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Heavenly Father Knows Me

A peekaboo baby in a blanket, baby Jeremiah grows up so big, and a rock-a-bye motion that means Heavenly Father knew me

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 43
  • 📅 Sunday, October 25, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father knew me before I was born, and He knows and loves me now.

I can rock a pretend baby and say “Heavenly Father knows me!”

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20)
Know the chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem about 600 years before Jesus was born. When the Lord called him, He said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee” (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremiah answered that he was only a child (1:6), but the Lord told him not to be afraid, “for I am with thee” (1:8), and put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth (1:9). Later the Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter make a marred pot over again (18:1–6).

Jeremiah 1:5 teaches a truth toddlers can feel: before we came to earth, we lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children, and He knows each of us (Abraham 3:22–23). In Jeremiah, “the Lord” who speaks is Jehovah, Jesus Christ, who does the Father’s will; with toddlers, simply say Heavenly Father knew them, as the manual does for children. Keep baby talk general and warm. Some children are adopted, in foster care, or in families with hard stories, so don’t ask about “Mommy’s tummy” or ask parents for baby pictures.

Toddlers love “So big!” and love being called by name. The lesson is six minutes: a peekaboo baby, a six-picture story, a grow-so-big wiggle, a rock-a-bye motion and a quiet testimony. The play-time ideas below borrow more pictures from these chapters: building again like the potter (18:4–6), a tree by the river (17:8) and fishers who gather God’s children (16:16).

Only have 5 minutes?

Wrap a baby doll in a blanket and play peekaboo, swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet, grow from a tiny baby to “So big!”, rock a pretend baby while you say “Heavenly Father knows me!” and end with a picture of Jesus and “I know Heavenly Father loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: your arms rock a pretend baby, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring7 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Wrap the baby doll snugly in the blanket and keep it in your bag for the hook.
  2. Load your class list into the app’s Name Spinner if you plan to use Name Cheer, or just learn every child’s name at the door.
  3. Sweep the floor with your eyes and hands for anything small. If it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard and goes up high or away.
  4. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets and comforts at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  5. Practice rocking a pretend baby in your arms and say “Heavenly Father knows me!” a few times. That’s the whole key phrase.

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun and say softly, “Mommy will come back. Heavenly Father knows you, and so do I.” Rocking a crying toddler while you rock the baby doll often helps.
  • Toddlers may want the baby doll for themselves. Let one child hold it during the story, then pass it to a grown-up; don’t force turns at this age.
  • When toddlers knock blocks down, that’s the fun. Cheer and build again: “We can try again!”
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips, and never leave one adult alone with the class or go off alone with one child.

The 25-minute plan6 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Peekaboo, Baby!

1 min

A baby hiding in a blanket is a peekaboo surprise toddlers can’t resist, and it opens the idea that Heavenly Father knew each of us when we were tiny.

  1. Sit on the floor with the wrapped baby doll on your lap, face covered by the blanket.
  2. Say softly: “Shhh… who’s in the blanket? Waaah!”
  3. Pull the blanket back: “Peekaboo! A baby!” Cover and uncover two or three more times.
  4. Rock the baby. Say: “You were a tiny baby once too! Heavenly Father knew you even before you were a baby.”
  5. SAY“Today we learn Heavenly Father knows you!”
🌪️ If they all want the baby, let everyone give the baby one gentle pat, then tuck the baby into your bag for a nap.

Class screen: 👶 Peekaboo, baby!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll (or any soft toy) wrapped in a small blanket

Pretend Baby Peekaboo

  1. Sit on the floor. Cradle your arms like you’re holding a tiny baby and say softly: “Shhh… waaah!”
  2. Cover your eyes, then pop them open: “Peekaboo, baby!” Do it two or three times.
  3. Rock your pretend baby. Say: “You were a tiny baby once too! Heavenly Father knew you even before you were a baby.”
  4. SAY“Today we learn Heavenly Father knows you!”

