Importance of Bible Games

Bible Games For Kids - Playing With Purpose
Author: Brad Miller
Let's not play games here or maybe we should! Let me clear this up. The games I like to play are Bible games with a purpose. If someone looks into my classroom during a kids Bible lesson they might think we are just playing around. This is only partly true. We are playing... but this playing has a definite purpose. Kids Bible games are part of the learning process. This process uses Bible games and activities that hit the Bible lesson from different angles and perspectives. Games and activities hit various learning styles too. The cool thing is that kids learn while having fun!
Games Teach That Church Is Fun
Do we really need to teach that? I mean, the church is a place to be quiet. You need to at all times be reverent and look pious. Uh, no... you don't, and especially not in the kids ministry area. I like noisy churches with lots of laughter and learning going on. It needs to be alive and on fire with the living, breathing, powerful word of God. I've seen a lot of churches over the years and this is one thing I don't compromise on. Kids Bible lessons should be exciting, captivating, encouraging and here is that word again...fun! They need to be full of Bible games, joy and laughter! Kids learn through play with a purpose. Bible games teach that even though you are in church, you can have fun too.
Lesson Review
I use Bible games for kids to reinforce what was taught in the Bible story. Here are some ideas that have been kid tested and found fun and effective:
* Play a card matching game similar to concentration using images from your Bible lesson. Make two cards of each image and turn the cards so the image can't be seen. Kids try to make matches from the cards. For instance a Bible lesson on creation would have images of trees, animals, fruit, etc. Yeah this isn't new but kids really like it. A simple game like this works even for the youngest kids so it is perfect for multiage groups.
* Turn over the letter card. Kids take turns guessing and turning over the letters to reveal the name of a character in the Bible story, a main point or the Bible memory verse. The idea is to guess the proper letters to reveal the word. This is an example of another tried and true Bible game that works great.
* Use a deck of cards with questions to quiz the kids on the Bible lesson. Take it up a notch and display the questions using PowerPoint. Play as teams or as a large group. My experience is that kids pay attention for a longer period of time when they know the information will be used in a Bible game for review.
Kids Apply the Lesson
Application is one of the most important benefits of Bible games for kids. Take some creativity liberty, explore the kids Bible lesson and choose an important aspect of it to apply. Let's say your Bible story is about being filled with God's love, compassion or the fruit of the Spirit. Make a masking tape heart on the floor. Kids roll marbles or pitch paper wads into the heart to fill it up.
I did a lesson on water baptism. I put toy figures on a plastic plate and floated the plate in a pan of water. The kids pitched coins into the plate to immerse or baptize the figures. They still talk about this one and ask to play it again. I found out later that some kids had anxieties about being immersed in baptism. This simple, fun Bible game eased their anxiety about baptism. Bible games for kids are playing with purpose. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you create games that apply the kids Bible lesson.
Fun for the Fun of It
Kids are being forced to grow up fast, sometimes too fast. 4th and 5th graders are like 7th and 8th graders a few years ago. Often kids are pressured to act older and be cool. Kids need a time to relax, have fun and act like kids! Yeah, I believe in Bible games for kids and playing with purpose. But, I also believe that just allowing kids to be kids serves an important purpose too!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/childhood-education-articles/bible-games-for-kids-playing-with-purpose-2119952.html
About the Author
Hi -  My name is Brad Miller.  My passion is to create fun and effective resources for anyone who ministers to kids. I create, write and publish kids Bible lessons under the title of Kickrickulum Fun Bible Lessons for Kids. For more creative tips, teacher resources and  free sample Bible lessons, visit our site and sign up for our newsletter!

