Weekly Fun Plan: “Donut” Worry
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Welcome to this week’s Weekly Fun Plan: “Donut” Worry! If you haven’t already I recommend you read my introductory blog post “Faith-filled Fun: What Is It? And Why I Started It”. That post will give you some background into this blog and a little more in-depth explanation of my Weekly Fun Plans and how to use them.
This Week’s Theme: “Donut” Worry
As easy and comfortable as it is to teach our children about all the fun and sweet parts of life, it’s just as important that we teach them about the harder things too, and how to deal with them biblically. Worry and anxiety are never fun things to experience in life but everyone feels that way at one point or another. As someone who struggles with anxiety, learning how to hand those worries over to God has been a vital life skill for me and I want my kids to have that knowledge too. Let’s work together this week to teach our children the healthy way Jesus tells us to deal with worry. Not to wallow in it and let it ruin our days but to turn it over to Him in prayer and have faith that God will give us the peace we desire.
This week’s Bible lesson focuses on what Jesus teaches us about worry. All the craft, snack, and activity ideas are going to be donut-themed. If you try anything in this week’s plan don’t forget to share your experiences on social media! Tag us @faithfilledfun on Instagram or use #faithfilledfun.
New Weekly Fun Plans drop each Monday so stay up to date with the blog each week by subscribing to my email list!
Bible Lesson: What to Read or Watch this week
Since this week we are focusing on what Jesus taught us about worry, here are some great resources to read/watch:
If you have young children (ages 0-8):
- Read: Matthew 6:25-34
- Watch: “Don’t Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)” by Saddleback Kids on YouTube. This is a simple animated 3-minute video geared toward young children.
If you have older children/teens (ages 9-18):
- Read: the following verses to your kids or encourage them to read them during their personal study time. Then have them take notes on what they think God is trying to teach them through these verses:
- Matthew 6:25-34
- Philippians 4:6
- 1 Peter 5:7
- John 14:27
Bible Lesson: Questions to Ask Your Kids/Discuss this week
If you read the recommended Bible verses or watched the YouTube video your kids should be able to answer this week’s question:
What does Jesus teach us about worrying? Answer: Don’t worry about anything!
If you have little ones (ages 0-8):
I would focus on that one question this week, and work on having them memorize the answer. Ask them that same question every morning or evening and see if they can remember the answer. Once they get that question down, move on to the additional questions listed below.
If you have older children (ages 9-18):
Here are some additional questions you can discuss with them throughout the week:
- What should we do when we feel worried/anxious? (Example answers: pray, read our Bible, talk about it)
- What can God give us when we bring our worries to Him? (Peace)
- Is there something that you are worried about or often worry about? How can we bring that to God right now?
Bible Lesson: Memory Verse
Memorizing scripture is vital to teaching our children at a young age. Recalling and reciting scripture that they’ve memorized will help them as they grow and go through trials in life. It will also encourage them, equip them to go out and be little disciples of Jesus, and strengthen their faith as they age.
This week let’s have your kids work on memorizing 1 Peter 5:7
Memorizing scripture is so much easier for kids if you can find a way to make it fun. Here are some different ideas to try as a family to help memorize this week’s verse:
- Come up with some simple motions for each word of the verse and make a cheer or dance out of it.
- Come up with your own melody and create a song out of it.
- Make it a game. Start by saying one word or phrase of the verse at a time and have your kids repeat after you until you’ve gotten through the whole verse. Then repeat the process saying the words differently every time. Examples: slow, fast, in a silly voice, quiet, loud, etc.
- Write out the verse on a piece of paper. Cut it up into pieces (one word or phrase per piece) and put it together like a puzzle.
Once your child/children have got it, I recommend practicing reciting the verse each morning over breakfast or before they leave for school and maybe even again before bed. Make it a part of your routine and you’ll be amazed at how fast they will begin to pick it up.
Supplies needed for this week’s activities
Here is a quick list of all the supplies that you will need to complete all the suggested crafts, activities, and snacks for this week’s plan. For a list of my most used craft supplies, and things I will be utilizing often in future Weekly Fun Plans be sure to check out my Links page.
- Paper Plates
- White Paper
- Markers
- Paint
- Scissors
- Glitter
- Puffy Paint
- Pool Noodle (you can often find these at any dollar store)
- Stroopwafels
- Frosting
- Sprinkles
Recipe: Stroopwafel Donuts
This week’s recipe isn’t a recipe as much as a fun way to turn a simple snack into a fun sweet donut-themed treat. Follow along with the super simple instructions in this video and enjoy. For more videos like this follow me on TikTok & Instagram.
Crafts:
For this week’s crafts, we are making “Paper Plate Donuts” and “Pool Noodle Stamped Donuts”. Both crafts are simple and a fun reminder not to worry but to give our anxieties to God.
Paper Plate Donut:
Our first craft this week is another simple painting craft but also a great way for your kids to remember not to worry. Follow the link for easy step-by-step instructions for this Paper Plate Donut!
Pool Noodle Stamped Donuts:
For our second craft this week, we have these fun Pool Noodle Stamped Donuts. This craft is easy to make and can be a great reminder not to worry! Follow the link for an easy step-by-step guide.
Activities:
With our theme this week, “Donut” Worry here are a few extra ideas for activities to do with your children:
- Go out and get fresh donuts from a local bakery.
- Go outside (weather permitting) and make mud pie donuts only using materials you can find outdoors.
- Make a list of your worries and pray to God together about them.
Parenting Tip of the Week:
Our identity and our children’s identity should always come from Christ first and foremost. We are who God says we are and not what the world or other people might say we are. As much as we as parents might know it in our hearts, hear about it at church, or read it in our Bibles, it’s so important to remind ourselves and our children daily what our identity is in Christ.
Recently one of my favorite Christian influencers, Lacy Abercrombie, shared a list of Christian affirmations she reads over herself every morning and it stuck with me. I typed up the list and have been reading it over myself and my kids ever since and I think it could benefit you and your family too. So I’ve created a free downloadable Christian Affirmations poster for you to print off and use and have also attached it below for you to read. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Prayers:
Lastly, I like to end each Weekly Fun Plan with some example prayers for your week. One is to pray with your kids, maybe before they get on the bus in the morning, before a meal, or before bed, and the other prayer is for you, the parent, to pray over your kids throughout the week.
Prayer to say with your kids this week:
Dear God, please help me to not worry about anything. If I start to feel worried, remind me that I can always pray to you, because you care for me. Amen
Prayer to pray over your kids this week:
Dear God, as I go about my week, help me to be on the lookout for times my children/family might need a reminder of your love and sovereignty. Use me to be a source of encouragement to the people around me and in my care. When I or my family get worried by things that are beyond our control, please remind me that You are near and in control by filling me with your supernatural peace. In Jesus name, amen.
I hope you have a wonderful week and don’t forget to subscribe to my email list and follow me on Instagram @faithfilledfun to stay up to date with the blog!
