A Time for Everything Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “There is a time for everything.”
A wise king in Jerusalem wrote a book. The Bible calls him the Preacher, a son of King David. He watched the days and the years go by. He saw that everything has its own time. There is a time for everything.
He wrote, “For everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven.” Under heaven means everywhere under the sky. A season is a time of the year – like winter, spring, summer and fall.
God made the seasons. Long ago God made a promise. Summer and winter, and day and night, will not stop. Can you name the seasons with me? Winter, spring, summer, fall!
“A time to be born.” A new baby is born. “A time to plant.” A farmer puts little seeds in the ground. Later there is a time to pick what has grown.
“A time to heal.” When you are sick, there is a time to get well again. “A time to break down, and a time to build up.” Down falls the old wall. Up goes the new house! “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.” A farmer throws stones out of his field. A builder gathers stones to build a wall. There is a time for everything.
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh.” Sometimes we cry. Boo hoo. Sometimes we laugh. Ha, ha, ha! Can you laugh a big laugh?
“A time to mourn, and a time to dance.” To mourn means to be very sad. But then comes a happy time to dance! Can you dance a little happy dance?
“A time to embrace.” To embrace means to hug. Can you give someone a big hug? There is a time for everything.
“A time to seek, and a time to lose.” Sometimes we lose a toy. Then it is time to look for it! “A time to keep, and a time to cast away.” To cast away means to throw out.
“A time to tear, and a time to sew.” Sometimes clothes get a hole. Rip! Then it is time to sew it up again with needle and thread.
“A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” Sometimes we are quiet. Shh. And sometimes it is time to talk.
“A time to love.” “A time for peace.” There are times to love, and times to be at peace. There is a time for everything.
The Preacher wrote about God, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” The bright morning is beautiful. The quiet night is beautiful too.
He wrote that food and drink and good things are a gift from God. He wrote, “Whatever God does, it shall be forever.”
Now the day is done. The sun has gone down. It is time to rest.
A psalm in the Bible says to God, “My times are in your hand.” Happy times and sad times are all in God’s hands. There is a time for everything.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What is your favorite time of the day, and why?
- What makes you laugh, and what makes you want to dance?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line between the times that go together.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” — Ecclesiastes 3:11 (He has made → hands shape a ball; everything → spread your arms wide; beautiful → hands open like a flower)
Dear God, thank you for happy times. Thank you that you are with me in sad times too. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God holds every moment
Memory verse: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 · WEB
The Bible story
A wise old king watches the seasons turn and discovers a gentle secret: God has a perfect time for every part of our lives, and holds each one.
Talk about it
- "A time to plant and a time to..." what? — harvest
- What did Solomon wonder about one quiet evening? — What really matters most
- What did Solomon notice about everything in the world? — Everything has its time
- What did the farmer do in the spring? — Scattered tiny seeds
- What happened to the field by autumn? — It turned golden
- What did Solomon say about our feelings? — A time to cry and to laugh
Where is Jesus in this story?
Solomon learned that God has a perfect time for everything, and the Bible tells us that God even chose the perfect time to send Jesus to rescue us. When the time was exactly right, Jesus came to show us God's love and to be our friend forever. Just as God cared for every season of Solomon's life, Jesus promises to walk with us through every season of ours, holding our hand from beginning to end.
What God wants to tell us
God shows us that our lives are full of different seasons, and every single one has a purpose. Happy days and hard days, busy times and quiet times, all belong in God's loving plan. We do not have to hurry or worry, because God knows exactly the right time for everything. Whatever season you are in today, you can trust that God is holding you gently and making something beautiful.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for making a perfect time for everything. When I am happy, thank You for laughing with me, and when I am sad, thank You for staying close. Help me to trust You in every season and to know You are always holding my hand. Amen.
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