Coloring and listening to Your Story Hour stories

Christian Coloring Pages For Kids
Author: Jonathan Hostetler
Looking for a way to keep your child occupied while teaching them the Word of God at the same time? Christian coloring pages for kids are a great tool you can use to do just that. As your children color pictures of Bible stories or characters, it will help reinforce their knowledge of the Bible and of God.
Probably the easiest way to get ahold of pages for your kids to color is to print them out from websites online. There are plenty of sites that offer free downloadable coloring pages. Just search for "Christian coloring pages" or "Biblical coloring pages" in your favorite search engine, and you'll find a bunch of results.
There are so many different pictures available that you may have better success using specific terms like "Jesus healing the blind man coloring page" or "Tower of Babel coloring page," as examples. This is a great idea if you're looking for a coloring page to compliment your evening devotions or a Sunday School lesson at church. In those situations, you can let your children color in a picture that represents the Bible story you are teaching them. After they are done coloring, they can tape their picture in their bedroom, which will help them remember that particular Bible story.
Alternatively, you could use coloring pages as a reward that you give to your child when he or she does something good, like says thank you, gives a compliment, or helps out before being asked. Not only does it reward them by giving them an activity they will enjoy doing, but it also demonstrates to them that it's good to do things that please the Lord.
Websites aren't the only place you can get coloring pages. You can also find Biblical coloring pages and activity books at your local Christian bookstore or at some arts and crafts stores. Giving your child a coloring book of Bible stories is great, because it allows them to see the sequence of events.
Local Christian bookstores usually also have individual pages or reproducible coloring books from which you can make copies so that more than one child can color in the same story picture. This is particularly useful if you want to give your Sunday School students something to color while you are teaching the lesson.
Give it a try! Print out a few Christian coloring pages for your kids and see how they respond. It's a great way to keep them thinking about the things of the Lord.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/christian-coloring-pages-for-kids-5340539.html
About the Author
To discover fun and exciting ways you can experience the Bible, visit How-to-Experience-the-Bible.com, where you will also find out how Biblical coloring pages can help your children enjoy learning God's Word.

Your Story Hour Bedtime Story makes for easy bedtime routine

Can a bedtime routine anchor the entire day? 
Author: Lorin Young

The components of a bedtime routine will vary, of course, from family to family, but being consistent is important for everyone in the family. I strive to balance four important things:

cleaning up and getting ready for the next day getting ready for bed reviewing the day transition time with a parent

1. Cleaning up and getting ready for the next day:
Personally I prefer having the kids clean up before dinner because it\'s an easier cleaning up after dinner and toys, with a 'family fifteen' or other clean up game . Whenever you clean up, I do believe that tidying up one\'s personal and common space is an important habit to have (and I'm not just talking about the kids, people!)

Getting ready for the next day could mean setting out clothes for the next day, or at least just deciding what to wear. It also might involve knowing your child\'s school schedule. If it\'s a school night, you might want to make sure kids have what they need for the next day (is it library day? Does he need gym clothes? Does she have all her homework? Where is the backpack anyway?)

2. Actually getting ready for bed:
This is the part of the bedtime routine that is probably pretty similar from household to household. This would include at a minimum getting into jammies, brushing teeth, and putting dirty clothes in their hamper or dirty clothes basket/crate.

3. Reviewing the day together:
For me, this is the part of the bedtime routine that is tempting to blow off some days in the interest of time. It is also the most important: spending time with you. In our family, this is the part of the day where I like to go over the kids\' reward charts (true confessions: I usually don\'t get to this every night) and we talk about how the day went. This generally helps with sibling relations and reduces sibling fighting, because my kids talk to each other about problems or disagreements after the emotion is behind them. We occasionally do love games and write in our day book.

4. Time with YOU
If you\'re still awake at this point, it\'s a nice time to have some private time with each child, even if it\'s just a few minutes. This could be reading or just cuddling together and talking. Anything that gives them your undivided attention even for a short time. This is especially crucial with multiple kids.

Give these ideas a try for creating a successful bedtime routine. Like anything else, implementing a routine consistently is the key, but I bet you\'ll start to look forward to this special time with your kids.

Furthermore, the more efficient your routine is, the sooner you get time for YOURSELF to recharge!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/can-a-bedtime-routine-anchor-the-entire-day-3959210.html

About the Author

Lorin Spangler Young is a Colorado mom with three boys. She and her husband, Rich, share homeschooling and each works outside of the home part time. Convinced that a perfectly clean and tidy house at all times is a myth, they\'ve dedicated their energy to their website, http://www.choresandchecklists.com, which details many strategies to involve kids in household.

CDs better than digital media?

Your Story Hour has offered stories on cassette tape for many years and now these stories are available on CD. There is distinct advantages in getting these stories on CD as opposed to downloading the digital versions. A kid can hold something tangible in his hand and look at the pictures while listening to the story. Get Your Story Hour SA stories on CD - just email us at yourstoryhoursa@gmail.com.

