Teaching the story of the Prodigal Son helps preschoolers understand God’s love and forgiveness. This page contains a list of Bible verses, interactive activities, and hands-on ideas to help young children engage with and learn the valuable lessons from the Prodigal Son’s story in Luke 15.
Objective: God wants us to forgive others just as He forgives us when we ask.
Scripture: Luke 15:11-24
The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes: pg 310, 312
The Beginner's Bible: pg 397
My Story Bible: pg 98-99
My First Hands-On Bible: 
The Beginning Reader's Bible: pg 127-131
Through the Bible Felt: pg 200-201
VeggieTales Classics - God Wants Me to Forgive Them? highlights how difficult it can be to forgive others but emphasizes that God wants us to let go of grudges and extend grace. With humor and relatable situations, it encourages young viewers to understand the value of forgiveness and the joy that comes from choosing to forgive.
VeggieTales: The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's is a delightful adaptation that combines humor and lessons about courage and self-identity, inspired by the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz. In this episode, Larry the Cucumber portrays a character who learns the importance of being true to oneself. Along the way, themes of faith and friendship are woven into the storyline, making it both entertaining and educational for children.
Do you desire to parent or teach children the way that God desires? Watch this 3-part series to acquire the tools to build a solid foundation of biblical discipline for your family or classroom.
Shorten the verses as appropriate for the child's developmental level.
Psalm 86:5 (ESV)
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Luke 15:24 (NIV)
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.
Matthew 6:14 (ESV)
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Sheet available in the Bible Activity Workbook
Fingerpaint 
Are you ready to instill essential character traits in your children or students? Our 10-page Character Training Printable focuses on 20 key virtues like kindness, integrity, and wisdom. With definitions, opposite meanings, and Bible verses, it’s the perfect tool for guiding young hearts toward a strong moral foundation.
Make a box of chocolate pudding. In a jelly roll pan, place a large dollop of pudding. Draw pictures of pigs in the "mud." Discuss the Bible story as the child works.
Act out the story, letting the children take turns acting as the father, son, and other characters in the Prodigal Son story to help them understand the emotions and actions involved.
Sin is disobedience to God and goes against what He desires for us. It means choosing our own way instead of God's way. Because God is perfect and without sin, our sin creates a barrier in our relationship with Him. To restore that relationship, we need to confess our sin to God and ask for forgiveness. Confessing sin is admitting to God that we've done wrong. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the son acknowledged his wrongdoing and sought forgiveness with a humble heart. Just as the father in the story forgave his son, God will always forgive us when we ask.
Hide a small object around the room and have the children search for it, explaining how the father was excited when his lost son returned, just as we are joyful when finding something we've lost.
For Family or License Use: Place a piece of paper in a jelly roll pan. Squeeze small amounts of paint on the Prodigal Son Feeds the Pigs worksheet. Set a few marbles on the paper. Roll the marbles around by carefully shifting the box from side to side and forward and backward. The marbles will roll the paint around to decorate the worksheet.
Teach your child to end apologies with the question "Will you please forgive me?". Read more...
Just as we need forgiveness for our wrongdoings, we should also offer forgiveness to those who ask for it. To demonstrate this, play catch with the child. After a few throws, stop returning the ball. Explain that when we refuse to forgive, it’s like holding onto something and refusing to let go. Just as holding the ball interrupts the game, holding onto anger and refusing to forgive can harm friendships and families. While forgiveness can be difficult, with God's help, we can forgive those who seek it.
For Family or License Use: Prodigal Son
From tiny tots to preteens, our chore chart is designed to help your child develop valuable life skills while keeping your home running smoothly. Make chores fun and rewarding for the whole family! Download now and see the positive impact on your child's development.
This story is free for family use only and may not be used in any form in a non-family situation. A script of this story for non-family use is available in the New Testament Curriculum and 3 Year Interactive Bible Stories.
Water Board
Green Bottom
S8-9 Two Trees
S16 – Two Tall Trees
54 – Son #1
54B – Clothing for Son #1
60 - Father
Pigs
203 – Building
215 – Horse & Chariot
Have on the Board – Green Bottom, S8-9, S16, 54, 60, 203
Have in Order – 215, 54B, Pigs
Prodigal Son Story:
Let’s turn in our Bible to Luke 15. In verses 11-24, Jesus told a parable about a father and his two sons. Do you remember what parables are? Parables are stories that Jesus told to teach us a lesson and help us understand more about God.
This story is about a son who is only thinking about himself. (Count on your fingers each time the word “I” is said) The younger son told his father, “I want my part of your money. I don’t want to wait. I want my money now.” How many times did the younger son say “I?” Three times! I want, I want, I want. Three times the younger son showed that he is thinking about himself and no one else. But, even then his father gave him his portion of the family money.
(Remove father, building; Add chariot)
A few days later, the younger son packed everything he owned and took a trip to a faraway place. While there he spent, and spent, and spent money. Whenever the son saw something he wanted, he bought it. But money doesn’t last forever and soon the boy found himself poor and very hungry.
(Remove chariot; Add clothing, pigs)
The youngest son finally became so hungry that he realized he needed a job to buy food. He finally got a job working with the pigs on a farm. He became so hungry that even the pig food looked yummy! Yuck! When the boy finally realized he needed help, he said to himself, “At home, my dad provides his workers with plenty of food. I will go home to my Father and let him know that I have sinned.“
(Remove pigs; Add father, building)
So the son returned to his father. Even when he was a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Even though he made bad choices, the father still loved his son. He ran to him, hugged, and kissed him. The son told his father, “I have sinned. Please hire me to work for you.” But the father told the servants, “Hurry and bring the finest clothing in the house. Let’s celebrate because my son was lost and now he is found.”
Sometimes we want what we want and we want it now. Sometimes you and I only think of ourselves like the younger son in this story. But when that happens, we can always ask God to forgive us. I want you to fold your hands together. Bow your head. Let’s pray together. Thank you God, that You forgive us whenever we ask forgiveness for our bad choices! Amen.
