Compassion

Hands-on options

These fun ideas require very little preparation, making it easy for you to share some simple but memorable lessons with your kids. Choose just one or two ideas that will appeal to your children.

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  • Blanket tag

    Physical activity

    Play a game of blanket tag to emphasize the idea that “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

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  • Camping with compassion

    Drama / Role play

    For this activity, you’ll set up a pretend campsite indoors and let your children practice offering comfort and reassurance to siblings and stuffed toys who are afraid of the dark.

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  • Child sponsorship

    Serving others

    Sponsor a needy child to introduce your children to caring for the needs of someone beyond their immediate community.

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  • Come alongside

    Physical activity

    While you are out walking together, this simple exercise will help you show your children the value of coming alongside a friend or family member to encourage them during a hard time.

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  • Compassion clips

    Drama / Role play

    Have your children stage a series of mini puppet shows to help them practice verbalizing sympathy and support.

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  • Compassion starts small

    Getting into nature

    Dissuade your children from killing insects, small animals and plants by adopting the family rule If God made it, we don’t hurt it.

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  • Compassionate caregivers

    Any time, Drive time

    Talk to your children about the “caring professions,” such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, pastors and counsellors.

    Discussion point: God heals us from our spiritual illness of sin.

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  • Lent beyond the Easter season

    Any time, Drive time

    Help your children understand how well off they are and introduce them to the idea of making “Lent” sacrifices in order to bless others who are in need.

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  • Love like a dog

    Any time, Drive time

    In this activity, you’ll watch how your pet dog reacts when someone in the family is upset, and talk about body language cues that suggest someone is upset.

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  • Mercy tales

    Any time, Drive time

    Tell your kids about a time when you were short of money, or in need in some other way, and someone helped you – or use the story provided here instead.

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  • My sweet baby

    Any time

    Have fun showing your children photos of them when they were babies.

    Discussion point: Parents have tender compassion for their children, but God’s compassion for us is even greater.

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  • Open arms

    Serving others

    Packing an Operation Christmas Child shoebox is a great way to teach your children to care for others.

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  • Operation worm rescue

    Getting into nature

    Toward the end of a rainy day, venture outside to conduct a “worm rescue.”

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  • Salt water is special

    Science with a twist

    Make a raw egg float in salt water to illustrate how much God cares about our tears and sorrows, and how God shows us His compassion by carrying us in our times of sorrow.

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  • Seeking God’s heart

    Any time, Drive time

    At a family mealtime, or while on a long drive, put your heads together to write a family prayer asking God to give you His love and concern for others. If you wish, you can use this simple Celtic prayer as a model for your prayer.

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  • The mercy rule

    Any time, Drive time

    Implement “the mercy rule” when you play board games like Trouble or Sorry!, and look for other ways to implement the same concept in your day-to-day life.

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  • Walking in their shoes

    Physical activity

    The idea behind this exercise is to let your children go barefoot awhile so they can have empathy and compassion for children who do not own a pair of shoes.

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  • Wet and wild water fight

    Physical activity

    On a hot summer day, have a water fight with your children, but be “merciful” in your use of the hose.

    Discussion point: As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

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