Cubbies: How I started down the Appleseed Trail

Hello, and welcome to the start of what I hope will be a fun set of posts about Awana Cubbies!  For those who don't know, Cubbies is the club group in the Awana program specifically designed for preschoolers aged 3 and 4 to teach them Biblical truths that are engaging at their learning level.  The Cubbies program tries to implement the five senses in teaching, reinforcing the lesson through a craft, a game, a snack, Bible memory, music, and the story.  There is also a puppet show that features Cubbie Bear, an adorable blue-vest wearing bear that is learning lessons along with the Cubbies, along with two of his friends named Luvie Lamb and Katie Collie.  They, along with Timothy (the little boy in the book), tell stories that reinforce the Bible lessons each week.  These sections are called 'Bear Hugs'. 

Each bear hug in the Cubbies books has a story about Timothy, Cubby, and their friends on the apple farm, Apple Acres.  It then moves to a Bible story that talks about the lesson the kids will learn in Awana Cubbies the following Wednesday.  There is a Bible verse to learn, and an activity that is optional for the parents to do with their kids at home.  I found these little ideas fun to do with my son when he was in Cubbies, although I didn't always do them.  One example was with the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fishes... they suggested making a snack at home with bread and cheese cut into fish shapes.  My kids love things like that!

The Cubbies program starts out with a paper for the kids that includes the Cubbies key verse and the Cubbies motto for the kids to memorize, as well as pictures to color and stories to introduce the kids and their parents to this Awana program.  Once they have memorized and recited 1 John 4:10 (God Loved us and sent His Son) and the motto 'Jesus loves me' to their leaders (called bear hugs A and B), the kids each get their own Cubbies handbook.  The first two bear hugs in the handbook are the Appleseed Trail... A is for All (All have sinned, Romans 3:23) and C is for Christ (While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, Romans 5:8).  These verses (and motto) are often repeated at the start of each Cubbies meeting, and it isn't long before all the kids know them and can recite them without help.

While preparing for these first 4 weeks, I will say I did not deviate from the teaching plans much at all.  I was still learning myself, after all, and I was very overwhelmed at the sheer volume of information I was taking in.  I had only signed on last minute, sadly.  It didn't seem like I'd be able to help at all, never mind be a director.  I found out the week that Awana was starting that there was no Cubbies director this year, and God promptly tapped me on the shoulder (a little harder than expected, mind you) that He wanted me to take the role.  I said I would, but only if there was babysitting available for my youngest two kids (I was thinking 'see?  I cannot do this, God!' and was coming up with my own version of Gideon's fleece!).  Well... the church found someone who would come in and watch the younger kids of leaders in any of the Awana club groups (there is also Sparks for K-grade 2 and T and T for grades 3-6).  I had my answer.  We started Cubbies a week later than the other groups, but I saw a lot of happy little faces show up that week!

I told God that He needed to equip me for this, as I had no idea what I was doing!  And you know what?  He told me I just needed to follow His lead, and He'd bring everything else in line.  I've had difficult days (I am a 'ducks in a row' kinda gal, and you cannot expect everything go according to 'plan' when it comes to 3 and 4 year olds... you need to be more 'go with the flow', which is something I've been learning).  Things didn't always go 'as planned'.  Actually, they rarely would. It has taken a while to get into a 'groove' to where I feel more comfortable with everything.  Not to mention teaching a lesson.  I was scared.  Yes... I was scared to teach a Bible lesson to a group of 3 and 4 year olds!  And I have kids of my own that I tell stories to on a regular basis!  I spent a lot of time praying that God would wipe that fear away, only to note that He was using it to help me spend more time preparing the lesson in general.  I've been learning more about Him and His Word in these stories than I'd thought!  After all, I've been through this program as a Cubby myself, and as a parent of two Cubbies, too!  You'd think I'd know this stuff!

God is interesting that way, isn't He?

I am so thankful that God is in charge.  I am grateful for the leaders in Awana, and specifically for those who are helping in Cubbies each week (leaders, you are well appreciated!  Thank you so much for volunteering your time to be here each week!).  And I am thankful for the Awana program, and what it teaches our kids about God and His Word.  I loved this program as a kid, and I am so glad to have my kids going through this program as well.

If you'd like to learn more about Awana, visit www.awana.org.  If you'd like to see some of the preschool craft and snack ideas I've pinned, you can visit or follow my Cubbies pinterest page.