Knock-the-sin-out! game

I’m not certain that this fits the criteria for a “toy.” It is a game that we made to use for our after-school Bible club we taught as volunteers.

In attempting to teach the children (4-K through 5th grade) the importance of memorizing Scripture and applying it to their daily lives, we came up with this game that we called, “Knock the sin out!” The students colored pictures of children from various nations and then decoupaged them onto the pieces of wood. Then they suggested sins with which they struggled and each “doll” was given a “sin” label. On the back side of the doll was a Scripture verse revealing God’s solution to that sin.

We made two of these game boxes. These were the sins and solutions in this game box:
Out of control – 1 Peter 5:8
Disobedience – Ephesians 6:1
Bad thoughts – Philippians 4:8
Name calling – Job 27:4
Disrespect – Ephesians 6:2-3
Fighting – 1 Peter 3:8

The game was able to help them understand that God’s Word is sufficient for all life’s questions – when one studies the Scriptures he can find the answers for life, and that hiding God’s Word in his heart will help him not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

To play the game, the child would name the sin which he wanted to eliminate. He then was given a tiny beanbag to gently throw at the target. If he hit it correctly (at the top) it would flip over to reveal God’s answer to his sin dilemma. He was then encouraged to read the verse aloud to the group.

With the game box closed, we could add “baskets” and play basketball with homemade balls. These games were played in the classroom so we had to be certain that they would not be destructive to property, hence, the reason for the lightweight, homemade balls.

There is no hardware used for the lid. The bottom of the lid sets in a rabbet and there is a dowel which extends into a hole at the top left of the box opening. The box is large enough to hold all the extra parts behind the dolls.