Playgroup
Program Ideas
Year A Term 4
Compiled by the Children & Family Ministry Team
Mission Resourcing SA
CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Playgroup Themes ................................................................................................................................. 3
A Scheme of Themes............................................................................................................................. 4
Faith Enrichment in Playgroup ............................................................................................................. 5
Professional Development Page (Music and Rhythm Development in Children)..................... 6
Additional resources .............................................................................................................................. 7
Themes this term
1.
A special time ............................................. Christmas Pageant .................................... 8
2.
A special time .............................................................. Christmas .................................... 9
3.
A part of my world ............................................................... Mud .................................. 10
4.
An animal ................................................................................. Fish .................................. 11
5.
A story ..................................................................... Queen Esther .................................. 13
6.
A musical instrument ......................................................... Guitar .................................. 14
7.
A job people do ......................................................... Fire fighter .................................. 15
8.
A place to visit ................................................................ Garden .................................. 17
9.
A part of my body ............................................................... Nose .................................. 19
10.
A plant ............................................................................. Pumpkin .................................. 21
11.
A relationship ...................................................................... Family .................................. 22
____________
COPYRIGHT
Ideas are seldom truly original. Some of the same ideas can be found from many
different sources. The ideas in this resource may have their origin in a whole range of
personal experience, observation, printed resources or electronic resources. They have
been filtered through memory and modified to meet specific needs. Some poetry has
been included where the ‘original writer’ is unknown.
We have not knowingly breached copyright, but if you are the originator of any
material in Playgroup Program Ideas, please notify us so that we can give you credit in
the future. Email [email protected]
Playgroup Program Ideas
2
Year A Term 4
INTRODUCTION
This resource is designed to help leaders of church-based playgroups in planning their program.
This resource is not a set curriculum; it provides ideas that you may pick and choose from or adapt to your
own situation. The themes and activity ideas can fit into whatever format you establish for your playgroup.
A Uniting Church SA Playgroup Manual is also available at www.missionresourcingsa.org.au
The manual is a comprehensive resource that includes: Starting a playgroup, Administration, Safety and
property, Leaders and volunteers, Finances, Getting the church involved, Promotion, Frequently asked
questions and Useful contacts.
PLAYGROUP THEMES
Working with themes: Free play and a regular, predictable program in surroundings that become familiar
are primary ingredients of playgroups. Repetition and predictability help children (and their parents)
develop a sense of comfort, belonging and control.
From about 18 months, children will begin to be able to comprehend the theme ideas. They may look for,
enjoy and benefit from new experiences and challenges. Exact repetition may become a bit too familiar
and perhaps boring for older children.
Session themes allow you to introduce some variety into a familiar format. New, themed songs and rhymes,
for example, can be added to favourite songs and rhymes that are used regularly.
The suggested theme ideas in this resource can help you to plan a program that will stretch children in
their experiences as well as their comprehension, language skills, relationships with one another and with a
variety of adults, gross and fine motor skills, music and movement.
Playgroup Program Ideas gives you ideas for a wide range of themed sessions. You can use a different
theme each week, or you may use themes only once or twice a term as special occasions. Themed
sessions allow your playgroup team to use their creativity. They can provide excitement and some
enjoyable surprises for all involved.
Scheduling themed sessions: Playgroup age children live in the moment. They have limited capacity to
consciously remember what happens from week to week, so each theme suggestion in this resource is a
stand-alone session. The themes can be used in any sequence. Obviously you are likely to schedule
holiday themes (eg Christmas) just before the holiday they relate to. Other themes may be scheduled to
coincide with events in your community (eg you may have a cricket theme when siblings or parents are
involved in cricket competitions). Still other events may be scheduled to suit the availability of special
guests. One suggested theme each term may involve an outing; this may be the first thing you schedule
because it may require the most coordination both within the playgroup and also with the management
of the venue you visit.
NOTE
Throughout this resource the term ‘parent’ is used for the parent, relative or other carer
who brings a child to playgroup.
Playgroup Program Ideas
3
Year A Term 4
A SCHEME OF THEMES
(1)
A special
time or day
(2)
A special
time or day
(3)
A colour
or element
(4)
An animal
(5)
A story
(6)
Travel or a
musical
instrument
(7)
Work
people do
(8)
A place to
visit
(9)
A part of
my body
(10)
Clothes,
room or
plant
(11)
Misc
sport,
relationship
A1
Australia
Day
Easter
Air
Horse
The Lion and the
Mouse
Train
Factory
worker
Lake / river
Hands
Bedroom
Cricket
A2
Mothers Day
Queen’s
Birthday
Green
Frog
Zacchaeus
Bicycle
Cleaner
Post Office
Mouth
Blue Jeans
Please and
Thank You
A3
Fathers Day
Book Week
(Books)
Red
Chicken
The Three Billy
Goats Gruff
Bus
Playgroup
helper
Church
Hair
Tree
Art and
artists
A4
Christmas
Pageant
Christmas
(Shepherds)
Mud
Fish
Queen Esther
Guitar
Firefighter
Garden
Nose
Vegetable
(Pumpkin)
Family
B1
Valentines
Day
Easter
Water
Dog
The Tortoise
and the Hare
Car
Doctor
Beach
Feet and
toes
Kitchen
Caring for the
world
B2
Anzac Day
Mothers Day
Purple
Butterfly
Jairus’ Daughter
Airplane
Farmer
Restaurant
Eyes
Fruit
(Apple)
Science &
scientists
B3
Fathers Day
Book Week
(Author)
Yellow
Guinea pig
The Ugly
Duckling
Skates &
skateboard
Driver
Park
Face
Shoes &
boots
Football
B4
Advent
Christmas
(Angels)
Pink
Lizard
Solomon’s
Prayer
Drum
Computer
tech
Shopping
centre
Arms
Wheat &
bread
Grandparents
C1
Pancake
Day
Easter
Sunshine
& rain
Cat
Three Little Pigs
Boat
Teacher
Circus
Legs
Bathroom
Athletics
C2
May Day
Mothers Day
Orange
Bug and
Spider
Jesus Feeds
5000
Wheelbarrow
& wagon
Police
Farm
Ears
Hats
Friends at
playgroup
C3
Fathers Day
Book Week
(Library)
Blue
Kangaroo
Town and
Country Mice
Rocket Ship
Minister
Playground
Tummy
Flowers
Numbers and
counting
C4
Labour Day
Christmas
(Star)
Brown
Bird
Noah’s Ark
Horn
Builder
Bush
Skin
Vegetable
(Peas)
Brothers and
sisters
Playgroup Program Ideas
4
Year A Term 4
FAITH ENRICHMENT AT PLAYGROUP
Playgroups organised by churches and staffed
by Christians serve young families in many
different ways.
For example:

Some church-based playgroups serve primarily
the families of their own congregation and
introduce Christian content into playgroup as
part of their faith-nurturing or Christian
education program.
Most playgroups cater for a wider cross-section
of the community.

