Whether it is rain, extreme heat or extreme cold, sometimes the weather doesn’t allow for much outside play. On other days, kids are sick enough to have to stay inside, but not sick enough to be in bed all day. Here are some screen-free activities that can connect you and the kids in your care to the life of the Church. Most of these activities require basic crafting materials, like scissors and construction paper.
I’m also the least crafty woman I know, so if I can achieve these to some degree of success with my children, your efforts will probably turn out looking magnificent!
PAPER PRAYER CHAIN
Our prayers are important because they keep us connected to God and one another. On each link write a friend or family member’s name, and then you can undo a link every night (or morning!) and pray especially for that person. To make the chain, just cut similarly sized pieces of paper in long thin rectangles, and then curve them in a circle. Once two are curved around each other, fasten each closed with tape, staples, or glue.
PERFORM A SAINT SKIT
Read about a saint, and then act out an interesting part of their story. If you are familiar with some saint stories already, you can try saint charades. Try to get people to guess what saint you are by acting out a recognizable part of their story. To learn more about the saints, check out a saint podcast or these saint stories. There are also many websites that have free coloring pages of saints if you have access to a printer and a child who likes to color.
BAKING DAY
Bread is a staple throughout history, and especially throughout biblical history. Abraham and Sarah entertaining the three strangers? Bread. Elijah and the widow of Zarephath? Bread. Multiplication of the loaves? Bread. Last Supper? Bread. Road to Emmaus? Bread. Hopefully, you have enough ingredients at home to make a simple loaf of bread without running to the store. If you don’t have yeast, you could make some unleavened bread.
The first loaf of bread I learned to make was this one, and it is one my seven-year-old is learning to memorize and make. Pick a story from the Old or New Testament that features bread to read while your bread rises and/or bakes.
CREATE CARDS
Figure out if someone you know will celebrate their baptismal anniversary or their saint’s name day soon. You can use these free Catholic drawing videos to decorate the cards you make. Your message doesn’t have to be profound; just something like “Thinking of you on the anniversary of your Baptism!” would suffice.
LEARN A NEW SONG
For little kids, this song with accompanying movements is catchy and fun. A beautiful hymn like Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence would be inspiring for everyone to learn. Or try a Marian song, like Nazareth Morning. Or sing some Christmas carol favorites that you already know.
MAKE A SPIRITUAL BOUQUET
Spiritual Bouquets are a beautiful way to show love to others. Try your hand at tissue paper flowers or construction paper flowers. Once you have a few flowers, or even just one nice one, add a note that explains how you will be praying for the person you give the flowers to.
And today we celebrate...