Cov Kids Community
Hey Cov Kids! Even though we can't meet in person yet, we've got a lot of God content for you right here on our website! Each week there will be new kids message videos, prayer suggestions and resources. Be sure to view the Remember Verse videos so you can be the experts during our worship service time too - whether that's at church or in your living room.
To connect with Jennifer Uitvlugt, Director of Family Ministries, email her by clicking here..
To connect with Jennifer Uitvlugt, Director of Family Ministries, email her by clicking here..
Cov Kid's Weekly Virtual Worship Activities
February Remember Verse
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Kid's Message
Family Activity
God's Big Story Card #98
Roll the dice to find out how you get to dig deeper into God's Story!
Easy Extra:
Ask your children to name all the different ways people felt during this story. Then invite them to tell about times when they have experienced feelings like that. Don't try to fix difficult situations or solve their problems as they share; just listen and empathize. Conclude your conversation by telling the kids that Jesus knows all our feelings - he knows when we are happy and when we're sad, when we're angry and when we're scared. Jesus had those same feelings when he lived on Earth. And still today Jesus cares about how we feel.
Roll the dice to find out how you get to dig deeper into God's Story!
Easy Extra:
Ask your children to name all the different ways people felt during this story. Then invite them to tell about times when they have experienced feelings like that. Don't try to fix difficult situations or solve their problems as they share; just listen and empathize. Conclude your conversation by telling the kids that Jesus knows all our feelings - he knows when we are happy and when we're sad, when we're angry and when we're scared. Jesus had those same feelings when he lived on Earth. And still today Jesus cares about how we feel.
Story Time
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A Common Caterpillar
by Max Lucado Hermie doesn't have stripes. He doesn't have spots. In fact, he doesn't have anything special like everyone else. But together with his friend, Wormie, they talk to God about their troubles. Why do they have to be so plain? Will they ever be special? Read along with Mrs. Jenn to find out! |
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Prayer Idea
For the next 4o days (plus Sundays), Christians around the world will recognize the season of Lent. This is traditionally seen as a time of personal reflection and preparation for Good Friday and Easter. The 40-day period is based on Jesus' time in the desert, during which he fasted, prayed and was tempted by the devil for 40 days. Over this Lenten season, we invited you to set aside time each week to pray for and meditate on the lives and circumstances of the estimated 385 million children around the world who live in extreme poverty. Download these prayer cards to hang in your bathroom, car or refrigerator to remind you to pray each week!
https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LentPrayerCards.pdf
Week 1
Scripture: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6)
Pray: Lord, protect children from the long-term negative effects of poverty. May their impressionable hearts and minds be guarded from poverty's lies, so they can see the light of your truth. Amen.
https://blog.compassion.com/6-weekly-prayers-for-children-in-poverty-this-lent/
https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LentPrayerCards.pdf
Week 1
Scripture: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6)
Pray: Lord, protect children from the long-term negative effects of poverty. May their impressionable hearts and minds be guarded from poverty's lies, so they can see the light of your truth. Amen.
https://blog.compassion.com/6-weekly-prayers-for-children-in-poverty-this-lent/
Parent Resources
Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter
by Laura Alary While the Advent season is filled with fun and expectations, Lent can be hard for children. It travels through frightening places, loaded with themes of self-denial and death. How can children approach this season in a way that is meaningful and not frightening? Make Room presents Lent as a special time for creating a welcoming space for God. This unique book integrates themes of hospitality and self-giving that echo Jesus' ministry and Jesus' entire life, inviting children to wonder about the story, to encounter Lent with all their senses and to experience activities in Lent as part of a life of discipleship. 
Jesus Storybook Bible Lent Guide
by Sally Lloyd Jones "Lent is the time we remember God's Secret Rescue Plan. And we make room for time with our Heavenly Father, too. As we read stories of God's Great Rescue we remember important things. We remember why we needed Jesus to come. That we can't rescue ourselves. How much he loves us." The Jesus Storybook Bible Lent Guide includes: - Letter to Friends (big and little) from Sally Lloyd Jones - Paper chain reading plan for 40 days of Lent - Reading plan calendar with a corresponding chapter from The Jesus Storybook Bible to read each day - Colouring pages by Jago - Beautiful printable art - All as a FREE download! https://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-lent-easter-printables-sally-lloyd-jones/ 
D6 Family
D6Family, standing for Deuteronomy 6, is a discipleship website for families and churches. They provide family activities that build Biblical connections and encourage conversations about Christ. They also offer blogs on family discipleship, devotionals and other material to help you in discipling your kids! https//d6family.com 
Screen Kids: 5 Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech Driven World by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane
In this digital age, children spend more time interacting with screens and less time playing outside, reading a book or interacting with family. Though technology has its benefits, it also has its harms. In Screen Kids, you'll discover how to take back your home from an over dependence on screens, through stories, science and wisdom. Plus, you'll learn to teach the fie A+ skills that every child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology and attention. 
