If you've ever tried to teach small children, you know it can be hard to keep their attention for very long. Using a visual aid when teaching a lesson or Bible story can double the time you have to tell the story to listening ears.
The simplest way we've found to share Christ with children is to use the Wordless book, but you can tell the story using a variety of colored items. For little boys especially, toy cars hold a special delight and intrigue. Here are some tips for
Giving the Gospel to Children with Matchbox® Cars
You will want to have between 5 and 7 colors of cars.
- Black – sin
- Red – blood of Jesus
- White – forgiveness
- Green – growth
- Yellow – Heaven, eternity
- optional: Blue – baptism
- optional: Purple – adoption & Royalty
For a full lesson script and printable see this post.
If you don't already have toy cars, check out this package on Amazon.
5 Tips for Teaching with Gospel Matchbox Cars:
- Only pull out one car at a time. Remember, that toy cars are exciting for most children and seeing many of them may cause a stampede to get to them. Have a bag or box or something “mysterious” out of which you can pull the cars one at a time as you tell the story of the Wordless book.
- Use questions. Get their minds engaged with the story by asking questions. Speeches and monologue will either be turned out or completely disregarded, but engage the children in questions and discussions and you will hold their attention through to the last car.
- Allow the children to hold the cars. Contrary to what most adults think, many children can listen while playing with an object. Sometimes a small toy to keep their hands busy allows the rest of their body the freedom to be still. As you reveal each colored car, allow the child (or choose a child if in a class situation) to hold a car, describe the car, display the car etc. This further engages him/her in the lesson as well.
- Let the children retell the story as they return the cars to the box.
- Review by pulling out the cars at random and letting the children tell you the meaning of the colors.
Find more Gospel and Wordless Book Resources Here.
