Ainsley turned two in January.
Her energy matches an Olympic athlete on speed.
When looking through ideas for Family Home Evening lessons online, I always came up short. Even the most simple of lessons were too complicated for my barely two-year-old, not to mention there was a lot of work going into a five minute lesson!
Here are a few ridiculously simple (we are talking 5 minutes max here) ideas for teaching your toddler during FHE.
1) TEMPLES
We started by going through the pictures in our house looking for temples. Each time you find one, have them repeat, "temple." We have quite a few photos. We also showed a wedding photo and told her that because Mom and Dad got married in the temple, we can be together forever.
Finally, we sang, I Love to See the Temple.
2) THE PROPHET
Show your child a picture of The Prophet and have them repeat a few words at a time, "President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet." Show them several photos and have them repeat "The Prophet" or "President Monson" several times. We ended with Follow the Prophet which is now one of Ainsley's favorite songs. She's goes around singing, "Adam was a prophet, first one that we know!" They really do learn!
3) JESUS CHRIST
Show several pictures of Jesus. Have your child point out and say "Jesus" with every picture. While doing this, tell your child how Jesus was kind and loved everyone and we can try to be like him. Also express that Jesus loves them very much. Have them repeat a few words at a time, "I'm trying to be like Jesus," and end with that song as well.
4) I AM A CHILD OF GOD
Show this video from YouTube. Have them repeat several times, "I am a child of God." Tell them that Heavenly Father loves them and the rest of the family (mom, dad, sister, etc.,). Sing I Am a Child of God.
5) I HAVE A BODY LIKE HEAVENLY FATHERS
Ask them to repeat, "I have a body like Heavenly Father's" several times (this one is so cute to hear). Point out that mom and dad also have a body and they let us jump, run, play, etc,. You can act these out as well.
Sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. We also used this coloring page and rhyme found here.
6) I CAN BE HAPPY
Tell your child that we can work to be happy! Have them repeat, "I can be happy." Tell them that when we see someone who is sad, we can smile at them to help them feel happy. Practice making happy and sad faces together. We sang, If You're Happy and You Know It and If You Chance to Meet a Frown.
7) PRAYER
Have the child repeat, "I can pray to Heavenly Father." Use the handout from this nursery lesson to show your child the order of praying. Sing,A Child's Prayer.
I also used this activity verse: I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; (raise one finger—keep fingers raised throughout the activity verse)
I thank him for blessings he sends; (raise second finger)
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, (raise third finger)
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. (raise fourth finger)
She really has learned from it! She will randomly repeat things we have told her in lessons and identify thing/people from lessons in photos. She's young, but I think it's important to start young. It also brings a warm spirit into our home.
Here is a link to the Children's Songbook: https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook?lang=eng
