Want a foolproof method for teaching the fruit of the Spirit to kids? Sing the Fruit of the Spirit song with motions! This song is tons of fun and very kid-friendly–one of my all-time favorite songs for kids. Plus, the song lyrics make learning the fruit of the Spirit super easy. So this song with motions is a fantastic supplement to any Sunday School lesson, children’s ministry, or craft on the fruit of the Spirit. Scroll down for details!
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Teaching the fruit of the Spirit to your kids?
It’s not easy to remember that long list of random attributes… unless you have a trick for learning them. 😉
This “no-fail” method for learning the fruit of the Spirit is hilarious and high-energy. Your kids will have a ton of fun doing it. And I guarantee that they will know every single “fruit” listed in Galatians 6:22-23 (in order!) after this.
What’s the activity? Sing the Fruit of the Spirit song for kids! Kids love this song because it’s kind of silly. Plus, there are motions to make it extra fun.
And it makes learning the fruit of the Spirit a breeze. 😉
Supplies Needed:
- None! All you need for this activity is your body and your voice.
- Optional: You could use a CD or a video to sing along with, or if you play an instrument, you could play along. But it’s not required. And your kids will definitely want to have their hands free.
Activity Prep:
1) Learn the Fruit of the Spirit song
Before you try to teach the fruit of the Spirit to your kids, listen to the Fruit of the Spirit song a few times (until you’re confident on the tune and the lyrics).
You can download the version I prefer of the Fruit of the Spirit song here.
Or here’s a lyric video of the song on YouTube.
If you know how to read music, you can grab sheet music for this version of the Fruit of the Spirit song here.
2) Learn the actions for the Fruit of the Spirit song
Next, make sure that you’re familiar with the actions, so you can teach your kids.
These are the actions for the chorus:
- Love = Cross your arms over your chest.
- Joy = Make a big smile and point your index fingers to the corners of your mouth.
- Peace = Make a peace sign (2 fingers raised, like bunny ears).
- Patience = Tap your wrist (like a watch).
- Kindness = Reach up and pat yourself on the back.
- Goodness = Make a circle over your head with your hands (like a halo).
- Faithfulness = Place your palms together in front of you (like you’re praying).
- Gentleness = Act like you’re rocking a baby in your arms.
- Self-control = Put one hand up, palm away from you (like a policeman gesturing to stop).
In the verses, you’ll do whichever action goes with the fruit.
For example:
- Coconut = Knock on your head with your knuckles and make a knocking sound with your tongue.
- Pineapple = Wiggle your fingers behind your head (like a pineapple stem sticking up from your head) and make a warbly sound with your mouth.
- Banana = Stretch your arms over your head and put your palms together. Then tip to one side (like a giant banana).
- Watermelon = Stick your stomach out as much as you possibly can. Thump on it with your palms to make a watermelon sound.
These are the fruits that we use the most frequently, but really you can stick any fruit you want into the verse. For strawberry, you can pretend to suck through a straw. For passion fruit, you can blow a kiss. Be creative!
Once you feel familiar with the song and the actions, teach them to your kids. Scroll down for tips on teaching the song!
Activity Instructions
Start just by teaching your kids the chorus. Go slowly. Make sure they clearly hear each attribute in the list.
Next, show them the actions for each attribute in the chorus. Practice that a couple of times (especially if you have small kids).
Then, introduce the verses. Practice the chorus after each verse.
Once your kids know the words and the actions, try speeding the chorus up. My bigger kids LOVE trying to keep up with the pace of the actions… and the little ones just like getting all their wiggles out. 😀
This Fruit of the Spirit song and activity is kind of silly, really easy, and super kid-friendly.
Plus, it’s totally effective. I guarantee that your kids will be able to list off ALL the fruit of the Spirit after you’ve sung this song a few times.
And, if they’re anything like me, they’ll refer back to this song anytime they think about the fruit of the Spirit–even years down the road.
You never know how God might use info from His Word that is stored so securely in someone’s mind. But He promises that His Word won’t return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). So do whatever it takes to make sure your kids remember His Word–even if that means ridiculous actions with a goofy song! 😉
And have fun “passing the faith along” to your kids. ❤