Revelation Media in McKinney is allowing people to watch their animated version of the great Christian classic by John Bunyan - The Pilgrim's Progress - for FREE - during the coronavirus crisis. Remember, that even though this is an animated version of the book, it stays true to the written work by Bunyan and is probably something that you'll want to to watch with your younger children. Click here to enter your email address and get access to their film for free.
5 Ways to Practice Hospitality with Kids
If you've ever entered a home as a guest and left feeling like you're family, you've experienced hospitality. People who practice hospitality make space for guests, visitors and strangers, extending to them the privileges of family. God calls all of us to practice hospitality! Read this article to discover how to cultivate a spirit of hospitality in your kids. https://network.crcna.org/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-hospitality-kids 
Cornerstones for Parents is a biblically based parenting website that equips Christian parents to build a strong foundation. Here you will find expert articles on parenting, fun family activities, unique products and encouragement from God's word.
The Third Gift
by Linda Sue Park, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline The three wise men are familiar figures in the Christmas tradition. This Epiphany story is the starting point for a new story. In it we meet a boy who is learning his father's trade; a man who gathers resin from certain trees; a merchant in a marketplace; and three strangers in brightly coloured robes who are shopping for a gift for a baby. This simple, moving tale of ordinary people involved in an extraordinary event brings new resonance to the well-known gift list of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 
The Tale of Three Trees: An Original Folktale
retold by Angela Elwell Hunt Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. Each of their dreams come true in an unexpected way in this lovely retelling of an old folk tale. 
Jesus Storybook Advent Printables and Ornaments
Share with your children the story of Christmas and God's great plan for Jesus' birth. Zonderkidz and author Sally Lloyd-Jones have made this Advent toolkit and printables available to you for FREE through FaithGateway. Each day for 24 days you can make an ornament that corresponds with one of the stories in the Bible, then read the companion story in The Jesus Storybook Bible. It's super easy and fun for the entire family! https://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/ 
Campfire Christmas - Rend Collection
"We called this album Campfire Christmas (Vol. 1) because that's what Christmas is - an invitation into the family of God, to come and feel the glow. And though the world may be stinging and cold, we find warmth and hope at Christmas: our shining light of the world, our joy and peace, Jesus the Messiah." 
The Jesse Tree
by Geraldine McCaughrean As Mr. Butterfield carves a Jesse Tree in a dusty old church, a curious young boy distracts him by asking about the various symbols on the tree. Against his inclination, the gruff old man finds himself retelling the familiar biblical tales that trace the family tree of Christ, from the Garden of Eden to Jesus' birth. Under the carpenter's skilled hands, the Jesse Tree grows and an unlikely friendship begins to take root as well. 
What's In The Bible
Meet anchorman Buck Denver, his friends and VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer - your family's guide through the entire Bible! Journey with the crew as they find answers to tough questions like "who wrote the Bible?" and "what is salvation?" This 13 volume video series is a hilarious and groundbreaking new way to help your children learn about God, the Bible and faith! https://whatsinthebible.com/search/+ 
Crosswalk.com
Crosswalk.com is an online Christian living magazine brought to you by a group of writers, editors and content producers seeking to provide applicable, educational and entertaining content to followers of Jesus Christ regardless of where they are in their respective spiritual journeys. They provide timely information on everything from marriage, parenting and family issues to Bible study, prayer, spiritual growth and devotionals to current events and a Christian look at popular culture, always within an overarching framework of evangelical Christian orthodoxy. https://www.crosswalk.com/ 
Grace Based Parenting: Set Your Family Free
Dr. Tim Kimmel, founder of Family Matters ministries, offers a refreshing new look at parenting. Rejecting rigid rules and checklists that don't work, Dr. Kimmel recommends a parenting style that mirrors God's love, reflects His forgiveness, and displaces fear as a motivator for behaviour. As we embrace the grace God offers, we begin to give it - creating a solid foundation for growing morally strong and spiritually motivated children. 
