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Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft for Kids

An easy Jesus loves the little children craft in three levels. Kids draw the children and slide them into a paper heart pocket. Free printable template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft for Kids

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
Mark 10:13–16; Matthew 19:13–15
Bible story
Jesus Blesses the Children

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in red, pink, yellow, light blue, green and orange, plus any colors for drawing the children
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed crown page (page 3), one per child, a yellow crayon, one piece of yarn about 10 inches long and clear tape (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the big heart red and the pocket pink. Color the four cards yellow, light blue, green and orange, one color each. Leave the windows white.
  2. In each card's window, draw one of the young children who were brought to Jesus (Mark 10:13). Draw yourself in one of them, because Jesus loves you too.
  3. Cut out the big heart, the pocket, the four cards and the verse card on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  4. Turn the pocket over. Put glue along its two sides and its bottom point only (the dotted line on the front shows where). Press it onto the bottom of the big heart so the edges line up. Leave the top open.
  5. Glue the verse card on the back of the big heart. Read it together.
  6. Tell it: slide the four cards into the pocket, so the children are held in the heart. "He took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:16). Jesus loves kids!

This Jesus loves the little children craft turns one printed page into a paper heart that holds the children close. Kids draw the young children who were brought to Jesus, and themselves, on four cards and slide them into the heart's pocket, because when the disciples rebuked those who brought them, Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not," and "he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:14, 10:16). The memory verse is on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes in three levels, from preschool to 5th grade.

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, crayons, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids put themselves in the story: every child draws the children Jesus welcomed, and one of the cards is a picture of themselves. Jesus loves them too.
  • It shows what Jesus did: the cards slide into the heart, the way Jesus "took them up in his arms" (Mark 10:16).
  • It points to Jesus: the heart stands for His love. Jesus is not drawn.
  • It carries the verse home: Mark 10:14 (KJV), "Suffer the little children to come unto me," is glued on the back of the heart.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue the pocket on. Kids color, draw the children and slide the cards in. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out the pieces and glue the pocket on.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also add a yellow crown from page 3 behind the top of the heart for "the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14–15) and a yarn loop to hang it.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who was brought to Jesus and why (Mark 10:13; Matthew 19:13), what the disciples did (Mark 10:13), how Jesus felt and what He said (10:14), and what He did with the children (10:16). Then turn the heart over and read Mark 10:14 together. "Suffer" means let.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue the pocket on ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and slide the cards in. Cardstock keeps the pocket open and the cards standing up.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Jesus loves the little children lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make an easy Jesus loves the little children craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's heart, pocket, cards and verse card ahead of time, and glue the pocket onto the heart for them. Preschoolers color the pieces, draw a child in each card's window and slide the cards into the heart pocket. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a little glue and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page, a piece of yarn and a little tape.

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

Mark 10:14 (KJV), "But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." It is printed on the verse card that kids glue on the back of the heart. "Suffer" means let.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also add a yellow crown from page 3 behind the top of the heart for "the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14–15), and a yarn loop so the heart can hang on a wall or a doorknob.

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