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Heavenly Father Loves Me

A peekaboo mirror, windows of heaven that open wide, blessings that pour down, and big family hugs

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 51
  • 📅 Sunday, December 20, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father loves me and gives me so many blessings.

I can hug myself and say, “Heavenly Father loves me!”

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Malachi)
Know the chapters

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, and the Lord’s first words in it are tender: “I have loved you, saith the LORD” (Malachi 1:2). He teaches His people to give Him their best, including their tithes, and promises to “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing” (Malachi 3:10). At the end, Malachi promises that Elijah will come to turn the hearts of the children and the parents toward each other (Malachi 4:5–6), a promise fulfilled in the Kirtland Temple (Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16).

For toddlers, the whole lesson is one warm feeling: Heavenly Father loves me. Blessings are the good things they already know (food, sunshine, hugs, the people who love them), so name them all day long and hug yourself every time you say, “Heavenly Father loves me!” Skip tithing coins with this age: coins are a choking hazard, and the idea is too big for now.

Be gentle about families. Some children live with one parent, grandparents or foster parents, and some families are going through hard things. Talk about “the people who love you,” and remind every child that they belong to Heavenly Father’s family. The lesson is six minutes; the play-time ideas below bring back the windows, the pouring blessings and the hugs for the rest of nursery.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring an unbreakable baby mirror and a picture of Jesus Christ. Peekaboo the mirror (“Who does Heavenly Father love? You!”), swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet, do the open-the-windows wiggle, then hug yourself and say “Heavenly Father loves me!” End with “I know Heavenly Father loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: peekaboo hands do the mirror’s job, 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. Tuck the mirror in your bag, face down, until the hook.
  2. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the magic, bells and rain buttons. Turn the volume low.
  3. Sweep the floor with your eyes and hands for anything small. Quick test: if it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard and goes up high or away. Leave coins and ornaments at home.
  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 the key phrase: give yourself a big hug and say, “Heavenly Father loves me!”

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. You’re safe here.” A quick, happy goodbye works better than sneaking a parent out.
  • Some toddlers don’t like hugs from grown-ups. Everyone hugs themselves; offer a hug or a high five, and let each child choose.
  • December nurseries run on sugar and excitement. When it gets wild, open the windows slowly and whisper, “Shhh… blessings are coming,” then wiggle soft rain fingers down.
  • 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 Mirror

1 min

Toddlers adore their own faces, so a peekaboo mirror pulls them close and shows each one who Heavenly Father loves.

  1. Sit on the floor with the mirror face down in your lap. Tap magic on the Sound Board and whisper: “I have a surprise. Who does Heavenly Father love?”
  2. Hold the mirror in front of one child at a time, covered with your hand. Say: “One… two… three… peekaboo!” and uncover it.
  3. SAY“It’s you! Heavenly Father loves Ella!” Let each child pat the mirror and smile at themselves.
  4. SAY“Today we learn Heavenly Father loves us so much!” Put the mirror up high.
🌪️ If they all crowd the mirror at once, hold it up high and tilt it down so everyone can wave at themselves together.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🪞 Peekaboo! Who’s that?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: An unbreakable baby mirror or plastic hand mirror (a grown-up holds it)

Peekaboo, I See You

  1. Sit on the floor. Tap magic on the Sound Board and whisper: “Who does Heavenly Father love?”
  2. Cover your eyes. Say: “One… two… three… peekaboo!” Uncover them and look right at one child: “I see you!”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father loves Ella!” Go around so every child gets a peekaboo and their name.
  4. SAY“Today we learn Heavenly Father loves us so much!”

Class screen: 🙈 Peekaboo! I see you!

2. Story

Picture Story: Malachi’s Happy Message

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers hug, open windows and rain down blessings while they hear that Heavenly Father loves them.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is a Window Opener, Blessing Rain and a Hugger.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone; the joiners will come.
  3. After the hug picture, hug yourself on every picture and say, “Heavenly Father loves me!”
  4. If attention is gone before the end, jump to the last picture and rock the baby together.
🌪️ 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: 💛 Happy news story time!

3. Wiggle break

Open the Windows

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and window and rain moves replay the story with their whole bodies.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s open the windows!” Press hands together, then swing them open wide: “Open!”
  2. Reach up high and wiggle your fingers all the way down to your toes: “Blessings pour down!”
  3. Jump or bounce to catch the blessings: “Catch! Catch!”
  4. Give yourself a big hug: “Heavenly Father loves me!” Sit down together.