Read more about these clear advantages here:

Why to Buy Kids Music on CD for Them

Author:

Site Booster

It is wonderful to hear kids music on CD. Children just love to flaunt their collection of kids personalized music. Although the Internet is a fast growing avenue to download children\'s songs, personalized kids CDs are always a better option for children. It not only gives them the pride of owning a huge collection of CDs but also presents a more authentic way to listen to music.

You even have the privilege of buying singles in CDs if you are not interested in the entire CD. The variety of songs available and the quality of the songs on CDs are of great repute. You have the advantage of listening to your child\'s name being called out among the songs on the CDs.

The Disadvantages of Using a Computer

Although you can use the Internet to download songs, you may not be able to get personalized kids CDs. And you still have to pay a lot despite not getting kids personalized CDs. You may get regular songs which will not have the songs calling out your child\'s name. It is possible to record all the regular songs on the computer but your children will always have to use the computer to listen to their songs.

However, kids music on CD can be heard whenever you want. The only requirement is a CD player. The rendering of the songs will also be without any disturbance. There is a possibility of the music stuttering and skipping in a computer. Besides all other applications on the computer may drag if you play the music.

How a Personalized CD Helps

It is also much easier to purchase kids music on CD. Besides, it gives a great feeling to browse through the collection of CDs in a music store. You can also order for your kids personalized CDs from an online store. In this way, you can get kids personalized music which will make your children much happier. These CDs help in the children\'s education too.

They help a child pronounce the words clearly while listening to the songs. Listening to their own names being repeated by their favorite characters also gives them a sense of accomplishment. It is not possible to get this facility by just downloading songs from the Internet. There are also many other things to consider while downloading songs from the Internet.

Advantages of Getting a CD

The very first thing is that you can never download kids personalized music from the Internet. You will only get regular songs which are available to any other person. Secondly, You need to consider the price. If you have to pay a hefty sum on the Internet, then it pays to get CDs from a renowned site. When there is hardly any difference in cost, then it is always advisable to get kids music on CD.

Always remember to check the compression formats and bit rates when downloading from the Internet. The sound quality of personalized kids CDs is much better. The music format of Internet based music may also be different from your CD player. This is also another advantage of buying CDs directly.

CDs Help In Overall Personality Development

Personalized kids CDs always enhance your child\'s mental and physical development. It helps him to focus better. You can even monitor your child\'s progress after listening to kids personalized music. You can see that he listens, follows directions and pays significantly more attention to important things than before. You will also take great pride in seeing your child improve in leaps, steps and bounds. Kids music on CD is surely a must for every growing child to add a definite development in his personality.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/why-to-buy-kids-music-on-cd-for-them-1179621.html
About the Author
Z Kids Music specializes in offering personalized kids CDs by incorporating the child\'s name in the song. You can order your kids personalized music at http://zkidsmusic.com.

Advantages of Kids Audiobooks

Advantages Of Kids Audio Books

Author:

Andreas Mehrens

Emergence of new technologies in modern era, make the things possible which were beyond the thinking of a human, few years ago. Audio book comes with the revolutionary things, which have changed the traditional way of reading of peoples who have been using it for many years. There are numerous kids audio books available for the kids online on the various websites as well as in the market in the form of CDs. There are many website on which you can download audio books for kids free while you have to pay for the audio books on many sites.

It is more beneficial for kids to make their study interesting through the audio books. Have a glance on the benefits of the children audio books which are as follows:

•    Improving Listening Skills

One of the main benefits of audio book is that it will improve listening skills of the kids as most of the branded head phones block out sound distractions. Thus, kids can concentrate in listening the audio books without any interruption.

•    Improving Imagination

As children listen the stories, visual images are created in their mind which will help them to improve the imagination skill. It will also give the same feelings as active reading to the kids.

•    More than one kid use it simultaneously

More than one kid can listen audio books simultaneously which is not possible in case of physical books. Thus, kids can enjoy themselves by listening audio books along with the whole family.

•    Improvement in comprehension & Vocabulary

The sound in audio books is of professional readers, authors or actors. Their voice especially pronunciation of words is good and give the meaning of words very clearly. Thus, kids learn many new words along with their appropriate pronunciation. This will help to kids in improving comprehension and vocabulary of the English words.