Some church-based playgroups have an
agreed policy that the playgroup is simply a
service to their community. Their Christian
character is shown through the development of
caring relationships. Team members do not
mention anything specifically ‘Christian’ unless
the question is raised by a parent or child.

However, many church-based playgroups are
more evangelical in their intent; their playgroup
teams look for ways to go beyond service and
developing relationships. In some cases a
playgroup may actually function as an
alternative ‘church’ for families who have no
other church contact. It can be a place where
families explore the Christian faith.


Parents who choose to come to a churchbased playgroup will not be surprised if there is
some Christian content, however it’s good to
make this clear in your advertising literature and
in conversation with prospective playgroup
families.
Key faith concept can be written on a poster
and displayed in playgroup where parents
may see and comment on it (or not). It can
be announced in a group time at the start of
the session. It can be listed along with the
theme title on playgroup program schedules.
It can be written on children’s artwork and
crafts that are taken home. Bible verses and
prayers can be used the same way.
Christian songs can be used along with other
songs.
Bible stories: age appropriate versions of the
suggested stories can be used as part of a
range of books/stories for parents to read to
their own children, or for a playgroup team
member to share with children in small
groups.
Wondering comment can be raised by
playgroup team members at any time it
seems appropriate or it can be a follow-up
to any other Faith Enrichment activity.
Prayer and Bible verse (and song) can be
used as a simple closing ritual, perhaps
followed by blessing each child as they
leave.
BEYOND PLAYGROUP
Families leave playgroup when children are old
enough to enrol in other educational programs.
If playgroup is the only place where a family
experiences a Christian community, that
connection is severed when they move on.
Playgroup Program Ideas provides a range of
Faith Enrichment Ideas related to each topic.
They are a resource for introducing ‘Christian’
content into a playgroup program through
activities, songs and stories. These may be used
as a block within the regular playgroup time or
scattered throughout the session.
Congregations that have invested into families
through playgroup need to consider how they
can serve them beyond playgroup. Some
families will fit comfortably into existing worship
and children’s ministry programs. Others will see
this as an alien environment and avoid it.
Or the Faith Enrichment ideas may be used in
an optional ‘Faith Talk Time’ after the session.
Families are invited to stay, but may choose to
leave before it begins.
Alternatives for playgroup ‘graduate’ families
may be:

Some church-based playgroups have a short
parents-only ‘Faith Talk Time’ in a separate room
while the playgroup team supervises the
children. A leader helps parents to think about
the suggested theme, the wondering question
and the Bible story or Bible verse. The leader
may also help parents find ways of introducing
or reinforcing these to their own children at
home.
monthly Messy Church-style programs (for
more details see www.messychurch.org.uk/

school holiday programs

a family day (or evening) during each school
holiday

a sequence of family events which target
families of children at specific
developmental milestones, for example:
starting kindy, starting primary school, starting
organised sports, entering ‘double digits’,
puberty, starting high school

parenting support newsletters and invitations
to special events (eg all-age worship
services) of the congregation.
Playgroup leaders can use one or more of the
Faith Enrichment Ideas to introduce a faith
dimension into the session in a natural way.
Playgroup Program Ideas
5
Year A Term 4
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PAGE
MUSIC AND RHYTHM DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN
TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT STAGES
Children experience rhythm in
their bodies before they can
consciously recognise rhythmic
sound with their minds.
In the womb foetuses respond to
sounds and music and move to
the beat of their mother’s heart.
Infants
 discriminate among
differences in sound,
frequency, rhythm and
melody
 sway, bounce, or move their
hands in response to music
they hear
 have a wide vocal range
 can imitate and experiment
with their voices
 can be calmed and soothed
with music.
Purposeful singing can begin at
around twelve months.
Toddlers
 love to dance and move to
music
 enjoy the repetition of songs
 laugh at silly songs and
nonsense rhymes
 are able to sit attentively for
a short performance or
recording
 make up songs and sing to
themselves as they play
 enjoy singing just to be singing,
with no self-consciousness
 like songs that repeat words
and melodies, rhythms with a
definite beat, and words that
ask them to do things
 like nursery rhymes and songs
about familiar things like toys,
animals, play activities, and
people
 sing with or without musical
accompaniment.
Children aged four and five
may be adept at using musical
instruments (alone and in a
group) and are more aware of
the messages in song lyrics.
Playgroup Program Ideas
God has created a universe that is organised in patterns,
vibrates with rhythm and expresses itself in sound.
‘One of the best choices you can make for your children is giving
them the gift of music.’ (The Benefits of Music on Child
Development, Jovanka Ciares and Paul Borgese)
Music is a way of understanding God’s creation that is just as
significant as logical/mathematical, linguistic, spatial,
bodily/kinaesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligences
(Howard Gardner). Music can have a profound influence on the
other intelligences.
‘Making music is as much a basic life skill as walking or talking’
(Peery and Peery, Music and Child Development).
‘It is a birthright for all people to be able to sing a tune and
march to a beat’ (Lili Levinowitz, The Importance of Music in
Early Childhood).
There are two primary aspects of music: (1) hearing and
processing rhythmic sound and (2) performing and using an
instrument (which may be the voice). Both, ideally, begin in early
childhood years.
Benefits of music
Music (particularly musical experiences in childhood) provides a
huge range of benefits.
Through song, dance, and instrumental music we express the full
range of human emotion and pass on ethnic beliefs and values.
Music ignites all areas of development: intellectual, social and
emotional, motor, language, and overall literacy. It helps the
body and the mind work together and strengthens memory skills.
Music listening and music making can improve creativity and
learning (language, reading and mathematics). Singing is a
healthy lung exercise that helps children learn sounds, improve
pronunciation and develop vocabulary.
Making music together provides the joy and value of group
activity.
What does this mean for playgroup?
The simple answer is: provide as many musical experiences as
you can in playgroup and encourage parents to share music
with their children at home. Specifically, we can:








