Praise & Worship Activities for Kids

Praise and worship church services are upbeat and energetic, which is appealing to children. Parents can continue to encourage their children in the faith by introducing a few praise and worship activities at home 1. This further illustrates that children of any age can have a relationship with God, and that this relationship exists all week long, not just on Sundays.

Music

One of the first things a person thinks of when he hears the word "worship" is music. Music is indeed one way a child can worship God. Read your child the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25. Even though Paul and Silas were in prison, they still sang songs of praise to God. Discuss how songs of praise can lift the spirit no matter what is going on in your child's life. Select a few songs to sing with your children. This may include "Jesus Loves Me," "Deep and Wide," My God is So Big" or "This Little Light of Mine," as well as "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "Standing on the Promises."

Dance

One method King David used to worship God was dancing. Read children 2 Samuel 6:14, which talks about David dancing before God as the Ark of the Covenant was being brought into the city, so they can hear for themselves that dancing is an acceptable form or worship. Play a few praise songs and encourage your children to dance to them. You can give the kids a piece of ribbon attached to the top of a stick to wave around as they dance. If you don't have a praise CD, you can simply sing the songs yourself while your children dance to them.

Crafts

Creating a few crafts is another option to praise and worship God. Start off by creating a stained glass cross. Give your children a set of washable markers and have them color a coffee filter with them. Next, spray the coffee filter with water and let it dry. Cut a cross shape out of the coffee filter. Instruct children to write the verse Psalm 147:1 on the back, which says, "Praise the Lord 1! It is good to sing praises to our God; it is good and pleasant to praise Him." Another option is to give the children a big piece of poster board. Let the kids create a collage of all the ways they can praise and worship God. They can draw the pictures or use pictures from a magazine. They can also add Bible verses that talk about ways to praise and worship God. You may want to write part of Matthew 21:6 across the top of the collage. It reads, “Yes,” replied Jesus, “Have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” 1

Instruments

King David not only sang and dance when worshiping and praising God; he also played music. Kids can create a few musical instruments out of everyday household items to use during worship time. Give each child a toilet paper roll, a piece of wax paper, a rubber band and a pencil. Tell the kids to place the wax paper over one of the open ends of the toilet paper roll and to hold it in place by sliding a rubber band over it. Finish the kazoo by poking a few small holes in the wax paper with the point of the pencil. Blowing in the open end of the toilet paper roll will create music. Make a praise shaker out of two paper plates and a handful of beans. If you don't have beans, rice or uncooked popcorn will do the trick. Place the beans on one of the paper plates. Turn the second paper plate upside down and over top of the first. Staple around the edges or use tape to secure the plates together. Color the praise shaker or write a Bible verse on it. Shake while dancing and singing.