•    Motivation

Children will be motivated after reading the audio books; they can\'t be motivated by the physical book. Listening audio books have more impact than physical book as professional readers read the book in the audio book and they have capability to motivate kids by their impressive sound and appropriate pronunciation.

•    Helpful in creating reader

As we have mentioned in the above that audio books are read by the professional reader, author as well as actor. Their pronunciation, voice inflection and the way of reading is fully professional and kids learn it thoroughly. Thus, kids can be a professional reader by listening the audio books.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/advantages-of-kids-audio-books-4960437.html

About the Author

Listen to outstanding classic audiobooks on your mobile devices.We are the only provider of enhanced Public Domain audio books. For more information please visit: kids audio book

You Want to Write Kids Stories

Author: Scott Thomas


When writing kids stories you have to decide exactly which age group you would like to write to. When deciding on which group it helps you decide what kind of writing you will need to do.

You have decided on what age group now you need to decide what kind of book you would like to write for the children. A spooky story would be good; it would make the children squeal as they were reading. Maybe a chapter book is something that would appeal to you. Chapter books take longer to write, but it keeps the child reading for hours so they can see how it ends. There are even easy reading books that you could write. This basically means the print is bigger and the words are simple words since the children are just learning to read.

Getting kids stories published can be a little difficult. In order to get yourself out there so people will see how you write you could submit short stories to magazines. Children magazines are always looking for something new and fresh for their audiences to read. After you have done some stories for children in the magazines you are able to include this on your credits so it will grab the editor's attention.

In order to come up with good ideas and to make sure you are appealing to the children of today, go to the library and read different kids stories. Read things that were written when you were a kid then read stories that are written today. There is a difference in how the books were written because over the years things changed and children are smarter so it takes a little more to keep their attention. If you could combine the way of writing then and now you just might grab the attention you are looking for.

Even though you are writing kids stories you do need to use common sense with a dose of reality. Do not make things talk in the stories that do not talk in real life. Also be very creative and funny with the story you are writing. You are not only trying to appeal to the children, but you need to sell yourself to an editor in order to get the book published. The best way to accomplish both is originality, something new that is not already being sold.

So use your imagination along with reality and be the next best author for kid's stories. You will enjoy the rewards of the children grabbing your books to read for many years.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/childhood-education-articles/you-want-to-write-kids-stories-1368294.html
About the Author


For more information on children's stories and to help improve your skills even further please visit kids stories

The Power of Reading to Kids

The Power of Reading to Kids


Author: Mallie Stalford
Reading helps people learn a great deal about many things, and that includes small children. It starts with reading to very young children frequently. Read favorite books over and over, asking your youngster to point out main characters or tell you what happens next. As you proceed on to different stories, your child\'s love for books will continue to grow.
As your kids get older, encourage them to study on their own. There are many remarkable children\'s books around to choose from. Let small children to choose a book at the store occasionally, instead of a toy. Look for book sets or collections and give new editions as presents along with other surprises on special occasions.
When you feel your child can handle the responsibility, bring him or her to the library to sign up for a card and pick from the variety of children\'s books. Let your kid select the variety and number of books to check out. You don\'t want to overdo it, so make it possible for your son or daughter to choose the pace.
Express your own love for reading as well. Setting aside some quiet time occasionally to sit down with your own book will also encourage your kid to read more. Your child will very easily become a far more knowledgeable, well-rounded human being if you assist him or her construct a love for reading at an early age.
The best reading for your child will explore other cultures, our planet, ourselves. It\'s making time for make-believe and letting imaginations move wild and free. Most of all, it is really about using the power of stories to nourish the innovative spark in all of us and strengthen connections with loved ones, the global community, and the earth. The book you read to your child and the books your kid read ought to have within it charming art and meaningful stories respect the innate wisdom of children and have the power to nourish the inventive spark in every person. Also, reading for a kid should be stories that create deep and lasting connections-whether it\'s a kid and parent connecting over a book; a kid connecting to the universal wisdom of other cultures; or a broad network of men and women connecting through shared values and the desire to help kids become happy, engaged members of a global community.
As mums and dads let\'s make sure we introduce literature to our little ones which share our goals of worldwide understanding, empowering little ones through art and story, and saving and maintaining the earth for future generations.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/the-power-of-reading-to-kids-3393159.html
About the Author