sing and dance — forget our own inhibitions
play background music
use music clues to introduce different activities
mix music with games that require body movement, such as
clapping, waving, jumping and dancing, finger games
make music by singing and chanting together, clapping,
playing percussion instruments
introduce children to various sounds and rhythms, both
natural and instrumental: have children guess what sound
they hear or where it comes from; invite them to reproduce it
provide a range of shakers, whistles, bells, tambourines,
drums, harmonicas for children to use in free play and in
special music times. Help children make their own instruments
dance with children, encourage them to move freely with
music or percussion.
6
Year A Term 4
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MUSIC
Songs and rhymes identified in this resource as ‘Useful Book’ are found in The New
Useful Book (Songs and Ideas from Play School by Henrietta Clark). It contains words
and melody lines for many popular children’s songs. Songs and related activities are
arranged by themes. It is a very ‘useful book’!
BOOKS
A variety of story books and non-fiction books are suggested that support each theme.
You can use whatever books suit your group and are available on family bookshelves
or from the local library.
You may also want to build your own playgroup library with purchased or donated age-appropriate
books that children and parents may look at during playgroup — and/or borrow to use at home.
In addition to theme-specific books, your collection could include some books relating to general
theme areas such as colours, animals, transportation, occupations, bodies, food, sports, holidays.
Your collection may include books that expose children to languages other than English and cultures
other than European/Australian, for example:
This set of three books (Body Parts, Counting and
Colours), teach children some basic words in the
Kaurna language. The beautiful photographic
illustrations can be used to foster discussion of
these topics in any language. See
www.fishpond.com.au
Your collection may include age-appropriate Bible story collections, for example:
The Toddler’s Bible
My First Bible
by Leena Lane
by Bethan James
and prayer books, for example:
I can say a
prayer
by Sophie
Piper
100 Ways to Know
God Loves Me!
by Stephen Elkins
(includes two CDs of
Christian songs)
The Beginner’s
Bible
edited by
Catherine DeVries
I imagine:
A Child’s Book
of Prayers
by Rachel
Rivett
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Playgroup Program Ideas deliberately limits references to electronic media because, even in this day
and age, you can comfortably run a playgroup with a minimum of technology. However you may
want to use recorded music as background music, to accompany activities such as dancing, or to
support singing.
An internet search engine like Google is an easy way of finding images that you can use to illustrate
themes. Many of the stories and songs we suggest can be found as electronic books (Kindle) or even
on YouTube.
Use these resources if you feel they will contribute to the relationships you want to establish and the
experience you want to provide in your playgroup, and if you have someone on your team who
understands how to make technology work smoothly and effectively.
Playgroup Program Ideas
7
Year A, Term 4
A-4-1
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
A SPECIAL EVENT
May be linked with the Credit Union Christmas Pageant in Adelaide or with a local Christmas pageant.
Some options to consider:



Visit the Adelaide Christmas pageant as a group.
Participate in a local Christmas parade as a group — just for fun or to let your community know
about your playgroup — or join with other local playgroups to participate in the parade.
Make your own playgroup mini-parade (the following ideas relate to this plan).
ACTIVITY IDEAS
Invite children and parents to come dressed in their favourite dress-ups and to bring their own wheels
(pram, wagon, tricycle, etc) for the parade.

Dress-ups: As people arrive, greet them and talk about their dress-up costumes. What are you
wearing? Why did you choose it? Where have you worn it before? Provide a full-length mirror so
children can see themselves and know what they look like in the costume.

Pageant talk: Give children an opportunity to talk with an adult other than their parent about any
experience they have relating to Christmas pageants.

Family posters: Parents and children work together to create family posters on cardboard about A3
size. Suggest that the poster can include a picture of their house, the people in the family or
something that is important to the family. It can be decorated in their favourite colour. Provide a
variety of ‘scrap’ items that can be attached to the poster.

Marching music: Play some recorded ‘marching music’. Encourage children to listen to the beat of
the music and move to the music: first roll their head back and forth, then hunch their shoulders,
swing their arms, clap their hands, stamp their feet, march around.

Playgroup parade: Families carry their posters — or attach them to their wagons or bikes — and
parade around your yard (or around the block, if your situation permits). If possible, make a video of
the parade to show later at playgroup and make copies for families.
Alternatively children put together a toy parade or pageant with floats and ‘marchers’ of dolls,
teddies and other items that are regularly available in your playgroup.

Video: Show a video of your own playgroup parade or of a previous Adelaide or local Christmas
pageant.

Story books: Have a number of picture books with the stories that are depicted in the pageant.
Encourage children to look at pictures in the books and tell (or make up) a story about the pictures.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in your local library or parents’ collections about parades or Christmas, eg
Disney’s
Christmas
Parade
annuals
Wombat
Divine
by Mem Fox
Dora’s
Christmas
Parade
by Leslie Valdes
and
Dave Aikins
SONGS AND RHYMES

Use nursery rhymes or songs with characters depicted in the Christmas Pageant.

Jingle Bells — give children some bells to play as you sing.
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: God loves us and gives us special things to celebrate.

Talk about why we have a Christmas pageant.

Wonder why people put a nativity float in the pageant.

Bible story: Jesus leads a parade into Jerusalem. (Mark 11:1-11)

Song: This is the day that the Lord has made. (breadsite.org/lyrics/614.htm)
 Prayer: Thank you, God, for good times like the pageant. Amen.
 Bible Verse: God always leads us in the winner’s parade because we belong to Christ.
(2 Corinthians 2:14 NIRV)
Playgroup Program Ideas
8
Year A, Term 4
A-4-2
CHRISTMAS (SHEPHERDS)
A SPECIAL TIME
The Bible story of the birth of Jesus is the basis for our celebration of Christmas.
Be sure to invite playgroup families to any activities your church has planned that will allow children
and parents to celebrate together and to learn more about the significance of the Christmas story.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

The story: Tell or read the Bible story of the shepherds on the first Christmas (Luke 2:1-21). One good
technique is to use the illustrations in a children’s picture story book as clues for telling the story in
your own words. An alternative would be for a guest dressed as a shepherd to tell the story.