Class screen: 🤱 Shhh… peekaboo, baby!

2. Story

Picture Story: Heavenly Father Knew Jeremiah

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers be a baby, grow so big and be brave while they hear that Heavenly Father knows them.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is a Baby Rocker, a Growing Kid and a Brave Friend.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone to join; the joiners will come.
  3. On the “So big!” picture, grow up slowly and let them giggle at how tall you get.
  4. If attention is gone before the end, jump to the last picture and say every child’s name.
🌪️ Let a child who won’t stop moving tap your phone or tablet to change the picture (with your hand on it too). A job beats a battle.

Class screen: 👶 Baby Jeremiah story time!

3. Wiggle break

So Big!

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and growing from baby to “So big!” repeats the story with their whole bodies.

  1. SAY“Let’s be tiny babies!” Curl up small on the floor: “Waaah!”
  2. Crawl a little way: “Crawl, crawl!” Then stand up: “Walk, walk!”
  3. Reach up high on tiptoes: “How big are you? So big!”
  4. Curl back down and do it again. Toddlers love the “So big!” part; do it three or four times.
  5. End by rocking a pretend baby: “Heavenly Father knows me!” and sit down together.

Class screen: 🙌 How big? So big! · 👶 Tiny · 🐛 Crawl · 🚶 Walk · 🙌 So big!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jeremiah 1:5

1 min

Four words and one motion, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It tells about Heavenly Father and Jesus.”
  2. Read slowly: “Before I formed thee … I knew thee.” Say: “That means Heavenly Father knew you before you were born!”
  3. Rock a pretend baby and say it together: “Heavenly Father knows me!” Say it three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child, rock your arms, and say, “Heavenly Father knows Ava.”

Class screen: 🤱 Heavenly Father knows me! · 🤱 Rock-a-bye!

5. Testimony

I Know Heavenly Father Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel known and loved by Heavenly Father and Jesus.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “This is Jesus. He is Heavenly Father’s Son.”
  2. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father knows you and loves you. Jesus loves you too.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ Heavenly Father loves you!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Point up and say: “Let’s think about Heavenly Father.”
  2. Whisper each child’s name as you touch their hand or wave: “Heavenly Father knows you, Ava.”
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father knows you and loves you. Jesus loves you too.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Child of God Song

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a slow song about being Heavenly Father’s child is a calm, happy way to finish.

  1. Sit close together and rock side to side.
  2. Sing or hum “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) slowly while you rock a pretend baby.
  3. At the end, whisper each child’s name: “You are Heavenly Father’s child.”

Class screen: 💛 I am His child

Story drama

Heavenly Father Knew Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:4–9 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Baby RockersEveryone! Rock a pretend baby and say a soft “waaah.”
  • Growing KidsEveryone! Start tiny on the floor and grow up tall: “So big!”
  • Brave FriendsEveryone! Make strong arms and say “Brave!”

Scenes

  1. ☁️💛 Heavenly Father knew Jeremiah before he was born.

    Before Jeremiah was born, Heavenly Father knew him and loved him.

    🎬 Everyone points up high, then puts both hands on their heart.

  2. 👶🍼 Baby Jeremiah was born! Waaah!

    Then Jeremiah was born as a tiny baby. Waaah!

    🎬 Everyone rocks a pretend baby and says a soft “waaah.”

  3. 🧒⬆️ Jeremiah grew bigger and bigger. So big!

    Jeremiah grew bigger, and bigger, and bigger!

    🎬 Crouch down tiny, then grow up tall with arms high: “So big!”

  4. 🤏😟 Jeremiah felt little.

    The Lord gave Jeremiah a big job, but Jeremiah felt little.

    🎬 Everyone makes themselves small and pinches two fingers close together: “Little!”

  5. 💪😊 Don’t be afraid! Jeremiah was brave.

    The Lord told Jeremiah not to be afraid, and Jeremiah was brave.

