Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft
This Jesus Loves the Little Children craft turns one of the most comforting stories in the Bible into a simple, hands-on activity your kids can build in an afternoon.
It’s a little paper church, made from construction paper and a sturdy cardboard backing, with a paper Jesus standing between two children, His hands reaching out to hold theirs. It’s a sweet reminder of Matthew 19:14, where Jesus tells His disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
This craft works well for Sunday school, homeschool Bible lessons, VBS take-home projects, or a quiet Saturday morning at the kitchen table. The full printable template and step-by-step instructions are available in the free ebook download at the end of this post.
Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft
Age Guidance
This craft is best suited for kids ages 3 to 10, with the level of independence changing by age:
- Ages 3 to 5: Kids can color the Jesus and children templates and help glue pieces in place, while a parent or teacher handles the cutting.
- Ages 6 to 8: Kids can trace and cut most of the pieces themselves, with help on the smaller details like the cross.
- Ages 9 to 10: Kids can complete the entire craft independently, start to finish, including tracing, cutting, coloring, and assembly.
What’s in the Printable Template
The template pack includes six pieces to trace and cut:
- One house or church body shape, meant to be traced onto light blue cardstock
- Two roof strip pieces, traced onto blue cardstock and crossed at the top to form a peaked roof
- One curved base or doorstep piece, traced onto red cardstock
- One cross shape, traced onto brown or kraft-colored paper, glued at the point where the roof strips cross
- A Jesus figure, a boy figure, and a girl figure, printed on white cardstock, ready to color and cut out
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Craft Supplies Needed To Make This Bible Craft:
One of the best things about this “Jesus loves the little children” craft is how few supplies it requires. Here’s your simple shopping list:
- Construction paper in a few different colors (light blue, blue, red, and brown or tan)
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
- Glue
- Scissors
- A printable template
That’s it. No fancy equipment, no complicated steps, just basic supplies you likely already have stashed in a classroom cabinet or craft drawer at home.
How to Make a Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft
Here’s the basic instruction sheet for this activity:
Cut and trace.
Using the templates, trace the house shapes onto your construction paper, then cut everything out.
You’ll need a tall light blue piece for the body of the house (or church), a darker blue strip for the roof, a brown piece for the cross, and a red piece for the base or “ground.”
Make the House
This is where you’ll see it all come together.
Glue the roof piece across the top of the house shape, criss-crossing it slightly to create that classic peaked-roof look.
Add the small brown cross right at the very top,
and attach the red strip along the bottom as the base.
Give the figures some color.
Now comes the fun part for little hands: coloring! Let the kids use crayon or marker to give Jesus, the boy, and the girl some personality.
Brown or black hair, a red sash, skin tones, whatever fits their vision.
This step is wonderful for younger kids working on fine motor skills, and it’s genuinely just fun.
Glue on Jesus and the children.
Once everyone is colored in, cut out the figures and attach them onto the front of the house, right along that red base strip. Jesus in the middle, with a child on each side, standing together under his protection like one big family.
That’s it, you’re done! A simple little scene that tells a big story.
The Bible Story Behind the Craft
This craft is based on the account found in Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, and Luke 18:15-17.
In each version, parents bring their children to Jesus so He can bless them, and the disciples try to turn them away, thinking Jesus is too busy for something so small.
Jesus corrects them, inviting the children close and teaching that childlike faith is exactly what the kingdom of heaven is made of.
It’s a story that reassures kids they matter to Jesus, no matter how young they are, and it gives parents and teachers a natural opening to talk about what it means to come to Jesus with simple, trusting faith.
Tips for Using This Craft in a Classroom or Group Setting
- Pre-cut the smaller, more detailed pieces (like the cross) ahead of time to save time for younger groups.
- Print the character templates on white cardstock rather than regular paper so the coloring holds up better, and the figures don’t tear during gluing.
- Pair the craft with a read-aloud of the Bible passage or a simple memory-verse activity based on Matthew 19:14.
- Set out a shared bin of colored pencils and markers so kids can personalize their own Jesus and children figures.
More Bible Activities to Discover
If you enjoyed making this Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft, here are a few more Bible crafts that make it fun for kids to learn about God’s love, faith, and His promises.
- Abraham Father of Nations Craft – Explore the story of Abraham and the promise that he would become the father of many nations.
- Day 6 of Creation Craft for Kids – Celebrate the sixth day of creation by making a craft featuring the animals and people God created.
- Armor of God Truth Belt Craft – Help kids learn about the Belt of Truth and why honesty and God’s Word are an important part of the Armor of God.
- Adam and the Garden of Eden Craft – Bring the story of Adam and the Garden of Eden to life with a creative craft that introduces one of the Bible’s earliest accounts.
- Daniel in the Lion’s Den Craft
Do I need to be a skilled crafter to do this with my kids?
Not at all! This Jesus loves the little children craft is designed to be simple enough for parents, teachers, and volunteers of any skill level. The printable template does most of the heavy lifting, so you just need to cut, color, and glue.
Who can make this bible craft?
It works well for a wide range, from preschool through early elementary grade levels. Younger kids may need help with scissors, while older kids can usually handle the whole project independently.
Can I use this activity with a large group?
Definitely. Pre-cutting pieces ahead of time makes it easy to scale this up for a full classroom, VBS group, or church event without taking up too much prep time.
What Bible story goes with this activity?
This activity is inspired by the passage in Matthew where Jesus welcomes the little children after His disciples try to send them away. He reminds His followers that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who have childlike faith.
Grab the complete printable template pack and step-by-step photo instructions in the ebook download below, and check back for more Bible craft ideas for kids of every age.
Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft
This Jesus Loves the Little Children Craft is a simple way to remind kids that Jesus loves and welcomes everyone. Children will create a colorful scene featuring Jesus standing with two children in front of a church. The project encourages creativity while helping reinforce an important Bible lesson. It's a great activity for church, homeschool, or family Bible time. The finished craft also makes a wonderful classroom display.
Materials
- Light blue construction paper or cardstock (house body)
- Blue construction paper (roof strips)
- Red construction paper (base)
- Brown or kraft paper (cross)
- A piece of cardboard or a flattened paper bag (backing, for sturdiness)
- White cardstock for printing the character templates
- Colored pencils or markers
- A black marker for outlines
- Printable Template
Tools
- Scissors
- Glue or Glue Sticks
Instructions
1. Cut Out the Craft Pieces
Cut the house, roof, cross, base, Jesus, and children from the colored construction paper. Keep the pieces together so they are easy to assemble.
2. Build the House
Glue the blue roof across the top of the light blue house. Attach the brown cross at the peak of the roof, then glue the red strip along the bottom to create the base.
3. Color the Characters
Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to decorate Jesus and the two children. Add simple details such as hair, clothing, and facial features before attaching them to the craft.
4. Attach the Figures
Glue Jesus to the center of the house with one child on each side. Position the figures along the red base so they appear to be standing together.
5. Add the Final Details
Check that all the pieces are securely attached and make any finishing touches with your coloring supplies. Add extra details if desired to complete the scene.
6. Let It Dry and Display
Allow the craft to dry completely before moving it. Display it on a bulletin board, classroom wall, or use it as part of your Bible lesson.