Nativity scene: Have a store-bought or handmade nativity scene for children to look at with their
parents. Parents help children identify the figures in the scene and their role in the Christmas story.

Shepherd canes: Shepherds in the story had special long canes (sometimes called crooks). Have
some walking sticks (the kind with curved handles) that children can use to mime some of the things
a shepherd had to do, for example: hold the cane upright, hold the straight part to support walking;
hold the straight end and use the curved handle to reach something you can’t reach with your
hand and pull it to you.

Story figures: Children make story figures from plastic cups (illustration).
Shepherd: use coffee-coloured cups; draw on a face with texta.
An adult makes two holes with a large needle or a nail. Insert a pipe cleaner
through the holes; curve one end as a cane.
Angel: use white cups; draw on a face with texta. Glue on paper wings.
Sheep: Use white or coffee-coloured cups. Adult cuts them to half size.
Draw on a face and legs with texta. Glue on a small pompom for a tail.

Act out the story: Children use figures they have made themselves (see above) or figures from a
purchased nativity set to act out the story. They can do this as free play or they can act it as an
adult re-tells the story.

Sorting cards: Provide a large selection of cover pictures from used Christmas cards. Encourage
children to sort through the pictures and find the ones with pictures of shepherds. They may also sort
the cards by size, background colour or picture (eg, bells, people, candles . . .)

Christmas party: Have a playgroup Christmas party. Children and parents decorate a small
Christmas tree with candy canes. The playgroup team may place a small gift for each child under
the tree, for example, a book or a tract with the Christmas message. As a snack have cane- or
sheep-shaped biscuits. Sing: ‘The shepherd (instead of ‘Mary’) had a little lamb’. Consider donating
your tree to someone who does not have one.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in a library or parents’ collections about shepherds at Christmas, eg
The Little
Shepherd
Girl
by Juliann
Henry
Room for a
Little One
by Martin
Waddell
The Shepherd's
Christmas Story
by
SONGS AND RHYMES


Away in a manger
In a little stable, far across the sea
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: At Christmas we celebrate the birthday of God’s Son, Jesus.

Talk about how people celebrate Christmas.

Wonder why Christmas is so exciting.

Prayer: Happy Birthday, Jesus. Amen.

Bible verse: God loved us so much he sent us his Son. (John 3:16)
IF THIS IS YOUR LAST PLAYGROUP SESSION FOR THE YEAR:
You may want to give special recognition to children who will be ‘graduating’ from playgroup and
moving on to preschool (or another stage of life) next year. Thank them for being part of playgroup.
As families leave, give each one a Christmas blessing: God bless you and keep you at Christmas time.
Playgroup Program Ideas
9
Year A, Term 4
A-4-3
MUD
A PART OF MY WORLD
Mud here refers to the natural stuff beneath our feet, whatever you call it — mud, earth, soil or dirt.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Archaeologist dig: Let a large basin of dirt mud dry out for several days. Bury some plastic toys in the
dry mud. Challenge children to search with their hands and discover what they can find.

Good mud: Mud is good for growing plants. If possible go outside and find things that grow in the
ground: trees, plants, grass.
You may prepare ahead of time for this activity by pulling a plant out of the mud and letting it dry,
so children can discover that plants can’t grow and thrive out of the mud.
Mud (ground) is also good for holding things up. Children may discover things (many man-made)
that rest on the earth/ground, but do not grow: houses, cement paths, light poles, etc.

Mud samples: Child and parent dig up several spoonfuls of mud/earth/dirt/soil and put it on a
plastic plate. What does it feel like (hot/cold, wet/dry, smooth/lumpy)? What does it smell like? What
do you see? What colour is it? Is it all one colour? Is it stuck together or in small bits? Are the bits all
the same?

Mud painting: Parents help their children mix water with their mud sample to the consistency of
finger paint. The child uses their hands/fingers to create a painting. Be sure to wash hands after this
activity. (See the following activity.)

Bad mud: Mud is not good for people to eat. [That’s why we avoid making mud pies in playgroup!]
There are things in the mud that can make people sick. That’s why we wash our hands when they
are dirty. Have a basin, soap, warm water, soft nailbrush and paper towels. Parents help children
wash their hands — very thoroughly, rubbing up and down each finger and the palm and the back
of the hand, brushing around fingernails; then drying just as thoroughly.

Different kinds of mud: Have some clear plastic containers with different kinds of mud: two each of,
for example, sand, rocky soil, clay, potting mixture, dust. Children and parents sort the different
types to find the ones that are the same and different.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in your local library or parents’ collections about mud or the earth, eg
Mud Tacos!
by Mario Lopez
and Marissa Lopez
Wong
This is the
Mud
by Kathryn
Apel
Big Earth, Little Me
by Thom Wiley and
Kate Endle
SONGS AND RHYMES
 Oh, I wish I were a little hunk of mud, hunk of mud. X2 (Tune: If you’re happy and you know it)
I'd ooey and I'd gooey under everybody's shoey.
Oh, I wish I were a little hunk of mud, hunk of mud.

Mud is very nice to feel, all squishy-squash between the toes!
I’d rather wade in wiggly mud, than smell a yellow rose.
Nobody else but the rosebush knows how nice mud feels between the toes. (Polly Chase Boyden)
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS
 Key faith concept: God made the world and wants us to take care of it.

Talk about why we need mud.

Wonder why God made different kinds of mud.

Story: A farmer plants seeds in various kinds of soil. (Mark 4:3-8).

Sing: Praise and thanksgiving let everyone bring (Sing to Jesus #28)

Prayer: Thank you, God, for giving us mud. Amen

Bible verse: Everything God created is good. (1 Timothy 4:4)
Playgroup Program Ideas
10
Year A, Term 4
A-4-4
FISH
AN ANIMAL
Playgroup children can begin to understand that (1) people can live gently among all living things and
not harm them (2) some animals can harm us.
If families have items with fish motifs (eg Finding Nemo figures), ask them to bring along some nonbreakable items.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Guest: A guest who knows about fish — either as pets or in the natural environment — visits
playgroup. They talk briefly about fish, possibly emphasising how they move and what they eat. Be
sure to emphasise that fish live in water. People can swim in water, but we can’t live in water. They
might bring along a bowl of goldfish or other fish for the children to see. Your guest may help you in
planning other activities.

