Children's Minister Blog

Form two teams of equal number. Have the teams line up single file at one end of the room. Using masking tape, place a finish line on the floor about 7 metres (20 feet) away.

Give the instruction: ‘When I call out a number between 0 and 2, the first person in each line will race to the finish line. If I say “two”, that person may run. If I say “one”, he or she must hop (as best they can) on one foot. If I say “0″ (zero), two team mates must carry that person to the finish line, then run back to the start for their turns. We’ll continue until both teams finish the race.”

Start the game calling out the various numbers for each set of runners.

You can use this very flexible game to introduce your teaching/Bible theme for the day.

Devise matching pairs of words related to your theme for the day and write them on individual sticky labels which can be stuck to children’s backs. For example, for a discussion on attitudes and behaviour you could choose the words good/bad; love/hate; generous/selfish etc. First show children the word, then stick them on their backs, then challenge them to find their opposite or matching pair by looking at the words on the other children’s backs, without talking. When the children are all paired off gather them and talk about each pair of words as it relates to your theme.

Four children are chosen to come and stand out the front of the group. All the other children are asked to “put their heads down and hold their thumbs up”. The four children then quietly move amongst those on the floor or chairs and each one touches gently one thumb which is raised. They then return to the front. The leader then tells the children to open their eyes. “Those children who think they have had their thumbs touched put their hands up. They then get one guess at who they think was the person out the front who touched them. Wait till all four have guessed and then tell them if they were correct. If someone guesses correctly then they get to take the person out the front spot. Play as many rounds as time allows. It’s often better to stop while enjoyment is high and then you can always come back to it later.

Fly-me-to-the-balloon Challenge

How to play -

You need one balloon per player. Divide each team into two (it doesn’t matter if there are odd numbers). Stand facing each other behind two lines, five paces apart. On the word “go”, the first member of each team blows up their balloon and let’s it go, “firing” it at their team player opposite. That player tries to catch the balloon without moving their feet. Whether they catch it or not, they then blow up their balloon and launch it at the next player opposite. The game continues until all the teams have had an equal number of tries at launching and catching the balloons.

As part of your Sunday School program or children’s group get the children to learn some Bible memory verses.

For example: John 3:16, Revelation 3:20, John 14:6, Psalm 23:1, John 1:1, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6, Genesis 1:1

(perhaps use a simplified translation for younger children)

Use these texts for your Snakes and Ladders as follows:

1. Have a Bible reference at the bottom of each ladder. If you land on that square you can only go up the ladder if you can quote the verse, otherwise stay where you are.

2. Have a Bile text written out a the top of each snake.If  when landing on that square you can give the correct reference for the text, you do not go down the snake. If you cannot give the reference, you do go down the snake.

The group could be divided into teams for this game and it could be played on an overhead projector or wall chart using counters or on the wall with makers which could stick on and be moved.

You will need: One potato, mystery box, Bible questions on strips of paper.

How to play :

1. The children form a circle.

2. One child is “It.”

3. “It” says, ” Pass the potato”

4. The player who has the potato must pass it to his left.

5. “It” calls out, “Hot potato!”

6. Whoever is caught with the potato is “It.”

Two jigsaws are needed. They should be about the same size and number of pieces (not too many).

Before the game starts, put together part of the jigsaws then hide pieces all over the meeting room or house, but don’t make them too difficult to find.

The first team to complete their jigsaw is the winner. Players are not alowed to hold on to opponents’ pieces and to make it impossible for them to complete their jigsaw.

This game may be adapted to complete a memory verse jigsaw which has been made beforehand. It is also a game which works well for a family night in a home or at church where you might use several jigsaws .(You might need to mark the back of each piece with a different coloured pen).

Let the children blow  soap bubbles to see whose bubble can travel the farthest. Or see whose bubble will keep from bursting for the longest length of time. Or see who can have the most bubbles in the air at the same time.

Variation : Extend  a line between two chairs and select two teams. In a given amount of time each team tries to see how many bubbles can be blown over the line to the opposite side. The teams try to cross the room to the opposite side. They may move forward only while they have a bubble floating in the air.