Pause for Thought: You Are Special
Children are important
by Janice Ross (video recording by Vita)
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To encourage us to identify what aspects of ourselves make us unique and special.
Preparation and materials
- You will need a recipe book.
- You will also need to have the means available to play the video below. It is 1.53 minutes long.
Assembly
Show the recipe book to the children.
Encourage them to talk about their favourite foods. You may wish to find a recipe that they could help to make later in the day.
Explain that the following unusual recipe is a recipe for a person!
Ingredients
50 g energy
50 g laughter
25 g mischief
1 tablespoon sternness
A dash of perseverance
Ask the children if this describes anyone they know.
Go on to share the next recipe.
Ingredients
150 g care
50 g compassion
25 g good listening
3 tablespoons encouragement
A sprinkling of toughness
Ask the children if this describes anyone they know.
Ask the children to make up a recipe that describes themselves. What are they like? What great features about themselves make them who they are?
When Jesus was on earth, he understood the importance of children. There is a story where Jesus’ friends, his disciples, tried to send children away from him. However, Jesus told off the disciples and pointed out that children are very important.
Show the following video.
Time for reflection
Read back through the recipe that the children made for themselves. Encourage them to be glad about who they are and encourage them to use some of their great features to help other people today.
You may wish to use the following prayer.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you that you made each one of us and that we are all different.
Thank you that we are all equally important to you.
Help us to value one another.
Amen.
Song/music
‘When you believe’, covered by One Voice Children’s Choir, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jAtB_UBWh0 (5.15 minutes long)
‘The Blessing’, featuring children from various nations, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWZXLsdE9w (5.30 minutes long)
‘The Blessing’, featuring children from France singing the same song in French, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K_0Ed8Tgwc (8.30 minutes long)
Extension activities
- If you’ve been inspired to make a recipe of your own, there are some great ideas available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/10_easy_recipes_for_kids
- To make someone else feel special, why not have a go at making a card for them? Instructions for a sunshine card are available at: https://iheartcraftythings.com/you-are-my-sunshine-card.html