Fish faces: Have a mirror available where children can see themselves pursing and releasing their
mouths to make fish faces.

Fish snack: Children use fish- shaped biscuit cutters to cut sheets of puff pastry. An adult bakes the
fish according to packet instructions. If you have a glass door on your oven, children may enjoy
watching the fish puff up as they bake. When baked and cooled, serve the fish as a snack.

Share and compare fish: If families have brought fish items, ask them to place them all in a lake (a
dry wading pool). Children with their parents find their own fish in the shared collection. They find
other fish that are the same colour as; the same kind or size as; larger or smaller than their own.

Many kinds of fish: Make up two sets of fish cards (enlarge and colour from the next page).
Parents look at the pictures with their child. Use words that describe the different fish.
Play a game of ‘Memory’ with the cards. Begin with two pairs of matching cards lying face down.
Child tries to pick up matching pairs. Play again, adding another pair of matching cards.
Continue adding while child’s interest holds.

Move like a fish: Play some background music with water sounds. Parents and children wiggle like
fish. They can do this lying on the ground. Alternatively, parents hold their child on their arms, lying on
their tummy and ‘swim’ them around like a fish in water.

Play dough fish: Parents help children make a basic fish shape with play dough. Help children
change the shape of their fish: rounder, skinnier, longer, shorter . . .

‘Stain glass’ fish: Cut a simple fish shape out of the centre of black or dark blue construction paper.
Place a sheet of clear contact paper over the fish shape. This will leave a sticky, fish-shaped surface
onto which children stick small pieces of tissue paper in a variety of colours. Trim excess tissue paper.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in your local library or in parents’ collections about fish, for example
Fabulous
Fishes
by Susan
Stockdale
God Made Fish
by Brad Harrub
Not Norman:
A Goldfish Story
by Kelly Bennett
SONGS AND RHYMES

One, two, three, four five; once I caught a fish alive; six, seven, eight, nine ten, then I let him go again.
Why did you let him go? Because he bit my finger so. Which finger did he bite? This little finger on the right.

All the fish (Useful Book)
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: God made animals and wants us to take care of them.

Talk about places animals live — in water

Wonder why God made fish to swim so well.

Story: A big fish helps Jonah. (Jonah 2,3)

Song: All things bright and beautiful (www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/l/allthing.htm)

Prayer: Fish are great swimmers. Thank you, God, for fish and other animals. Amen.

Bible verse: God made . . . the fish that swim in the seas. (Psalm 8:8, modified)
Playgroup Program Ideas
11
Year A, Term 4
FISH PICTURES
Playgroup Program Ideas
12
Year A, Term 4
A-4-5
QUEEN ESTHER
A STORY
This session is based on the Bible story of Esther, the young girl who became a queen and saved her
people (Esther 1-10). Esther’s story is celebrated annually in the Jewish festival of Purim.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Visitor: Invite a person familiar with the Jewish festival of Purim to come and tell the children about
the celebration, particularly children’s participation.

Bible story: Tell the story of Queen Esther in one or more ways. Read it from a good, age
appropriate children’s Bible storybook or tell the story. A good technique is to use the illustrations in
the children’s Bible as a prompt for telling the story in your own words.
Traditionally in the telling of this story the ‘audience’ boos when the name Haman is mentioned and
cheers when the name Esther is mentioned.
And/or watch Veggie Tales' Esther, the girl who became queen.
Play the story: Children use dolls to act out the story. This can be either free play, or they can play it
as someone re-tells the story.
Esther crowns: Children make a medallion to put on the front of a crown. Choose a plastic biscuit
cutter shape. Dip it in craft glue (put a thin layer in a plastic take-away container lid). Carefully
press the glue-dipped cutter onto a circle of card. Shake glitter (if you’re game) or sequins over the
glue. While the glue is drying, parents fit a strip of card to their child’s head and staple the ends
together to form the band of the crown. When the medallion glue is dry, shake off excess sequins
and staple the medallion onto the crown band. Cover the backs of staples with masking tape for
safety. Children may wear the crowns for the rest of the session.
Haman’s hat snack: According to tradition, Haman wore a three-corned hat.
Hamantaschen — bikkies shaped like his hat — are a popular Purim treat.
Parents can help children make hamantaschen: Roll out sugar cookie dough
and cut into circles. Place a dollop of jam in the centre of the circle. Fold up
three sides of the circle to form a triangle. Bake according to your recipe and,
when cooled, serve for a snack.



BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in your local library or parents’ collections about Purim or Queen Esther, eg
Queen Esther Helps
God’s people
Zondervan
Beginners Bible
series
Just in
time Esther
by Carol
Wedeven
Brave Queen
Esther
by Rondi
DeBoer
NURSERY RHYMES AND SONGS

Purim song
(Tune: If you’re happy and you know it.
If you hear the name of Haman, stamp your feet (stamp feet twice)
If you hear the name of Esther, clap your hands
If you hear the name of Ahasurerus, turn around.
If you hear the name of Mordecai, shout hooray.

Esther Loved God. (Raise arms upward)
She loved others, too. (Spread hands, palms up.)
I love God (Raise arms upward.)
And I love you. (Hugs for everyone.)
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: The Bible is God’s special book.

Talk about the Bible shows us that God has special things for people to do.

Wonder what plan God has for you.

Story: show children a complete Bible and the location of Esther. Read out 9:28: ’Every family will
remember Esther.’

Song: I open my Bible book and read (https://au.songselect.com/songs/4623485/i-open-my-biblebook-and-read)

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the good stories in your special book. Amen.

Bible verse: Give thanks to God, because he is good. (1 Chronicles 16:34)
Playgroup Program Ideas
13
Year A, Term 4
A-4-6
GUITAR
A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Adapt this theme for any string instrument.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Guest: A guest guitarist (professional or amateur) visits playgroup. They play for the children, talk
about their playing (how they got started and what they do), and show children how the guitar
works. If they have an old/inexpensive instrument they might help children to make music by
strumming while the guitarist holds the guitar and changes the chords.

