Summer Christian Activities for Kids
Keeping the Faith When Religious Education, CCD All Done
May 20, 2009
Religious education efforts shouldn’t end when summer begins. There are a multitude of summertime Christian activities and projects for kids to teach children that faith should not be limited to holidays and weekly church masses. Ranging from simple crafts and picture books for small children, to a community shantytown project promoting homelessness awareness, good Christian values can be strengthened and encouraged over the summer.
Shantytown Project
Ever had the wish to teach the kids about the hardships of homelessness? The summer season may just be the perfect time to do so. Creating a shantytown is one way to do this. It will raise awareness of homelessness and poverty; at the same time this Christian project may teach children to appreciate what they have by demonstrating what it would be like to go without the basic necessities.
The project will involve at least one overnight experience in a makeshift shelter made with cardboard, newspaper, and whatever may be on hand. Children and adult leaders will be put in charge of setting up the shelters and also will prepare meals in a camp style, from canned items such as baked beans and soup. Additionally, the shantytown project can be turned into a community fundraising event for local homeless shelters and food pantries.
Helping Hands Projects for Elderly, Needy, and Infirmed
There are many volunteer programs in which students and supervising adults can work to help a family or person in need. These can be as simple as delivering groceries or making a homemade card for someone who cannot leave the home, or as complex as working on a home improvement project for a family that is financially strapped. Any of these will teach youngsters the values of generosity and giving.
The best way to get started with any of these volunteer opportunities is to contact a local church, shelter, or Christian organization to find out what is available for summer volunteer projects.
Lemonade Stand for Charity
Looking for a simpler Christian project for young children? Running a charity lemonade stand is a perfect summertime activity for kids. Help them make the lemonade batches, provide them with coolers and ice, work together to build the stand, and set it up in the front yard. Alternatively, contact a local church to see if a charity lemonade stand set up at its location can be approved.
Choose a local charity to which to donate the proceeds. Visit the shelter or charity with the kids and let them learn about the mission of the organization before running the lemonade stand. Older children can decide which charity they would like to help. Perhaps they would like to donate to a local animal shelter or a children’s hospital. The more personally involved the kids are in their project the better.
Christian Crafts and Coloring Pages
Christian coloring pages and printables, activities, and crafts are the perfect way to introduce preschool children to faith and religion. There are a multitude of online sites where ideas can be found. Try DLTK Children’s Bible Crafts or Danielle’s Place of Crafts and Activities for some great summertime Christian activities for little ones, many of which are free.
Keeping the faith is something that cannot be put on hold when school and CCD are done for the year. But the good news is that there are many wonderful Christian summertime activities that will be rewarding and fun for children. Parents can enhance their kids’ religious education over the summer with activities designed to promote solid values of generosity, empathy, and love.
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