Welcome to sarah's Little Hearts
Activity: “Jesus Power Obstacle Adventure!”
Theme: Jesus gives us strength and energy to do what needs to be done, and He delights in our joy! Ages:3-5
Setup: Create a simple obstacle course in a grassy area or playground. Include stations like:
Jumping over “joy puddles” (hula hoops or chalk circles)
Crawling through the “Tunnel of Trust” (cardboard boxes or play tunnels)
Balancing on the “Bridge of Bravery” (a low beam or line of tape)
Running to the “Finish of Faith” (a flag or cross marker)
You can decorate each station with cheerful signs and symbols, smiley faces, hearts, suns, or scripture snippets like “Jesus gives me strength!” (Philippians 4:13).
Faith Connection:
Before starting, gather the children and say:
“Today we’re going to use our strong bodies to move and play! Did you know Jesus loves when we are having fun? He gives us energy to do hard things and helps us when we feel tired or unsure. Let’s thank Him for our bodies and the fun we get to have!”
After the course, sit together and reflect:
“Which part was the hardest?”
“Did you feel strong?”
“Who helps us when things feel tricky?”
“How do you think Jesus feels when we laugh and play?”
Optional Add-On:
Play a joyful worship song like “My God is So Big” or “Jesus Loves Me” while they run the course. You could even do a second round where they shout “Jesus gives me strength!” at each station.
Friendship Role-Play: Talking to God Like a Friend
Purpose: To help children understand that God is always near and loves to hear from them, just like a best friend or a loving parent.
Set up: Gather the children in a circle or have them sit comfortably. Explain that they’re going to pretend to talk to a friend, and then learn how they can speak to God in the same way.
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Warm-Up Question: “What do you talk about with your best friend?”
Let children share things like toys, feelings, fun plans, or worries.
2. Role-Play Partnering: Pair children up or have them talk with you. One child plays “the friend,” and the other shares something simple:
• “I had fun at recess today.”
• “I felt sad when my toy broke.”
• “I hope we have pancakes tomorrow!”
3. Switch to Prayer Mode:
Now say: “Let’s pretend we’re talking to God instead. He’s our friend too!”
Invite them to say the same thing, but as a prayer:
• “God, thank You for recess today.”
• “God, I felt sad when my toy broke. Please help me feel better.”
• “God, I hope we have pancakes tomorrow!”
4. Encourage Expression: Let them know they can whisper, speak out loud, or even draw their prayer if they prefer.
5. Wrap-Up Thought:
Say: “God loves hearing from you. You can talk to Him anytime, when you’re happy, when you’re sad, or just when you want to share something."
