Outdoor sunday school games for kids

Sunday school attendance drops off at our suburban church, so we offer a simplified program for June and July with time for free play outside. Last year our side yard was under construction, leaving us with a small brick courtyard. But that small space offered big opportunities. Classic activities like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, clay, gardening and painting were surprisingly engaging for the younger elementary class.

Reflecting back, I believe that the outdoor time offered children something that they are often lacking: unstructured play. Yet, I believe that Christian educators know the importance of connecting God with nature. From the Creation Story, to the Parable of the Sower, we know that engaging the Bible requires tangible experiences. We also know that time outdoors can provide a calming place to nurture reflection and prayer.

So the question is: How can we provide authentic opportunities to practice faith outdoors? Below are a few very simple, inexpensive ideas for taking children outside for faith formation this spring and summer. The activities are not new. But last summer taught us important lessons: children crave time outdoors, and this time is a valuable opportunity to connect with God.

If your kids are under school age, research shows that they need at least minutes per day moving around in physical activity. At least 60 minutes of that should be pure, energetic play. Elementary schoolers and older kids are advised to have at least 30 to 60 minutes of active play per day or physical activity that burns calories. Outdoor play has numerous benefits to children, including improved brain function, focus, and concentration. Outdoor play can even be linked to lowering the chances of nearsightedness.

Outdoor play helps combat childhood obesity, a growing concern in America. Children who have special needs also benefit tremendously from outdoor games for kids. Outdoor play helps build core muscles, refining small motor skills, practicing coordination, and maintaining appropriate space from others. If you want to get kids of any age outdoors, the best way is to inspire them!

Toddlers are a finicky bunch! Try introducing these outdoor games for kids to your toddler for fun, interactive play! You can pick up this set on Amazon that includes everything you need, or you can re-purpose household items like bottles, wooden stakes, and horseshoes, paper bags, or baskets if you have them. For a solo toddler or gang of them, you can set up cones in a line or pattern in the yard and let little ones take turns trying to toss the rings on the cones.

You can set out bags, baskets, or other DIY ideas for a bean bag toss. Source: Skitterphoto CC0. On Amazon, you can score this set of perfect flat stacking rocks or head out into nature and collect your own! Once you have a collection of flat rocks, show your toddler how to stack them. You can show him how to stack them into a tower or show him how to overlap them into a wall-like structure.

A single toddler will be entertained for some time with this, but several friends can play if you have enough rocks. Source: absteress. For added learning, draw numbers or colors in the squares to your toddler, and his friends can practice recognition. Source: Hans CC0. Show your Kindergartner and friends how to throw a frisbee and let them at it correctly!

Source: jCax2 CC0. Use any chairs or stools from home or for larger groups of kids; you can use seat markers like this set. Set up chairs, stools, or seat markers and get your boom box or smartphone ready to play some tunes for the kids.

Periodically stop the music and let everyone find a seat; the last person standing is out! You can use an adult for the leader, or the kids in the group can take turns.

One person should be picked to be the leader or Simon. Your older little kids can have just as much fun outdoors as their younger siblings.

Engaging your six to year-old children is done quickly with some of these fun outdoor games and activities. The first partner is blindfolded while the second partner holds his or her hand and leads the child around an open outdoor space. The partner with full vision must help the other child avoid obstacles including uneven terrain, playground equipment and other children.

After the partners complete the course, the instructor may prompt the blindfolded child to think about the following questions:. How did it feel to place complete trust in another person? How does that relate to the blind faith Christians place in God?

The verse hunt game creatively challenges children to memorize specific Bible verses. To start, the instructor writes each word of a verse on separate pieces of paper and hides the papers within a designated outside area. The children spread out and work together to find the words, bring them back to the starting point and arrange them to recreate the verse using memory and teamwork.

After the verse is arranged correctly, the instructor may prompt the children to recite it. As the children become more skilled, the instructor may repeat the game with longer and more complex verses. For large groups of children with high energy levels, this game combines traditional tag with the lesson of repentance. The instructor chooses one child to represent the devil and one child to represent Jesus. The child representing the devil chases the group and tries to tag as many members as possible.

Children tagged by the devil may throw their hands in the air or kneel on the ground to symbolize repenting their sins, after which the child representing Jesus may tag them to bring them back to the game.