How to Make a Prayer Bear Craft

You've heard of the Care Bears, but this Prayer Bear is great way to teach children what they can do for others when they care. When people share with us about an illness, a surgery or a challenge, we often tell them that we will be praying for them. Our family came up a craft to help us to remember those that we intend to remember in prayer. A prayer journal works well for adults but the "prayer bear" is a cute way to help children remember their family and friends in prayer.

Over the years, we've made the Prayer Bears, for ourselves or as gifts, out of a variety of materials. Paper, felt, foam or fabric will all work as long as the kids have a hand in designing their bear so that it has special meaning to them. The important aspect of the Prayer Bear is the pocket on the bear's belly. Inside this pocket you can put cards with people's names or even photographs of the people you are praying for this week.

Materials:

Paper, fabric, felt, or foam background

Scissors

Glue

Paper, fabric, felt or foam pieces for accessories

Optional: buttons or wiggly eyes

Want to make it magnetic?

You may also want to add magnetic strips if you'd like to turn your Prayer Bear craft into a magnet that can stay on the front of the refrigerator. Don't forget you can upcycle freebie advertising magnets to save money on your crafts.

Directions:

You can free hand an outline of a bear but if you need help, you can find some great free printable bear outlines here at the coloring.ws website.

Kids can accessorize their bears with eyes, nose, mouth, hair bows, bow ties or whatever makes them "beary" happy.

Show kids how to apply glue to the sides and bottom of a square to create the pocket that will hold their prayer requests and photographs.

Personalize your prayer bear with flair.

Kids love to personalize their crafts with their names. There are a variety of ways that kids can label their craft such as "Josh's Prayer Bear." If you've used fabric or felt to create your prayer bear then it can be personalized with fabric paints or fabric markers. If you use foam sheets or paper, you can personalize your prayer bear with markers or letter stickers.

Prayer bear crafts are a wonderful summer fun activity for home, Sunday school or Bible school and they also make adorable gifts kids can make for their friends.

More from this Featured Lifestyle Yahoo Network Contributor:

Bible School Crafts on a Budget: Unique Fruits of the Spirit Craft

Fun Summer Art Activities for Home: Paint with Your Feet

Summer Craft Ideas for 8 to 10 Year Olds