Air guitar: As your guitarist guest (or a record) plays some familiar music on guitar, children (and
parents) play along on air guitars. Encourage them to be as active as possible and really express
themselves through movement.

I’m a guitar: Parents hold little children as if they were guitars. They strum their tummies as they sing a
song. Alternatively, parents might ask children to make a particular sound when they strum their
nose, ear, shoulder, elbow, etc.

Rubber band guitar: Parents help children make box guitars. You’ll need empty tissue boxes (that
have ready-made holes in them) and a variety of rubber bands. Choose several rubber bands of
different thicknesses and loop them around the box, going over the hole. Pluck the bands and note
the different sounds made by the different rubber bands. You could also use masking tape to attach
a paper towel roll (or a length or cardboard) to form the neck of the guitar. Caution: avoid
stretching rubber bands to breaking point.

Musical instruments: Have a selection of different toy musical instruments that the children can play
with. Parents with their children name the different instruments.

Pitch: A parent — with help from a volunteer with some musical ability — uses a guitar (or a
keyboard or any other instrument) to help their child discover pitch.
 Play three different tones: one high (g), one low (c), one in-between (e).
 Help the child indicate high, low, in-between with their hands as they hear the tones.
 Play pairs of notes, ask child to identify the second one as higher, lower, same.
 Play a simple tune, eg ‘Mary had a little lamb’. See if children can identify the song by the tune
and sing along.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find music books in your local library or parents’ collections —
Beginners’ books for playing
guitar.
My Tata’s Guitar
by Ethriam Cash
Brammer
Look at illustrations of how
to hold the instrument and
how to make sounds with it.
Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin
by Lloyd Moss
SONGS AND RHYMES

If you’re happy and you know it . . . play guitar

Hear me playing my guitar, tar (big strum on ‘tar’) (Tune: I’ll take you riding in my car)

The playgroup band has come to town so early in the morning.
(Tune: Mulberry bush)
This is the way we play guitar play guitar, play guitar;
(Pretend to play guitars.)
This is the way we play guitar so early in the morning.
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: God gives us music.

Talk about happy music, sad music, quiet music, loud music.

Wonder why God made music.

Story: David plays music to make King Saul feel better. (1 Samuel 16:14-23)

Song; a children’s Gospel song, for example, ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’ and play air or rubber
band guitar.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for music. Amen.

Bible Verse: I will make music to the Lord. (Judges 5:3)
Playgroup Program Ideas
14
Year A, Term 4
A-4-7
FIREFIGHTER
A JOB PEOPLE DO
If you have a guest firefighter, ask them to go through a fire safety check of your facilities and work with
your playgroup team to make sure your practices are fire-safe and you have an emergency plan in
case of fire.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Guest: A firefighter (paid or voluntary) visits playgroup and talks about what they do and how what
they do helps people. They may also talk with children and parents about fire safety. They may
bring along some of their gear to show the children. The guest may help you in planning activities.

Hot and cold: Have a number of paired items: one cool (room temperature) the other hot, for
example, hot water bottles, wheat bags, freshly baked bikkies. Place the items on a low table.
Parents and children talk about the items. Which is cold? Which is hot? How did it get hot? Why is it
dangerous to touch things that are really hot? What are some things at our house that are really hot
and could hurt you?

Fire: Supervise this activity very carefully; it is designed to help children recognize what fire is. Have a
candle in a sturdy candle holder. A parent lights the candle with a match. Explains to the children
that matches are for grown-ups; not children. The match makes fire. Now the candle has fire. Note
the colour of the fire. If the parent wants to, the can hold the child’s hand closer and closer to the
flame and talk about how it gets hotter and hotter. They don’t want to actually touch the fire
because it would hurt.

Fire truck picture: Copy the picture from the next page. Children colour the fire engine red.
Parents help them attach 4.5 cm cardboard wheels with split pins so they can turn the wheels.
Have children practice some of these protective actions as games, not to make them fearful.
 Calling 000: Parents of children who are learning to speak can help children learn to say their full
name, address, phone number and parent/guardian’s name. They may practise dialling ‘000’ on a
phone and giving the information to the operator.
 Stop, drop, and roll: Demonstrate the stop, drop and roll technique that should be used if clothes
catch fire. Parents instruct their own child to ‘stop’ ‘drop’ and ‘roll’ when they give the commands.
Explain to the children that if their clothes ever catch on fire, they should stop, drop, and roll until the
fire is out or until a grown up comes to help.
 Crawl below the smoke Use a bed sheet and let some children hold the sheet on each side.
Some parents shake the sheet up and down to make pretend smoke. Children and fitter parents
practice crawling under the sheet on their hands and knees to escape the smoke.
BOOKS TO SHARE: Find books in your local library or parents’ collections about fire service people, eg.
Fireman Small
by Wong
Herbert Yee
Big Frank’s
Fire Truck
by Leslie
McGuire
What Do People
Do All Day?
by Richard Scarry
SONGS AND RHYMES

A fireman is a person in your neighbourhood (www.metrolyrics.com/peopleinyour neighbourhood)

Five little fire-fighters sleeping in their bed:
(Do this with actions.)
The first one said, ‘Put your helmet on your head!’ The second one said, ‘Down the pole we'll slide.’
The third one said, ‘Get ready to ride
The fourth one said, ‘Put your gas mask on your nose.’
The fifth one said, ‘I'll grab the hose!’
Then Woooo went the siren and out went the fire
And the five little firemen could finally retire!
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS
 Key faith concept: God loves us and gives us people who help us.
 Talk about what firefighters do.
 Wonder how God helps firefighters.
 Story: Work is important. (Proverbs 10:4)
 Song: God’s helpers everywhere (Sing to Jesus #205)
 Prayer: Thank you, God, for people who keep us safe from fires. Amen.
 Bible verse: Each person is given something to do that shows who God is. (1 Corinthians 12:4, Message)
Playgroup Program Ideas
15
Year A, Term 4
16
1
#
PLAYGROUP
F I R E
ENGINE
Playgroup Program Ideas
Year A, Term 4
A-4-8
GARDEN
A PLACE TO VISIT
If possible, organise an outing to a garden. Visit a civic garden and possibly spend the whole session in
the garden. Or visit a nearby home garden. With a large playgroup, you may want to take the children
in groups of no more than six at a time for short visits to the home garden. Plan your activities around
the type of garden you visit — a flower garden or a vegetable garden.
Alternatively, explore the garden concept in your regular playgroup venue.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Meet the gardener: The gardener or owner of the garden shows the children around, points out
what is growing and how they take care of it. They may let children try some gardening activities.

