Great DIY activities for toddlers while learning about God & more

Here are some additional DIY activities for toddlers with a focus on incorporating Bible-based themes:

1. Bible Story Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins based on different Bible stories. For example, for the story of Noah's Ark, you can include toy animals and use blue-tinted rice to represent water. Encourage toddlers to play and explore while discussing the story.

2. Creation Collage: Discuss the story of creation with toddlers and then help them create a collage using arts and crafts materials to represent each day of creation. For example, they can glue cotton balls for clouds (day two) or draw animals (day six) to represent the different days of creation.

3. Fruit of the Spirit Sorting: Teach toddlers about the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) from Galatians 5:22-23. Create a sorting activity where toddlers sort pictures or objects representing each fruit of the Spirit into the corresponding categories.

4. Praise and Worship Dance: Play uplifting Christian music and encourage toddlers to express themselves through dance and movement. You can incorporate simple movements that reflect themes from songs or Bible stories.

5. Fishers of Men Craft: Discuss the story of Jesus calling his disciples to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Help toddlers create a simple fishing game using paper fish with paperclips and a "fishing rod" with a magnetic end. As they "fish," you can discuss the importance of sharing the love of Jesus with others.

6. Scripture Memory Cards: Create simple flashcards with short Bible verses or phrases that are easy for toddlers to understand. Spend time with them learning and reciting the verses, and encourage them to decorate the cards with drawings or stickers.

7. Armor of God Dress-Up: Teach toddlers about the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18. Create simple, child-friendly versions of the armor pieces (e.g., a paper helmet, a cardboard shield) and encourage toddlers to dress up while discussing the importance of spiritual strength and protection.

8. Parable of the Sower Gardening Activity: Discuss the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) and then engage toddlers in a simple gardening activity, such as planting seeds in small pots. Use the activity to talk about how the seeds grow and relate it to the parable's message about hearing and understanding God's word.

9. Jonah and the Big Fish Craft: Tell the story of Jonah and the big fish (Jonah 1-4) and then engage toddlers in a craft activity where they can create their own big fish using paper plates and art supplies. Use the activity to discuss the importance of listening to God and obeying Him.

10. David and Goliath Obstacle Course: Create a simple obstacle course in the backyard or indoors, themed around the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Incorporate activities that represent different aspects of the story, such as throwing "stones" (soft objects) at a target.

These Bible-based DIY activities can help toddlers engage with and learn about important stories and teachings from the Bible in a hands-on and interactive way, fostering a deeper understanding of their faith from a young age.

Looking for something else, a little less VBS...I think I have you covered with these ideas below:

There are so many fun and educational do-it-yourself (DIY) activities for toddlers that can help them develop important skills while having a great time. Here are some moew little less VBS ideas:

1. Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins using materials like rice, dried beans, sand, or water. Add scoops, cups, and small toys for toddlers to explore and play with. Sensory bins can help with fine motor skills and sensory development.

2. Homemade Playdough: Make homemade playdough using flour, salt, water, and food coloring. Toddlers can help mix the ingredients and then enjoy shaping and molding the playdough into various forms.

3. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Take toddlers on a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard or a nearby park. Create a list of items for them to find, such as leaves, rocks, flowers, or sticks. This activity encourages outdoor exploration and an appreciation for nature.

4. DIY Musical Instruments: Help toddlers create simple musical instruments using household items. For example, you can make shakers using empty water bottles and dried beans, or drums using empty oatmeal containers and balloons.

5. Puffy Paint Art: Make puffy paint by mixing equal parts of shaving cream and school glue, then add food coloring. Toddlers can use the puffy paint to create textured artwork on paper, which can be a fun and tactile experience.

6. DIY Sensory Boards: Create sensory boards by attaching various textured materials to a board, such as sandpaper, faux fur, bubble wrap, and ribbons. Toddlers can touch and explore the different textures, which can help with sensory development.

7. Color Sorting and Matching: Use colored items such as blocks, pom poms, or toy cars, and encourage toddlers to sort and match them by color. This activity can help with color recognition and fine motor skills.

8. Water Play: Set up a water play station outdoors using buckets, containers, and toys for pouring and scooping. Water play can be a fun and refreshing activity for toddlers, and it helps with sensory exploration and hand-eye coordination.

9. DIY Shape Sorters: Create simple shape sorters using cardboard boxes or containers with cutout holes in different shapes. Toddlers can then practice sorting objects based on their shapes.

10. Tissue Box Guitar: Turn an empty tissue box into a makeshift guitar by attaching rubber bands around it. Toddlers can strum the rubber bands to create different sounds and explore music.

These DIY activities are not only entertaining but also provide valuable opportunities for toddlers to learn and develop new skills in a hands-on and engaging way. Always ensure that activities are age-appropriate and supervised to ensure safety.

Now, get off of the internet and go have fun with that precious little one!