What’s a single parent to do when summer’s here and you have active kids on the weekend with budgeted funds? As a former single mom with two young children, I found myself getting creative in both keeping the kids busy and giving them something to do besides sit in front of the TV. And it was especially lovely if I could use their activities to teach them about the character of God. You can make “God lessons” amusing without them even noticing it! Here’s a list of activities that might bring a new spark into your summertime family fun.
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Make nature bracelets: wrap a piece a duct tape around your wrist with the sticky side up. Take a walk around the neighborhood and stick leaves, small pebbles, sticks, and other treasures onto your bracelet. Talk about God as their Creator - “Isn’t he awesome!”
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Make a bird feeder with a pinecone rolled in peanut butter and bird seed. Hang in a tree and watch for the birds. Read Matthew 6:23 about the birds and how God gives us comfort and tells us not to worry.
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Place colored tape on the carpet to make roads for your kids’ toy cars. Mention how God guides us when we call upon him.
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Go on an "Alphabet tour” with a journal in hand. Head into town and walk around. Beginning with the letter a, find something that starts with that letter (A = apples in the store). Then write it down and thank God for it. Continue with each letter and when you are done, each child has a creative alphabet memory book of God’s goodness.
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Throw wet sponges into targets drawn on the driveway by chalk. Share how God has good plans for us and we must aim high to be walking in his way.
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Lay your children’s clothes on the driveway and give them chalk to draw the head, arms and legs. Share how God made every part of us unique and special.
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Build a tower out of cut-up sponges. Discuss how God likes to build us up in him. That happens when we pray and obey our parents.
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Tape a paper towel roll to the wall to let your toddler drop little toys through the shoot. Share how God’s ways are narrow and we must choose to follow him.
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Get out the colander and pipe cleaners. Let the children connect the pipe cleaner to various wholes. Mention how God is a creative God, too.
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Have a campout indoors. Make up songs how God made the moon and the stars and loves for us to campout with him.
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Position some pencil erasers on the floor with a marble. It makes a surprisingly addictive at-home bowling game. Share how God loves for us to laugh and have fun.
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Zigzag taped yarn from wall to wall. It makes a great maze for the kids. Tell the children that God has a plan for our lives as we need to stay on his path.
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Host a neighborhood reading party and invite kids to bring their favorite book to read outside in the shade. Serve lemonade. Give them highlighters and tell them how God loves for us to read his Word and highlight our favorite verses.
- Have a cupcake decorating contest. Bake some cupcakes and then set out all different colors of frosting, sprinkles, and other toppings. Pick a couple of people to be the judges and have fun! Quote Psalm 34:8 - “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.”
It doesn’t take much to build lasting memories with the children. Though you might be tired as a single parent, the kids remember when you engaged them in entertaining activities. My children don’t remember the stress I was experiencing as a single mom, but today as adults they do remember the nature walks, the arts and crafts at the kitchen table, and the goofy stuff we did with sticker charts, pots and pans, string, and empty boxes. God says in James 1:5 – “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask and it will be given to him.” Ask the Father to show you how to maximize the short time that you have with your children, and he will surely do it.
I know being a single parent has its challenges, but seize the fleeting moments called “fun times.” What’s keeping you from investing not only in their present moments but future memories?
Pam Kanaly, popular author of The Single Mom and Her Rollercoaster Emotions and one of America’s leading advocates for single mothers, serves as cofounder of the single mothers’ conferences – Survive ‘N’ Thrive. Pam exudes with a God-given passion in seeing women know their value in Christ the King. She is the co-founder of the national organization Arise Ministries, having been featured on the 700 Club and other national programs. www.ariseministries.net
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