    🎬 Everyone stands up and makes strong arms: “Brave!”

  6. ❤️🙋 Heavenly Father knows you too!

    Heavenly Father knows you, and you, and you! He loves you.

    🎬 Point gently to each child and say their name: “Heavenly Father knows Ava!” Wave or blow a kiss.

Key verse

Jeremiah 1:5 ↗
“Before I formed thee … I knew thee”
In kid words: Heavenly Father knows me!
🙌 Rock a tiny pretend baby in your arms while you say all four words.

More verses

Jeremiah 1:8 ↗
“Be not afraid … for I am with thee”
In kid words: Don’t be scared. Heavenly Father is with you.
Jeremiah 18:6 ↗
“as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand”
In kid words: Heavenly Father helps us grow, like a potter shapes clay.
Jeremiah 17:8 ↗
“he shall be as a tree planted by the waters”
In kid words: People who trust Heavenly Father grow strong, like a tree by a river.
Jeremiah 16:16 ↗
“Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD”
In kid words: Heavenly Father sends helpers to find all His children.

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • 🧔 Jeremiah
  • 🛏️ Blanket
  • 🌳 Tree
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🧱 Blocks
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 💪 Strong
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Waaah! Rock-a-bye.
  • Jeremiah: A prophet who was brave
  • Blanket: Snuggle up warm
  • Tree: Grows tall by the river
  • Fish: Swims in the water
  • Blocks: Build it up! Knock it down!
  • Heart: Heavenly Father loves you
  • Strong: Brave arms!
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Which one is a baby?
    • A. 👶 Baby
    • B. 🚜 Tractor
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Waaah! Heavenly Father knew you before you were a baby.

  2. Who knows me and loves me?
    • A. 🦆 Duck
    • B. 💛 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💛 Heavenly Father Rock-a-bye: Heavenly Father knows me!

  3. Which one is so big?
    • A. 🐘 Elephant
    • B. 🐜 Ant
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🐘 Elephant So big! You’re growing bigger every day.

  4. What grows by the river?
    • A. 🧸 Teddy
    • B. 🌳 Tree
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🌳 Tree Jeremiah said people who trust the Lord grow strong, like a tree by the water.

  5. Which one swims?
    • A. 🐟 Fish
    • B. 🐈 Cat
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🐟 Fish Swish, swish! Fish swim in the water.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    Sing it slowly at the end while everyone rocks a pretend baby. Find it ↗

  • I Lived in Heaven Children’s Songbook, p. 4

    Hum it during Heartbeat Rest: we lived with Heavenly Father before we were born. Find it ↗

  • Once There Was a Snowman Children’s Songbook, p. 249

    Melt down tiny and grow up tall, just like baby Jeremiah grew so big. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

How Big? So Big!

Play “How big are you? So big!” with your little one this week. Each time, rock a pretend baby together and say “Heavenly Father knew you when you were tiny, and He knows you now!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we learned from Jeremiah that Heavenly Father knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5). We played peekaboo with a baby, grew from tiny babies to “So big!” and rocked pretend babies while we said, “Heavenly Father knows me!” Try it at home: play “How big are you? So big!” and then rock-a-bye together.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Nursery play time

The lesson is short on purpose. Fill the rest of nursery with these: pick what fits your little ones today.

🧱 Build It Again · 10 min

  1. Set out big soft blocks or empty cereal boxes with the nursery’s other toys, and let children play however they like.
  2. Stack a tower together. When it falls (it will!), cheer: “Crash! Let’s build it again!”
  3. SAY“Jeremiah watched a potter. When the pot went wrong, the potter made it again” (Jeremiah 18:4). “We can try again too!”
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father helps us grow and try again.”
  5. No blocks or boxes? Stack pillows, folded towels or your own fists one on top of another, then “Crash!” and build again.

