Music and art are a huge part of our ministry with children. One because kids love both and two because they are great teaching tools. Kids many times do not even realize that they are learning and they are having such a great time that they are more open to receiving. Music is such a great tool since it is freeing. Think about it, when you are upset and need a good cry what do you do? For many of us we find that one song that we know will help the tears flow and get it all out while we belt the song out. It is no different for children. They have emotions that need to be expressed too. Music gives you the opportunity to move, to express yourself and to have fun too. We love action songs where they are moving and worshiping at the same time. It is also important to teach them that worship has many forms and music can help them to express their feelings.
Crafts are just fun in general but they can be teaching tools too. We have always used crafts to reinforce the idea we are teaching. Here’s a perfect example, Thanksgiving is a time where we are thankful and remember all God has done but it is also the holiday that everyone eats turkey. Even in countries where they do not have a day like Thanksgiving they know we eat turkey on that day. In Mexico, especially in the boarder cities they do celebrate Thanksgiving, mostly because it is a day to eat turkey but they recognize it as a day of thanks too. So this last Thanksgiving we made turkeys at the WTK orphanage to remind us to be thankful. Mario asked, “What are we thankful for, the turkey?” Here is where the lesson began and we talked about all the things we had to be thankful for and how God provides. The kids really understood. A few weeks later their turkeys were still displayed and when I asked if they remembered what they stood for they told me the story again of being thankful. Mario did add, “Poor turkey has nothing to be thankful for, he’s lunch!” (Turkeys are made out of work gloves, stuffed with newspaper and what ever little craft things available to decorate them. We used google eyes, fake rose pedals and wooden hearts.)
Both music and art are freeing and expressive and allow the child to remember what they have learned. When we would arrive at the orphanage the first thing the kids would do is ask to carry my bag, hoping they caught a glimpse of what craft project we might be doing. Then they would try to guess what the story would be.