Five Love Languages of Children
by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell Discover how to speak your child's love language in a way the he or she understands. These two authors will help you: - Discover your child's love language - Assist your child in successful learning - Use the love languages to correct and discipline more effectively - Build a foundation of unconditional love for your child PLUS: Find dozens of tips for practical ways to speak your child's love language Discover your child's primary language - then speak it - and you will be well on your way to a stronger relationship with your flourishing child. https://www.5lovelanguages.com/book/the-5-love-languages-of-children/
Looking for simple devotions for ages 5 and up? Fun and character forming, these collections of 26 short devotions introduce a positive character trait for every letter of the alphabet.
https://shop.focusonthefamily.ca/A-to-Z-Devotions-for-Brave-Boys https://shop.focusonthefamily.ca/A-to-Z-Devotions-for-Courageous-Girls
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures: Porn Proofing Today's Kids
by Kristen A. Jenson, MA It only takes a few taps on a mobile device for a curious young child to find an endless supply of deviant, hard-core and addicting pornography - all for free. Unfortunately, many young kids are being exposed to pornography without the slightest clue that it can damage their developing minds. The 5-point CAN DO Plan teaches kids how to avoid the brain warping images of pornography and minimize the troubling memories of accidental exposure that often tempt kids to look for more and lead them into a dark and destructive addiction. To stay safe in the digital age, kids must install an internal filter in their own brain. Good Pictures, Bad Pictures shows them how and makes a difficult discussion, easy and empowering for parents. The junior edition is for ages 3-6 and the next for ages 7-12.
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Stories Jesus Told
by Mark Littleton With flaps to open on every page, and surprises to find underneath, children can join in the thrill of discovery as they read a variety of parables - the stories Jesus told to teach people how they should live. 
Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science
Indescribable displays the majesty of creation with scientific findings, photography and original illustrations. These 100 devotions encourage awe at God's creativity with an in-depth look at: - space, galaxies, planets and stars - earth, geology, oceans and weather - animals - from doves to dinosaurs - our minds, bodies and imaginations Each devotion also features a "BE AMAZED" section with fascinating facts, hands-on activities and a closing prayer. My family loves this devotion book and in fact, I used it for Camp Wild Wonder last summer too! 
Case for Christ for Kids Devotional by Lee Strobel
Based on an eye-opening and bestselling book, (Case for Christ), this book explores the life of Jesus and what it means to be a Christian, while also tackling your tough questions about God. Using historical facts, illustrations, true stories and research, this devotional brings to life the ministry and miracles of Jesus. Each day includes a captivating story, a personal application and a final word of Scripture. Build your own case for Christ! 
All Stars Kids Club: This is a UK based non-profit Kids Media and Worship ministry that highlights, creates, provides and produces super cool media for kids all over the world. Their music, TV shows, Kids worship, videos, roadshows and Christian Kids Magazines all share the love and good of Jesus.
https://www.allstarskidsclub.com 
The Talk by Luke and Trisha Gilkerson
Sex-Ed Series for Christian Parents: Where Bible study meets biology. If you're like most parents, you might be, at best, a bit trepidatious about talking about sexual topics with your kids, and at worst, downright terrified! The Gilkersons want to help you ease into these topics. In fact, they'll even provide a script so you don't have to think on your feet. This 3-part series of parent-child Bible studies is designed to help children understand biblical sexuality. The Talk will walk you through introducing your child to Biblical sexuality (The Talk: ages 6-10), helping make sense of the changes that happen through puberty (Changes: ages 8-12) and help your kids navigate the sexual temptations that arise in the teen and adult years (Relationships: ages 11-14) 
The Bible App - YouVersion. This app has been downloaded over 420 million times and is available in 1371 languages in 2058 Bible versions! There are daily verses, prayers and devotional plans available for individual or community study. During the past six weeks, YouVersion has witnessed God moving in amazing ways as they saw the largest engagement increase ever with more people searching the Bible and more than 1.6 million prayers added. So while something historic is happening (global pandemic), we are also experiencing a season of great spiritual awakening. How exciting! Download the Bible App today! https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
Family Life Today
The Christian parenting website from Family Life Today offers articles and audio from Dennis and Barbara Rainey. They offer a free monthly e-magazine, tips on manners and a Christian parenting forum. https://www.familylife.com/ 
The Gospel in Color: For Kids
by Curtis Woods and Jarvis Wiliams (Ages 10+) This book is a must-have for children, parents and anyone else who appreciates gorgeous, vibrant art and simple, clear teaching about complex issues like race reconciliation and the gospel. Each chapter provides Bible passages for further study and discussion with your child, Scripture memory, and suggested ways to pray in light of the lesson. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-childrens-books-racism-gospel/ 
Upgrade your Bible knowledge with Superbook Bible Trivia Game! This free app is a great way for the entire family to have a blast while learning about the Bible. Gizmo, Superbook's lovable robot, will be your host as you encounter a wide array of highly engaging biblical questions and answers. Loaded with interactive content, this Bible Trivia Game will bring God's Word to life in a lively and entertaining way!