🎵 Grow, Grow, Grow · 5 min

  1. Sing “Once There Was a Snowman” (Children’s Songbook, 249). Stand tall, then melt down tiny, then grow tall again. Say: “Baby Jeremiah grew so big!”
  2. Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) slowly while you rock pretend babies.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone reaches up high: “So big!”
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or just chant “Grow, grow, grow… so big!” while you move.

🐟 Fishers’ Pond · 5 min

  1. Spread the blue blanket on the floor: “This is a pond!” Put a few big soft toys on it for the “fish.”
  2. Let children touch the blanket, pat it and wiggle it like waves: “Splash, swish!” Then “fish” the toys out and drop them into a basket or your lap.
  3. SAY“Jeremiah said the Lord sends helpers to find all His children” (Jeremiah 16:16). “Heavenly Father knows every one of His children. He knows you!”
  4. Safety: toys must be bigger than a child’s fist, and an adult sits by the pond. Never put a blanket over a child’s head.
  5. No blanket? Make pretend waves with your arms and let the children be the fish: “Swim, swim!” Then scoop each one into a hug: “I found Ava!”

🍎 Growing-Strong Snack · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours, before snack.
  2. Everyone sits to eat, with an adult watching. Skip choking foods for this age: no popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy or chunks of raw carrot.
  3. Fold arms. A grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for our snack.”
  4. Talk while they munch: “Food helps us grow so big! Heavenly Father gives us good food.” Make strong arms together.
  5. Say each child’s name as you hand them a snack: “Heavenly Father knows Leo!”
  6. No snack today? Have a pretend snack: munch pretend apples, make strong arms, and say thank you to Heavenly Father.

🌳 Tree by the River · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor. Draw a wavy blue river and a tall brown tree trunk next to it.
  2. Give each child one chunky washable crayon, green or blue. Green scribbles are leaves; blue scribbles are water. Say: “The tree grows big and strong by the river!”
  3. SAY“Jeremiah said people who trust Heavenly Father are like a tree by the water” (Jeremiah 17:8). Write each child’s name by their leaves.
  4. Safety: chunky crayons only. Skip stickers, glitter, pom-poms and marker caps (small parts). Count the crayons back into the box.
  5. No paper or crayons? Be the tree together: stand tall, wave leafy arms, and wiggle fingers down low for the river.

🪞 Who’s That? · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Look at a picture book about babies, or swipe back through today’s story pictures on your phone or tablet.
  2. Point and name: “A baby! Waaah!” Ask: “Where’s the baby’s nose?” and let them point.
  3. Hold up the baby-safe mirror: “Who’s that? It’s Ava! Heavenly Father knows Ava!”
  4. Finish at a picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “Heavenly Father and Jesus love you.”
  5. No mirror or book? Play “Where’s your nose? Where are your toes?” and end with “Heavenly Father made you and knows you!”

🎉 Name Cheer · 3 min

  1. Open Name Spinner on your phone or tablet with your class list, and hold it where children can see.
  2. Spin! When it stops, everyone cheers for that child: “Heavenly Father knows Leo! Yay, Leo!” Clap and wave.
  3. Keep spinning until every child gets a cheer. Toddlers love hearing their own name.
  4. No class list yet? Point to each child in turn and cheer their name together.

😴 Heartbeat Rest · 4 min

  1. SAY“Time for a little rest.” Children may lie down, sit or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Tap heartbeat on the Sound Board with the volume low. Put a hand on your chest: “Thump, thump. Heavenly Father made you.”
  3. Hum “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 4) softly and pat backs gently.
  4. Whisper each child’s name: “Heavenly Father knew you before you were born, Ava.”
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 So Big Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, say: “Big helpers, let’s clean up!” Put toys in their bins together and cheer each helper: “So big!”
  2. Sit together one more time. Rock a pretend baby: “Heavenly Father knows me!”
  3. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Ask the child: “How big are you?” and let them show Mom or Dad: “So big!”
  4. Share today’s family note from the app with parents, and tell them one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Play Build It Again or Name Cheer. Both adults stay until every child is picked up.

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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