Class screen: 🪟 Open! Pour! Catch! Hug! · 🪟 Open · 🌧️ Pour · 🙌 Catch · 🤗 Hug

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Malachi 1:2

1 min

A few 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 has a happy message.”
  2. Read slowly: “I have loved you.” Say: “That means Heavenly Father loves you!”
  3. Hug yourself and say it together: “Heavenly Father loves me!” Say it three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child and offer a hug or a high five: “Heavenly Father loves Ella!”

Class screen: 🤗 Heavenly Father loves me! · 🤗 Hug yourself!

5. Testimony

I Know Heavenly Father Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior, Heavenly Father’s greatest gift, helps each child feel loved just before Christmas.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “Heavenly Father sent Jesus because He loves us.”
  2. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father loves you. You are His child.”
  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 or the Nativity (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hug yourself gently and say: “Heavenly Father sent Jesus because He loves us.”
  2. Whisper each child’s name as you touch their hand or wave: “Heavenly Father loves you, Ella.”
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father loves you. You are His child.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Love-Me Song

2 minBONUS

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

  1. SAY“Let’s sing about Heavenly Father’s love.” Sit close together.
  2. Sing “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228) slowly. Point to the sky, a flower picture, your eyes and ears as the song names good things.
  3. At the end, hug yourself and whisper: “Heavenly Father loves me.”

Class screen: 🎵 Sing and hug!

Story drama

Malachi’s Happy Message

Malachi 1:2; 3:10; 4:5–6 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Window OpenersEveryone! Press hands together, then swing them open wide like windows.
  • Blessing RainEveryone! Wiggle fingers from high up all the way down to your toes.
  • HuggersEveryone! Give yourself a big squeeze: “Heavenly Father loves me!”

Scenes

  1. 🧔 A prophet named Malachi had happy news!

    Long ago, a prophet named Malachi shared a happy message from the Lord.

    🎬 Cup your hands by your mouth and call: “Yoo-hoo! Happy news!”

  2. 💛 “I have loved you,” said the Lord.

    The Lord said, “I have loved you!”

    🎬 Everyone gives themselves a big hug. Say: “Heavenly Father loves me!”

  3. 🪟 Heaven’s windows open wide!

    Malachi said Heavenly Father will open the windows of heaven.

    🎬 Press your hands together, then swing them open wide: “Open!”

  4. 🌧️🎁 Blessings pour down! So many!

    Blessings pour down, like yummy food, warm sunshine and big hugs.

    🎬 Wiggle your fingers from up high all the way down: “So many blessings!”

  5. 👨‍👩‍👧 Our hearts turn to our families.

    Malachi said our hearts turn to our families and the people who love us.

    🎬 Put your hands on your heart, then turn and wave to a friend or grown-up.

  6. 👶⭐ Heavenly Father sent baby Jesus!

    Heavenly Father’s biggest gift is baby Jesus, and Christmas is almost here!

    🎬 Fold your arms like a cradle and rock gently. Say: “Heavenly Father loves me!”

Key verse

Malachi 1:2 ↗
“I have loved you”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves me!
🙌 Wrap your arms around yourself in a big hug and squeeze while you say all four words.

More verses

Malachi 3:10 ↗
“open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing”
In kid words: Heavenly Father pours down blessings!
Malachi 4:6 ↗
“he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”
In kid words: I love my family, and my family loves me.

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🪟 Window
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 👶 Baby
  • ⛄ Snowman
Clues for each word
  • Heart: Hands on your heart: love!
  • Window: Open wide! Blessings come.
  • Rain: Wiggle fingers down, down, down
  • Hug: Squeeze! Heavenly Father loves me.
  • Family: The people who love you
  • Sun: A warm, bright blessing
  • Baby: Baby Jesus, the best gift
  • Snowman: Grows tall, then melts down
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Who does Heavenly Father love?
    • A. 🪨 Rocks
    • B. 🧒 Me!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🧒 Me! Hug yourself: Heavenly Father loves me!

  2. What opens wide in heaven?
    • A. 🪟 Windows
    • B. 🧦 Socks
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🪟 Windows Open wide! Blessings pour down.

  3. Which one is a blessing?
    • A. 🍎 Yummy food
    • B. 🚧 Stop sign
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🍎 Yummy food Yum! Heavenly Father gives us food.

  4. Show me a big hug!
    • A. 👊 Bonk
    • B. 🤗 Hug
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🤗 Hug Squeeze! Our hearts turn to our families.

