Note to parent or teacher: Here’s a 20- to 30-minute lesson plan on Jesus’ childhood. It highlights the lesson objective: Learn of the main milestones in Jesus’ ministry on earth. (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-1c)

Some of the accompanying activities could be done along with this lesson plan or at another time. The listed Bible stories can be read from a Bible or alternatively from a children’s illustrated Bible, depending on the comprehension level of your children.

Read Matthew 2:13–15, which gives us the reason behind Jesus spending His early childhood in Egypt. (For older children, you can also read Hosea 11:1, which is a prophecy about Jesus that was fulfilled when His parents took Him to Egypt.)

Read Matthew 2:19–23, which explains that Jesus grew up in Nazareth and that this had been foretold.

Look on a map and point out where Bethlehem was, then Egypt, then Nazareth. Estimate the distances Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had to travel to get to Egypt and later to Nazareth, and discuss what it might have been like if they traveled on foot and possibly had only a donkey to help them travel.

Discuss with the children how Jesus had to move a few times when He was a boy. Have your children experienced a move at some point? Talk about some of the challenges one faces when leaving a known environment behind and entering a new one. Talk about how Jesus understands what it’s like to be a child, and how they can ask Jesus for help.

Read “Jesus Visits Jerusalem as a Boy.”

Read Luke 2:41–50.

Color “Jesus Visits Jerusalem as a Boy” Coloring Page.

Assemble “Jesus Visits Jerusalem as a Boy” 3-D Picture.