them active, safe, and sharpen their reasoning or other skills/talents. Check this too: Top 10 party games for 11-year-olds. We contact customer service Stay informed about the latest scientific discoveries & breakthroughs. Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. The leader gives a chance to every kid to share their activities such as exhibiting their colouring pages, puzzles, reciting the verse, showing crafts they've made, etc. Thus, it enhances the mental speed and thought process of both young ones and grownups. Latest book reviews, author interviews, and reading trends. Even in the midst of the pandemic the world is currently facing, we praise God for He has made it possible for His people to continue His work using the medium of technology. Lockdown does not mean that you cannot step out of your house. If old enough to understand the rules of card games, you should include this in their free time activities. What Can I Do Instead of a Birthday Party? Children's Ministry Resources. You can get them to skip the rope, hula hoop, star jumps, hops, sit-ups, and many other physical activities. If your home has an extra room or extra space, let your kids play by building a den using the materials at their disposal. Some states have added an additional required practice drill —the lockdown drill. So far the lessons covered for the Beginner- Primary group are : Jesus appears to His disciples; Emmaus Road; The Good Shepherd; story of the fiery furnace; Jesus comforts the disciples; King Nebuchadnezzar's dream; Jesus promises a helper; Peter heals the lame man and the writing on the wall (Daniel 5). Crossword puzzles are great because they help improve written and oral communication skills. Help families to pray together – 5 finger prayer and coloring page. Christine's artwork (picture 1) and Derin's artwork (pictures 2 and 3). This game involves creating a comfortable space using blankets and chairs, sheets, towels, tables, cardboard boxes, or sticks. Sunday School during Lockdown Rebecca Bhavanasi shares about our church ministry to children aged 4-7 at Hendon Baptist Church. The leaders of the younger group use a website called Together @ Home which uploads a new lesson each week and the leaders share it with the parents on a WhatsApp group so as to enable them to go through the lesson with their children during the week. Families of faith are adapting the practice of their religion for life under lockdown. However, if you have a big family, form two teams. “The negative flip side of that can be, I also see in my research that parents do try to force religion and spirituality on their kids. The children then showcase and share what they have learnt during the week. No paywall. As parents decide how much to engage with the virtual tools offered to them by their faith communities, they’re also weighing how to practice their religion in their home and how to discuss some of the deeper questions provoked by the pandemic. The leaders conduct sessions of 30 minutes each with every group. Puzzles and jigsaw also boost problem-solving skills, visual-spatial reasoning, increases IQ, and attention to details, among many other benefits. 10 Games to Keep Your Kids Active during the Lockdown, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), How to Throw a Ninja Turtle Party on a Budget, Tanasha Donna low-key 25th birthday party in Diani, Best Birthday Games to Play during Quarantine. If old enough, allow your daughter to experiment with makeup. However, the global pandemic seems to have sparked some interest in matters of faith. Apart from entertaining, card games sharpen the mind. Parents may also be turning to some of those resources,” says Lisa Pearce, a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who researches family and religion. Common card games include deck cards, Top Trumps, and snap pairs. Lockdown Resources. Playing outside as you enjoy the fresh air is good, especially if you are near a spacious field or have own compound where you can play sports with your kids. It also consists of a colouring page with the memory verse on it and a puzzle sheet. You need your child to be mentally and physically active, but you cannot afford to put them at risk by letting them interact freely with others. The five most recent Christian Science articles with a spiritual perspective. The lessons for the older two groups are taken from the Scripture Union resources for Sunday Schools. While there’s little data on kids and religion during the pandemic, a number of religious institutions are experimenting with new formats and are releasing content geared specifically for kids, such as the free online Sunday school curriculum prepared by LifeWay Christian Resources, a publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. A weekly digest of Monitor views and insightful commentary on major events. This indoor detective hunt will take 100% of your kid’s concentration because they will be determined to find this item that they value. Your session to The Christian “Judaism as a religion has been around for a long time, obviously, and has been through a lot. To excel in a card game, you need to strategize, and this will make your kid a strategic thinker. You can play hide and seek indoors, ensuring that the space is safe. He and his wife are talking with them about what death means in the Islamic tradition and reasons why the pandemic might be occurring. She’s also shared tips for talking with children about grief or death. Parents can lead a family devotion time. Children are divided into three age groups - Beginner-Primary (4-7), Juniors (7-11) and Seniors (11-16). Finding solutions to puzzles has been proven to strengthen relationships between human brain cells. Once all the children have greeted each other, the session commences with an opening prayer by either a child or an adult. If you live in a crowded community or an apartment with no compound to play outdoor sports, try tabletop football. With such an open space, you can play other games such as netball and badminton if it is not too windy. Kids Sunday School Lesson: Thankful For Our Bodies. Nadia Chaouch reads to her son Yusuf Kamel as they wait to break the Ramadan daily fast with an iftar meal in their home in Seattle, April 28, 2020. The children very much enjoy these sessions. One month free trial to the Monitor Daily, Pastor-sharing: For clergy, a holy hustle and labor of love, This Ramadan, Muslims find new reasons for charity, How online learning may be more than a stopgap in the US, watching religious services online or on TV instead of in person. Yet many Americans are adapting to new rhythms with open minds. That’s not really successful when it ends up being contentious and really tense and children might be resistant.”, Parents across faith backgrounds generally feel confident answering their children’s questions about religion, says Michael Rotolo, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Notre Dame and co-author of the book “Religious Parenting: Transmitting Faith and Values in Contemporary America.”, “In the event that they didn’t have the answer to their children’s question, [some parents said] they would be open to figuring it out together with their child,” Mr. Rotolo says. A selection of the most viewed stories this week on the Monitor's website. A lot of these rituals and structures, the language itself, the prayers, they’ve been fairly stable and that helps anchor [our son],” says Rob Seesengood of Reading, Pennsylvania. Watching cartoons or playing games on electronic devices is not advisable. Handling religious education can be a tall task for parents pressed to oversee their children’s K-12 remote learning while making a living. Parents play a big role in their children’s spiritual development by role-modeling, says Professor Pearce. You can renew your subscription or Some printable devotion examples from our website. About 45% of the U.S. adult population attend religious services at least monthly, according to a 2019 Pew report. Elizabeth Vice, the children’s spiritual formation director at Two Rivers Church, a Charleston, South Carolina, congregation of the United Methodist Church, hosts Facebook Live videos for parents demonstrating activities they can do with their kids, like telling the resurrection story while building with stones or Legos. © 2023 by Train of Thoughts. More so, kids are having a tough time considering they cannot freely interact with their friends as they used to. Before bidding a goodbye to all, the session ends with a closing prayer either by a child or an adult. Yet some families are experimenting with creative forms of spiritual instruction, whether online or through an increased parent role, because they see faith as an aid for helping their children process the pandemic with some hope and stability. How parents are responding to the pandemic may open up opportunities to connect with their kids about their faith, or cause friction if parents are too forceful, she says. We offer fresh and creative printable Sunday school lessons, Bible crafts, Christian activities, object lessons, stories, skits, games, songs, and much more. “I do think, similar to schools, religious institutions are taking this opportunity to advertise what may have been existing online resources, or working to build up more of those. How parents are responding to the pandemic may open up opportunities to connect with their kids about their faith, or cause friction if parents are too forceful, she adds.