Most children tend to be visual learners so making a teaching point with something to SHOW them or using something they can interact with is a really good idea. You can buy 'Object Lesson' books from your local Christian bookstore. I don't know the origin of today's object lesson but it's my favourite and I have used it with many different groups of children.
Teaching point: we need to be careful what we say to people because once words are out of our mouth, we can't take them back again. Words can build up or tear down - which words should we make effort to use?
Helpful Scripture Verses:
- Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."
- Matthew 12: 36, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."
You will need:
- a tube of toothpaste (or 2)
- paper plate.
Teaching point: we need to be careful what we say to people because once words are out of our mouth, we can't take them back again. Words can build up or tear down - which words should we make effort to use?
Helpful Scripture Verses:
- Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."
- Matthew 12: 36, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."
You will need:
- a tube of toothpaste (or 2)
- paper plate.
What to do:
- Taking it in turns, ask each child to squeeze a little toothpaste onto the paper plate.
- Before you get to the last child, stop. Hand the last child the tube/s of toothpaste and the paper plate covered in blobs of toothpaste.
- Now tell the child holding the toothpaste covered plate, that their job is to put all the toothpaste back into the tube/s making no mess and leaving no toothpaste behind.
- Obviously this is nearly, if not impossible, to do and the child will tell you so.
- This is when you can share with the children your teaching point (as above). Also remind children that even when we apologise and try to repair damage done, hurts don't always heal easily; just as there is still toothpaste left on the plate.
I have found this lesson really effective, I hope you do too.
Proverbs 16:24
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Blessings and Love,
How great an idea! I will have to look into more object lessons!