Garden talk: Give each child a chance to tell a grown-up other than their parent about the garden
they have at home or any other experience they have had in a garden.

Paper plate flowers: Children make flowers from paper plates. Have different flower components
pre-cut from coloured paper or crepe paper (next page).
First, children name the green leaves (or sepals) and paste them on the plate. These protect the
flower before it blooms.
Second, children name and paste on several petals.
Finally they paste scrunched up crepe paper in the centre, naming it the pollen holder.

Thank you card: Children make a plate flower (similar to above) for the gardener they visited. Have
one paper petal for each child. Parents help them write their name on the petal. An adult can glue
the petals on carefully with glue on only the half towards the centre of the flower so petals can
overlap and bend up. Write ‘Thank you’ and the name of the gardener on the round centre piece.

A garden of children: Children hold the paper plate flowers in front of their faces (or parents can
hang the paper plates around children’s necks with string or ribbon. Leader describes various
movements of the flowers and children mime the actions. Flowers stems stay in one place in the
ground, so try not to move your feet. When the wind blows, the flowers bend this way. When the sun
is shining over here, the flowers reach out to the sun.

Seeds and flowers: Carefully cut the top off several seed packets. Parents and children look at the
picture of the blooming flower (or fruit or vegetable). They name the plant then examine a seed
from which the plant will grow.

Make a garden: Give children a block of florist foam. Parents help children stick on bits and pieces
they collected (with permission from the gardener) during their garden visit. They may add some
small artificial flowers.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in your local library or parents’ collections about gardens, eg
The Curious
Garden
by Peter
Brown
Zinnia’s Flower
Garden
by Monica
Wellington
Let’s Grow a
Garden
by Alison
Reynolds
NURSERY RHYMES AND SONGS

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow

Oats, peas, beans and barley grow
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: God loves us and is with us wherever we go.

Talk about going to a garden: what you find there.

Wonder: I wonder how God takes care of people when they are in a garden.

Story: God’s promise of a new, better day. (Amos 9:13-15)

Song: In our work and in our play, God is with us every day.
We are loved and we can sing, God takes care of everything.
Stay at home or go away, God is with us every day. (tune in www.cyberhymnal.org)

Prayer: Thank you, God, for gardens where people grow flowers and food. Amen.

Bible verse: God says: ‘I will be with you wherever you go.’ (Joshua 1:9)
Playgroup Program Ideas
17
Year A, Term 4
FLOWER PIECES
GREEN
SEPAL
BLACK OR
BROWN
CENTRE
ANY COLOUR
PETAL
Playgroup Program Ideas
18
Year A, Term 4
A-4-9
NOSE
A PART OF MY BODY
Young children can begin to understand that: each part of the body is important and helps us do
different things; we need to take care of our body. Our senses help us discover and understand the
world around us.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

All kinds of noses: Have pictures of various animals. Children with parents look at the pictures, name
the animal, find the nose, and describe the nose

My nose knows: Have a number of items with distinctive smells that the children are familiar with (eg
baby powder or soap, smelly nappy, orange). Have each item hidden under a cloth. Children
attempt to identify the item just by smell, without seeing it.

My nose, your nose: Parent and child together look into a mirror. They touch ‘My nose/your nose’ in
person and the image in the mirror. Talk about how the noses are the same and how they are
different. Experiment with wiggling the tip of the nose, pushing it up and down and sideways.

Stick the nose on the clown: Have a poster of a clown face with no nose (next page). Give child a
paper nose with Blu Tack on the back. Child puts the nose on the clown where they think it looks
best. They also try putting the nose where it looks funniest. You could give every child a different
colour or shape of nose.

Breathing and sneezing: Child can hold a strip of tissue paper under the parent’s nose. Note what
happens when the parent breathes in and out. Parent talks with the child about breathing: how
important it is for air to go into the body. Child can try to breathe deeply and feel the air going into
and coming out of their nose. Parent can demonstrate unusual things that sometimes happen with
noses, eg sneezing and snuffing.

Nose safety: Talk about taking care of noses. Wear sunscreen outside, don’t put anything in your
nose because it can hurt and can stop you from breathing, wipe it when you sneeze.

Scratch and sniff paint: To ordinary poster paint add a small amount of craft glue and a few drops of
cooking essence (eg orange essence with orange paint, lemon with yellow, mint with green,
strawberry with red). Children paint thick stripes of each colour on paper. When the paint has dried,
they can scratch the different colours (use a pop stick) and smell the different aromas.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in a library or parents’ collections about noses and the sense of smell, eg
My nose, your
nose
by Melanie
Walsh
Is This My Nose?
illustrated by
Georgie Birkett
My Five
Senses
by Aliki
SONGS AND RHYMES

Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose

I use my nose to smell, I use my nose to smell,
and when I want to smell a flower, I use my nose to smell.

Put your finger on your nose, on your nose (x4)

Arms were made to hug and squeeze (Peter Combe); Noses were made to sniff and sneeze.
(Tune: The Farmer in the dell)
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Key faith concept: God loves us, and made us with wonderful bodies.

Talk about how important it is to breathe and how we need noses to breathe.

Wonder why God wants us to breathe.

Story: God creates the first person. (Genesis 2:4–7)

Song: Two little eyes to look to God (‘one little nose to breathe fresh air’) (http://sundayfolder.com/)

Prayer: Thank you, God, for loving us and giving us noses to breathe and smell with. Amen.

Bible verse: God formed the first person out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the
breath of life. (Genesis 2:7)
Playgroup Program Ideas
19
Year A, Term 4
Playgroup Program Ideas
20
Year A, Term 4
A-4-10
PUMPKIN
A PLANT
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Guest: Someone who has a pumpkin patch visits playgroup and tells how they look after the
pumpkins, how the pumpkins grow, and how they pick the pumpkins. If possible, they can bring
pictures of the vine at different stages: new, with blossoms, with developing and with ripe pumpkins.

