This week in eKidz Online, we’re learning about forgiveness. For our Quest lesson, we’ll check in with our friend Ollie at the Wonder! Clubhouse to learn about how God made us wonderfully, and our Safari toddlers will get to make a fun craft to help them learn that they can pray to God!

Use the resources below to help your child grow in their faith this week. For more information about eKidz Online and our weekly broadcast times, visit our eKidz Online YouTube page.

Why is friendship important?  ●  Colossians 3:13-14

As a family, discuss a few questions together after your child watches this week’s episode.

Question #1: What’s the silliest thing that you and a friend fought over?

Question #2: Read Colossians 3:13-14. Why are Christians expected to forgive others?

Question #3: Have you ever had to ask a friend to forgive you for something? Talk about what happened. What would it be like if no one forgave you when you messed up?

Choose to show forgiveness to someone who hurt you or ask forgiveness for something you’ve done.

Remember that Jesus has already forgiven all of your sins. And not only that, He has forgiven your friend’s sins. And my sins. All of our sins! He knows everything we’ve ever done wrong and He still loves us.

And because we have that kind of love living in our hearts, we can forgive the people who hurt us. So this week, focus on that. If you have a chance to tell that person you forgive them, do it!

Or if there’s something you need to seek forgiveness for, start by praying to God and telling Him what you did. He will forgive you for it! Then, reach out to the person you hurt and apologize. They may accept your apology, or they may not. But the important thing is to reach out and let them know that you love them and that you are sorry for what you did. God will take care of the rest.

 

I am wonderfully made in God’s image. ● Wonderfully Made in God’s Image I Genesis 1:26; Psalm 46:1; Proverbs 2:6

This month, we’ll teach our preschoolers that they are wonderfully made in God’s image! Do you ever think about yourself like that — that you are wonderfully made in God’s image? We tend to forget about all the wonder that went into making us as we become grown-ups. It’s part of the reason why people have to ask us to “say cheese” when they take our picture. If we really believed that we are wonderfully made in God’s image, we would be smiling from ear-to-ear all day long! That is what we want for preschoolers — to smile with confidence, because they know God made them.

As a family, watch this week’s video and then discuss a few questions together. 

Question #1: Did God only make some people, or did He make everyone? (He made everyone)

Question #2: Did God make you? (yes)

Question #3: Did God make us weirdly or wonderfully? (wonderfully)

 

Family Activity: I’m Special Because I’m Me

WHAT YOU NEED: activity page, crayons, and markers

WHAT YOU DO:

• Before the Activity: Print the activity page and write your child’s name at the top. (If you don’t have a printer, you can use the Sketch.Book – Draw,Drawing Pad app to upload the activity page image and let your child color it on a device.)
• During the Activity: Encourage your child to color the gingerbread outline on the activity page to look like themselves. Encourage them to draw in hair, faces, and clothes.
• After the Activity: Talk about how God made your child.

WHAT YOU SAY:

• Before the Activity: “Today, we heard that God made you and me! God made all the people in the world, and He made us each wonderfully different. We might have the same eye color or hair color as someone else, but none of us are exactly the same.”
• During the Activity: “I want you to take this blank gingerbread person and make it you. I want you to draw your hair, your eyes, nose and mouth. You can even draw your favorite clothes.”
• After the Activity: “Great job! Remember, God made everyone in the whole wide world. But, no two people are the same! God made us to learn, create, and help! God is amazing, and He made us to be like Him! Who made you?” (God made me.)

 

This month, we’re learning, “I can pray to God.” We will learn the story, “Daniel Prays to God,” in Daniel 6. When the king made a new rule, Daniel knew it was wrong and continued obeying God by praying to Him. Because Daniel didn’t follow the king’s rule, he was thrown into a den with lions, but God protected him. Just like Daniel, we can pray and talk to God, too!

TODDLER ACTIVITIES

Choose an activity to complete with your toddler to learn that we can love like Jesus!

Bible Story Activity

WHAT YOU NEED: Bible (Use a children’s Bible if you have one or download the Bible App for Kids and watch “A Roaring Rescue.”)

WHAT YOU SAY: “I love reading the Bible and spending time with Jesus. Let’s read our Bible story together right now!”

WHAT YOU DO: Read “Daniel Prays to God” — Daniel 6 from the Bible.

Craft Activity: Mealtime Mat 

WHAT YOU NEED: crayons, Mealtime Mat (If you don’t have a printer, you can use the Sketch.Book – Draw,Drawing Pad app to upload the Mealtime Mat image and let your toddler color it on a device.)

WHAT YOU DO:

• Before the Activity: Print the Mealtime Mat and use it to help your toddler remember that we can pray to God.
• After the Activity: After your toddler colors, point to the placemat and review the Bible story with your toddler:
  • Who is in the picture? (Daniel, the king’s helpers)
  • Did Daniel still pray to God even though he could get into trouble? (yes)
  • Can you pray to God, just like Daniel did? (yes)