You’ll need paper and water-soluble felt-tip markers. A magnifying glass adds interest, but is optional.

Begin by explaining to your children that they are each unique – a word that means “different from everyone else in a special way.” Tell your children:

God made you according to a very special plan. There is no one like you alive today, nor was there ever anyone exactly like you in the past. In all of the world, there is not another ________ (insert child’s name). That means you are unique!

One of the ways God made each person unique was to give them special “stamps” that are unlike anyone else’s. Those stamps are our fingerprints. Fingerprints are so unique to each person, the police use fingerprints left at the scene of a crime to find out who did the crime. Our fingerprints are like a signature that no one else can duplicate.

When you are ready, you can begin making your fingerprint drawings.

1. Colour the fingertips of each child’s dominant hand with a felt-tip marker and have him or her make fingerprints on a blank sheet of paper.
2. Take a few minutes to admire the fingerprints and view them through a magnifying glass, comparing them to fingerprints belonging to others.
3. Ask each child to think of creatures he or she could draw using their fingerprints. To get the ideas flowing, use your own fingertips to print a rabbit. (Use your index finger to make a head, your pinky finger to make long ears, a thumbprint for the body and pinkie tips for legs and a tail.) Other easy ideas include bugs, butterflies, inchworms, owls, bears and fish. Add finishing touches like eyes, legs and whiskers.
4. Compliment each child on their creativity and be sure to admire each child’s artistic efforts.
5. As you make your fingerprint creatures, discuss how God made humans unique among all His creation. Here are some ideas.

Skin and hair: Humans have highly sensitive skin that is not covered in fur. This allows us to communicate with each other through touch in ways that would be difficult if we were covered in fur or feathers. (Stroke each child’s head and cheek. Ask which is more sensitive: skin or hair-covered skin.)

Brains: Our brains are designed so we can figure out very complicated problems. (Show your kids a jigsaw puzzle and compare it to a toddler’s puzzle with just a few pieces.) Explain that very high functioning animals can do simple puzzles, but only people have the brain power to do difficult puzzles and solve complicated problems.

Hearts: God designed each person with a spirit. The spirit is the part of us that allows us to communicate with and know God personally. The part of us that is designed to know and love God is referred to as our “heart.”

Creativity: Part of being made in God’s image means we have been given the ability to think and create. We can draw or paint, and we can design and build things. We can make up stories, write poems, make music and write songs. Being creative brings us joy. (Share with your children the idea that God is the greatest creator of all, because He designed us and the whole world – all that is in it.)

Relational abilities: God designed people to enjoy other people’s company. We are wired to love and be loved, to touch and be touched by others. People enjoy talking, telling stories and listening to each other.

This kind of communication allows us to share our lives with other people. God loves us and wants to be part of our lives too. Just like God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God wants to hang out with us.

Close by thanking God for making human beings special – different from all the other creatures He made.

Relevant Scripture

Jeremiah 10:12 “But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.”

Psalm 139:13-15a “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place.”