Pumpkin line-up: Display pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. Parents and children talk about what
make the pumpkins different: size, colour, shape.

What’s in the pumpkin: Children guess/predict what’s inside the pumpkin. Ask how they think you
can find out for sure. Cut open the pumpkin (You’ll need a cutting board and big sharp knife. Be
careful of little hands). Ask: Do you see what you thought you would see?
Let children feel the seeds, membranes and flesh of the pumpkin.

Pumpkin snack: Serve pumpkin scones made from Flo Bjelke-Peterson’s famous recipe (see
www.abc.net.au/queensland/stories/s1143809.htm) Alternatively, serve pumpkin soup or cubes of
roasted pumpkin. Pumpkin seeds are edible and nutritious, but not appropriate for young children.

Dotty pumpkins: Give each child a pumpkin shape cut out of white card. The child chooses a
pumpkin colour of paint. The child uses a sponge (or a finger) dipped in paint to cover the pumpkin
shape with coloured dots.

Find the pumpkins: Show a picture of a pumpkin patch with pumpkins hiding under leaves. Create a
pretend pumpkin patch with small pumpkins (or balls) hidden under mats (or blankets or soft toys).
Challenge children to find the pumpkins and bring them to you. You may surreptitiously re-hide the
pumpkins so more children can find more pumpkins. For older children make up a tally sheet and
put a mark beside the child’s name each time they bring you a pumpkin.

Vegetables: Have a number of raw vegetables in a grocery bag. Children repeat what the leader
says and copy the leader’s actions.
‘Vegetables are good to eat.’ Take out a vegetable (a pumpkin) and hold it up,
‘This vegetable is a . . . ‘ Children respond ‘pumpkin’.
Rub the pumpkin. ‘My pumpkin is orange/green . . . round . . . big.’
Put the pumpkin on the floor. ‘Pumpkins grow on a vine on the ground.’
Repeat this pattern for several other vegetables.

Pumpkin head hats: Set out a large pumpkin with a face drawn on it. Have a variety of hats
available. As you sing the ‘Mr Pumpkin Head’ song, children can place the different hats on and
take them off the pumpkin.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find books in your local library or parents’ collections about pumpkins, for example:
Pumpkin
Pumpkin
by Jeanne
Titherington
Pumpkins
by Ken
Robbins
Apples and
Pumpkins
by Anne
Rockwell
SONGS AND RHYMES
 Peter, Peter pumpkin eater
 Come and meet Mr Pumpkin Head, (tune: ‘The Muffin Man’)
Mr Pumpkin Head, Mr Pumpkin Head,
Come and meet Mr Pumpkin Head. With a red hat (or whatever color it is) on his head.
 Fruit and veg are good for you, good for you, good for you.
(Tune: Mary had a little lamb)
Fruit and veg are good for you, So eat them every day.
They’ll make you grow up big and strong, big and strong, big and strong.
They’ll make you grow up big and strong, So eat them every day.
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS
 Key faith concept: God loves us and gives us food.
 Talk about food that tastes good.
 Wonder why God gives us different kinds of food.
 Story: Daniel and his friends choose healthy food. (Daniel 1:1-7)
 Song: O who can make a pumpkin (wonder song, http://www.hallelujahpraise.net/)
 Prayer: Thank you, God, for pumpkins and other good food. Amen.
 Bible verse: God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant . . . They will be yours for food’. (Genesis 1:29)
Playgroup Program Ideas
21
Year A, Term 4
A-4-11
FAMILY
A RELATIONSHIP
Leaders and volunteers, please remember that you have a legal duty of care for the families who
come to your playgroup. If anything occurs in this (or any other session) that leads you to suspect that a
child is being abused or neglected, you must record and report what you observed to the Child Abuse
Report Line 13 14 78.
Invite families to bring family photos or family photo albums to share.
ACTIVITY IDEAS

Family talk: Make a time for each child to show a grown-up their family photo and tell the grown-up
about their family. The child can name each person in the picture. Find out what ‘family’ means to
the child. Who lives in their house? Are there people in the family who live somewhere else?
If families with different cultural background have different words for family relationships, children will
hear some of these words.

Playing family: In a free play setting provide dolls, possibly a doll’s house and dress-ups, Encourage
children to play families.
You may talk with children as they play, and ask, for example: Who is this in the family? (Daddy)
What do daddies do?

All kinds of families: Have pictures of various configurations of families; include large, small, inbetween, different races, etc. Parents and children look at the pictures, count the number of people
in the family and find the family that is most like their own.

Family portrait: Children paint a portrait of their family; or the people who live in
their house. Alternatively, provide cut out triangle and circle shapes in various
sizes and colours. Children glue circle and triangle figures onto paper to create
their family portrait.

Together: Stand or sit in a circle, parents with their children. Ask a family: What
does your family do together? (eg eat) Mime the action, as you say ‘Claire’s family eat together’.
Repeat for another family. You may make this cumulative, repeating all the previous family activities.

Family puzzles: Make your own puzzles. Begin with pictures of families — choose families (human or
animal) that children are familiar with from popular children’s book and the media. Glue the picture
to card. Cut each card into pieces (separating the members of the family). Children put together
the puzzle families and name the people in the family.
BOOKS TO SHARE Find stories in your local library or parents’ collections about families, for example:
Caillou
a New Family
by Christine
l’Heureux
My Family
a play and tote
book by
Merry North
The Family
Book
by Todd Parr
SONGS AND RHYMES
Traditional rhymes and songs often assume ‘traditional’ families. Be careful with your selection.
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This is a family (hold up one hand, fingers spread);
let's count them and see,
how many there are, and who they can be
(count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
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It’s so nice to have a cuddle (Useful Book)
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In my family, in my family, God gave me a mother.
For my family, for my family, Thank you, thank you, God.
(Elizabeth Sparrow, Sing to Jesus #220)
(Add other family members.)
FAITH ENRICHMENT IDEAS
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Key faith concept: God gives us families that love us and people we can love back.
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Talk about who are the people in your family.
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Wonder why God gives us families.
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Story: Jesus tells who his family is. (Luke 8 19–21).
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Song: God loves you and I love you
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Pray: Thank you, God, for families. Amen.
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Bible Verse: God put the lonely in families. (Psalm 68:6)
Playgroup Program Ideas
22
Year A, Term 4