By: Carmen Tan, Kingston-Galloway | Outreach worker
Family-Friendly Hikes All Year Round
During the pandemic, the Outreach Workers in all of the sites utilized the outdoor space to run programs. The great outdoors or even playing outside the building or your front step allows the kids to release all their energy with the right activities.
We would create obstacle courses, skip and race one another to see who the fastest is. At Kingston-Galloway, we enjoy ravine walks where the kids can explore God’s beautiful creation.
Visit Glen Stewart Park Trail (The Beaches)
First time doing walks as a family? Enjoy a short and sweet outdoor preserve featuring a shaded, boardwalk trail winding through the stream. This shaded trail will make sure the kids are nice and cool.
Visit Vista Trail in Scarborough (Rouge Valley)
Enjoy a 3 km hike trail with your children, explore the trees and God’s beautiful nature. At the end of the Vista Trail, you will find a two-level viewing platform to view Toronto’s autumn colours and spectacular valley views.
Visit Moccasin Trail Park (North York)
Have you ever driven on the DVP and noticed a rainbow tunnel? Bring the kids and the family to find the rainbow tunnel at Moccasin Trail Park. A 15-hectare park at Lawrence and East and Don Valley Parkway and walk through a naturalized ravine forest.
Spiritual Activities
The modern-day family is always out and about and the opportunity together becomes rare. Here are some spiritual activities for your children to do together as a family.
1) Read the Jesus Story Bible together
We love using this book to teach the children who God is and why Jesus is so important. A great way to teach the children in your life about God’s never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love. If you need more of a teaching resource, search online for lessons.
2) Pray Together
At programs, we are teaching the children they can talk to God directly. We teach the children and youth, they can directly speak to God through prayer. Try praying once a day and have your child repeat after you. Let’s put our hands together and bow our heads.
“God, we thank you for your love for us. We are grateful for the food and home you have provided. Thank you for keeping us safe and continually guiding our paths. May I learn to be kind and compassionate to others today Amen”
If you have older kids, try to do a prayer walk around your community - praying for your neighbours.
3) Worship Together
Every child learns differently, try different ways to praise and worship the Lord. It can be through singing, dancing or drawing. Try to make a worship playlist to play around the house can get the kids excited and active for God. Break down the lyrics, and makeup actions to explain what each verse means.
Here are some great children worship songs we like:
● Deep Cries out - Bethel Music Kids
● I Could Sing of Your Love Forever - Cedarmont Kids
● Father Abraham - Wee Sing
● You’re Worthy Of My Praise
● My Lighthouse - Rend Collective
Check out some Worship Songs that we’ve danced to for our 30 Days of Sonshine!
● Big House covered by MFBC, PIBC & CPMI
● Deep Cries Out covered by Kingston-Galloway Summer 2019 Staff
● Jesus You’re My Superhero covered by MFBC, PIBC & CPMI
For more activities check our Crafts at Home blog post!