Preschoolers are generally happy little souls. They are always looking for an opportunity to laugh and have fun. Nehemiah 8:10 says this: “For the joy of the Lord is (my) strength.” Here’s a fun and upbeat game to help your little ones memorize this great verse. It’s called “The Box of JOY”.
This is what you do:
For this preschool Bible school activity, you will need to create a large die from a 6- to 8-inch box. This becomes the “JOY Box”. I got mine at a local box store in my neighborhood. Decorate each side with a different color such as red, yellow, blue, green, black, and white. Also, add to each side a picture of one of the following body parts: nose, ear, head, elbows, waist, and hips. I suggest you laminate all sides of the box for long term use.
How to play:
After introducing Nehemiah 8:10 and reciting it together several times, show your children “The JOY Box.” Explain that you are going to look around the room for someone who is happy or joyful. The child you choose will roll the “JOY Box”. If the box lands on the red side, then all children wearing red will place both hands on the body part shown on the red side. Finally, all of those children should turn around while saying the Bible verse together while having their hands on their chosen body part. At this point, you should start to hear a lot of laughter. You won’t have any trouble finding your next joyful child to roll the “Joy Box.”
Before playing this Bible school activity for preschoolers, you may want to introduce this lesson as follows:
Choose different children and ask them what makes them happy. (Wait for responses.) Continue by saying, “Those are all great reasons to be happy! Did you know that God wants us to be so happy that we are joyful, no matter what? That’s true! God also says that when we are happy, we will be strong.” , our inside and our outside. For example, when I’m happy, my nose is happy! (Point to his nose and make it move and invite the children to do the same), my elbows are happy!” (Shake your elbows up and down. Continue this line of conversation. After each body part is discussed, you may want to recite Nehemiah 8:10 together to help you begin to memorize the verse. After you finish your introduction, explain the rules of the game and have fun!)