https://www.cbn.com/superbook/superbook-free-bible-trivia-quiz-app.aspx 
God Made Me and You
by Shai Linne (Ages 8-12) The author employs fun rhymes to teach about God's design for ethnic diversity. Not only that, but the end of the book offers parents: "6 Ways to Show Your Child God's Design for Ethnic Diversity" 
Christian Parenting - Live perfectly imperfect
This website provides blogs, podcasts and book recommendations on a myriad of topics surrounding Christian parenting. They provide practical and spiritual advice that set aside the standard of perfection and help you grow into the parent you want to be every day! https://www.christianparenting.org/ 
Focus on the Family: I can't recommend this website enough. This team is dedicated to you and your loved ones during this time of crisis. There are a plethora of helpful articles on the website such as "Staying Sane While Working From Home With Kids", "How To Grow Closer To Your Spouse in Quarantine" and "Coronavirus: How To Keep Your Family Finances Strong". There are also articles and free magazine issue downloads for kids! https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-time-during-the-coronavirus-quarantine/
Focus on the Family is also offering free streaming during the Coronavirus lockdown of Adventures in Odyssey! Find our more here:
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2020/april/focus-on-the-family-launches-free-streaming-for-coronavirus-lockdown-800-episodes-of-adventures-in-odyssey 
I AM: The Names of God for Little Ones by Diane Stortz
Help your child feel loved, protected and secure! God's names teach us that He is powerful, loving and gentle. He's our Creator, Saviour and so much more. These short Bible stories, verses and prayers help children discover the meaning of each name and understand God's character and His love for them. Your little ones will grow to know, love and trust the great I AM more and more! Those who know your name put their trust in you. Psalm 9:10. 
"Seekers: And Interactive Family Adventure in Following Jesus"
Discover the truth of ancient Scripture together with incredible puzzles for your family to solve together! This will be an extraordinary resource full of puzzles, art and clues about the mysteries of the Christian faith. Families with children aged 8-12 will love solving cases together in a fantastical, escape-room style book. Each of the 20 cases can be solved and discussed in 20 minutes as you delve into a theme from Scripture and how it reveals who God is, how he works and what he calls us to do. There's even an in-depth family guide with thematic insights, guidance on the discussion questions and answers to questions and riddles. This will become available in October 2020; pre-order your copy at this link! https://books.thedisciplemaker.org/seekers-beta/#buy Check it out in the video below: 
Go Fish: A great podcast and great music for kids that won't drive parents bonkers! There are also cool activities and colouring pages available for download https://www.gofishkidsmusic.com
Christie Thomas is a Christian author, and fellow Edmontonian, who helps parents cultivate a vibrant faith life so that they can live the abundant life and so that they can model and share this life with their kids. Check out her blog here! https://www.christiethomaswriter.com/blog/
"Alisa and the Coronavirus"
Four-year-old Alisa doesn't know what to do with her big feelings when the Coronavirus affects her left and her normal schedule. She, along with her 8-year-old brother Blaise, have conversations with their parents discussing what the Coronavirus is, how its affected jobs, schoolwork and so many aspects of life. Join the family as they talk through big and small issues and reflect on this major life change with your own family through reflection questions and drawing challenges. https://www.genathomas.com/store/p17/Alisa_%26_The_Coronavirus_%28English%29_PDF.html 
Artful Parent
Jean Van't Hul is a blogger who shares ideas, information and inspiration to encourage parents and teachers to enjoy and share art with kids in their lives. She writes about children's art and creativity, seasonal crafts and family fun. In this blog you can expect easy and fun kid-friendly arts and crafts, unique ideas, personal favourites and a useful resource with tons of art activities to keep kids entertained with craft. https://artfulparent.com/blog/ 
ColorFull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us
by Dorena Williamson (Ages 4-8) Dorena Williamson uses the many beautiful colors of nature to help children appreciate the various colors of people who are all made in God's image. Through a delightful story of two best friends, children are taught to not be colorblind but to be colorFULL, celebrating each color God created. 
You’re Invited is a one-week devotional to help parents or caretakers explain what the Lord's Supper is all about, get children ready to participate, and encourage the whole family to respond in gratitude for this very special gift from God. You may find it helpful to use all or some of these devotions as a way to prepare for the Lord’s Supper together each month or around the celebration of Easter. Contact me if you would like a copy!
The Bible App for Kids: This is a fantastic tool for kids learning to love the Bible. There are interactive stories, activities and colouring sheets available for download. You can download the App on your phones and take the Bible everywhere you go! Check out the website for more information. https://bibleappforkids.com/
A message for kids from Health Canada about
COVID-19/Coronavirus,click here |
