As A Child of God

This song has a lot of power words in it so I wanted to highlight them by putting signs to them.  No matter which activities I put with this song I will always use these signs.  The children will continually be reminded of their order and placement in the song.  Also, the more senses utilized means more memorization.  They're seeing the words, hearing the words, and making the words with their hands.
1st Verse: Earth, Power, Bless, Family
2nd Verse: Safe, Happy, Peace, Family, Love
3rd Verse: Home, Happily, Serve, Strengthen, Family, Good Works
Chorus: God, Light, Helps, Know, Right
I just go to aslpro.com to their "religious" section to find most of theses words.  If I don't like a particular sign  I just google it to find a different version that I like better.  Not all signs are the same for the same words.


I made a singing cube for an activity just to get the children singing it over and over again.  The sides of the cube had fun little activities to engage the children.  I pick a name (we have a basket filled with children's names on popsicle sticks).  Whomever is chosen gets to roll the cube.  The activities on our cube are:

  • Hop (all the children hopped during the verse)
  • Conduct (I had a fun tool [wand, ribbon, etc.] for the child to use to conduct the primary)
  • Sing like an Opera Singer (clasp hands in front of you like the VonTrapps, "mimimi" a little bit, tall posture, pucker lips a bit, big and round mouth, etc.)
  • Audiate (Choose a word to listen to only while singing the song.  If it's an oft-repeated one it makes it more fun)
  • Other Options - loud/soft, boys/girls, etc.



It's highly important to me that the children know the words, memorize the words.  If they learn them now they will know them for the rest of their lives.  Period.  And these words are words you want in your mind for the rest of your life.  Here are some more activities that I've used to keep the children's interest and keep them hearing and singing the words.
  1. Key words taped under chairs
    1. Whomever has the word strip get to hold it up when it is sung in the song.  It keeps the children's minds engaged and their ears listening.  It's more engaging for the senior primary. 
  2. Hot/Cold with an Easter egg, or scripture tote, or anything
    1. Choose two children: one to go out in the hall and one to hide the item
    2. Once the child is out and the item is hidden (and all of the primary children know where it is...except the one in the hall) invite the child back in to look for it.
    3. The closer the child gets to the item the louder the children sing.  The farther away, the quieter they sing.  It's fun.  
  3. Loud/Soft
    1. One lion hat.   One Spider hat.  
    2. Choose two children, one for each hat.
    3. You (the chorister) gets to have them in front of you and whichever one you touch on the head throughout the singing of the song that is how the children sing at that moment.  
    4. Fast or slow, it keeps the children engaged and waiting.  Fun!
  4. Boy/Girl
    1. Have items for a knight (sword, shield, helmet) and a lady (crown, large piece of fabric to drape around her, scepter, etc.).
    2. (Same as loud/soft)  Place hand on child's head to indicate whether girls or boys sing at a particular moment.  Back and forth, fast or slow.  
  5. Solo/Duet
    1. Ask if any children would like to let you and the primary listen to them sing the song.  Oftentimes a group of four or five girls would agree to do it.  Encourage the boys, too.  They are better at it than they know.
    2. Talk to the children about what it means to be a respectful listener.

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