Last Updated on March 11, 2024
Do you feel like the summer days are fleeting and you haven’t done everything you wanted? Perhaps you had great plans to do something special with your kids and it just hasn’t panned out that way.
Here’s some good news. It’s not too late, and you can do it right there in your home.
How is that possible?
Think back to your childhood. What were some of your favorite memories?
I remember my mother teaching me the song, “I’m a Little Teapot,” and us doing the motions together as we sang. The motion to “tip me over and pour me out,” was my favorite. It cost her nothing and is a memory I cherish.
So what could you do right there in your home that would be a special memory with the added bonus your children would carry it in their hearts through life? Following are two memory builders. Which will you do first?
Memory Builder 1: Let’s Go Fishing Indoors
I’ve done this memory builder with my children and grandchildren. They love it, and remember it!
Tell your children that you’re putting up a surprise and not to peep. That, of course, will arouse their curiosity and peek their interest.
Get a sheet and drape it between two chairs.
Make a fishing pole out of a yardstick or wooden dowel.
Make the line for the fishing pole out of yarn, twine, ribbon, whatever you have handy.
Make a hook out of a pipe cleaner or paperclip.
Print 1 Peter 5:7 on bright colored construction paper. “Cast your worries on Jesus because He cares for you.”
Place pictures of anything that might be a “worry” to your child (barking dog, fire, thunder storm) on the table.
Explain to your child that Jesus is in heaven and we can cast our worries to Him.
Let your child cast their worry across the draped sheet to you, hidden behind the sheet, as you represent Jesus, and take their “worry” off the hook.
Build the memory: We can “cast” our worries on Jesus in prayer. He cares for us.
Memory Builder 2: Let’s Count Hairs
This is an especially fun memory builder that opens children’s eyes to how smart God is.
As before, tell your children that you have a fun Kids Time memory builder and not to peep until you have it set up.
Place scissors, glue, a white paper plate for each child, and bright colored yarn on the table.
Print Matthew 10:30 on bright colored construction paper. “But the very hairs of your head are numbered.”
Invite your children to come to the memory builder and ask them to count how many hairs are on your head. You’ll get some big eyed responses such as, “I can’t count them all,” to which you will agree. Then you’ll have the opportunity to explain that their Heavenly Father knows how many hairs they have.
Let them draw their face (eyes, nose, mouth) on the paper plate, cut hairs out of the yarn, and glue the yarn hairs to the paper plate.
As they draw, cut, and glue, talk with them about how smart God is and that He sees them and knows everything about them and loves them.
As you have just learned … summer memory building (or any memory building) doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. It can be short, sweet, and lasting because what you’re doing with your child is planting truth and comfort in their hearts.
Take each memory builder a step further and help your child learn the Bible verses so they will be hidden in their hearts. Ask them as you’re driving in the car or eating breakfast, “What’s a Bible verse that starts with “B” and has to do with hair?” “What’s a Bible verse that starts with “C” and has to do with fishing? Talk about the Memory Builder you did together when you tuck them in bed. If you’re like me, you’ll find the activities and verses are not only good memory builders for our children, but also for us.
Heavenly Father, thank You for our children and for the opportunity to plant Your Word, comfort, and love in their hearts. May Your truths go deep into their hearts and carry them through life. In Jesus name, amen.
{Editor’s Note: Discover more kids memory builders and a slide show of memory builder verses over at Debbie’s website!}
