One-Day Lesson Plan for The Prodigal Son – Perfect for Toddlers & Preschoolers

If you’re looking for a simple, Bible-based activity for your little ones, this free one-day lesson plan for The Prodigal Son is the perfect fit!

prodigal son unit plan image showing sample pages with crayons and coloring pencils on top

It’s designed with toddlers and preschoolers in mind—keeping the story interactive, the craft easy, and the message clear: God loves us no matter what, and He always welcomes us back with open arms.

This lesson is part of my full week-long Prodigal Son Bible Unit, which includes 5 days of activities, colorful story cards, crafts, games, coloring pages, sticker charts, and more!

What’s Included in the Free Lesson

Bible Story: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)
Age Group: 2–5 years old
Time Needed: About 20–30 minutes
Focus Point: God’s love is always ready to welcome us back.

Materials You’ll Need:

Brown paper lunch bags
Glue stick
Pig Puppet printable (included in the PDF)
Crayons or pink markers
Safety scissors (with adult help, or cut out the pieces before the class)
Small snack like Cheerios or Goldfish

Lesson Outline

1. Lesson Introduction

Begin by telling your class:

“Today we’re going to read a story Jesus told about a boy who left his family but came back—and his father ran to welcome him home with open arms! That’s how God loves us too.”

2. Read the Story

You can use the colorful story cards from the full Bible Unit or read directly from Read Aloud Bible Stories, Vol. 2 for a toddler-friendly version.

3. Engage with the Story

Encourage kids to point out objects in the illustrations—like the boy, his father, the money bag, the pigs, and the fatted calf. This keeps their attention and helps them notice details.

4. Discuss as You Read

Ask open-ended questions to help them connect with the story:

“What do you see around the pigs?”
“Would you want to eat off the muddy ground?”
“How would it feel to eat the scraps the pigs were eating?”
“What would you do if you didn’t have any good food?”

At the end, ask:

“How do you think the father felt when he saw his son?”
“Do you think he was happy?”

5. Wrap-Up

Remind the children:

“God loves us so much, and even when we make a mistake, He always wants us to come back home to Him.”

Craft: Pig Puppet Snack Activity

The free lesson plan includes a printable pig puppet for a fun, hands-on way to remember the story.

Instructions:

Have the kids color the pig puppet pieces pink.
With adult help, cut out the pieces.
Glue the pig head to the bottom flap of the paper bag.
Glue the body piece to the front of the bag.
Show the kids how to open and close the flap to make the pig “talk.”
Give each child a small handful of Cheerios and let them “feed” their pig puppet.

As they play, talk about what it would be like to share food with pigs—just like the boy in the story did before he went home.