  5. Who did Heavenly Father send at Christmas?
    • A. 👶 Baby Jesus
    • B. 🦖 Dinosaur
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Jesus Rock, rock! Baby Jesus is the best gift.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • My Heavenly Father Loves Me Children’s Songbook, p. 228

    The whole lesson in one song. Point to each good thing as you sing. Find it ↗

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

    Grow tall and melt down slowly: a perfect December wiggle that ends calm. Find it ↗

  • Families Can Be Together Forever Children’s Songbook, p. 188

    Hum it softly during the family picture walk: our hearts turn to our families. Find it ↗

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

    Sing it at goodbye time as each child goes to the people who love them. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Blessing Hugs

Each time you and your little one enjoy a blessing this week (a meal, a bath, a cuddle, Christmas lights), give a big hug and say together, “Heavenly Father loves me!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we learned the Lord’s happy message in Malachi: “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2). We opened the windows of heaven with our arms, wiggled blessings down like rain, and hugged ourselves while we said, “Heavenly Father loves me!” Try it at home: name one good thing each day this week, like food, a bath or a cuddle, then hug and say it 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.

🪟 Blessings Through the Window · 8 min

  1. Set the box on a low table with a grown-up behind it. Say: “Knock, knock! Let’s open the window!”
  2. Lift the flap and drop one big soft thing out: “A blessing! Catch it!” Children grab and hug it.
  3. Name each one as it falls: “Teddy! Heavenly Father gives us friends.” “A ball! Heavenly Father gives us fun.” Let children put things back in the window to go again.
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father opens the windows of heaven and pours down blessings!” Wiggle rain fingers down.
  5. Safety: soft things only, each bigger than a toilet-paper tube, nothing heavy. No box? A grown-up hides soft toys behind their back, then “opens the window” with their arms and pops one out.

🧸 Teddy’s Family · 10 min

  1. Set out stuffed animals, dolls and the nursery’s toys. Let children play however they like.
  2. Group a few animals together: “This is Teddy’s family! They love each other.” Give them a squeeze: “Family hug!”
  3. Every few minutes, say: “Time for Teddy to go home to his family!” Help each child carry a toy to a “home” corner, then back out to play.
  4. Say while they play: “Heavenly Father gave you people who love you. You’re in Heavenly Father’s family too.”
  5. No toys handy? Play Family Hug: a grown-up says “Family hug!” and anyone who wants to comes in for a gentle group squeeze.

🎵 Snowman and Love Songs · 5 min

  1. Sing “Once There Was a Snowman” (Children’s Songbook, 249). Grow up high on tiptoes, then melt slowly to the floor. Do it again; they’ll beg.
  2. Sing “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228). Point up to the sky, then to your eyes and ears.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone freezes in a big hug: “Heavenly Father loves me!”
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or just chant “Up, up… melt!” while you move.

🍎 Blessing 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. Holiday candy stays home.
  3. Fold arms. A grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for our snack.”
  4. Talk while they munch. Say: “Food is a blessing! Heavenly Father loves us.” Name more blessings together: “Water! Mommy! Sunshine! Blankies!” Hug yourself after each one.
  5. No snack today? Have a pretend feast: pour pretend blessings into your hands, munch them up and say thank you together.

🖍️ Love-You Hands · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor and draw one giant heart. Say: “Heavenly Father loves everybody in nursery!”
  2. Trace each child’s hand inside the heart with a chunky crayon, if they’ll hold still for a second. Say: “Heavenly Father loves Ella’s hand!”
  3. Give each child one chunky washable crayon to scribble all over the heart.
  4. Write each name by its hand and hang the heart by the door for parents. Chunky crayons only: no stickers, glitter or marker caps. Count the crayons back into the box.
  5. No paper or crayons? Open Draw & Guess on your phone or tablet and let each child finger-paint a heart while you hold your phone or tablet.

🎁 Peekaboo Present · 5 min

  1. Loosely wrap a favorite stuffed toy in the pillowcase or towel. Say: “A present! What’s inside?”
  2. Let a child pull the towel off: “Peekaboo! It’s Teddy!” Wrap it up again for the next child.
  3. SAY“Presents are fun! Heavenly Father’s best present is baby Jesus.” Rock the toy like a baby.
  4. Safety: no wrapping paper, ribbon, tape or bows; a grown-up keeps the towel and folds it away after.
  5. No towel? Hide the toy behind your back and let children guess which hand, then peekaboo.

🖼️ Picture Walk: People Who Love Me · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Look at family pictures in a Friend magazine, photos parents shared, or today’s story pictures on your phone or tablet.
  2. Point and name: “A grandma! A daddy! A baby!” Ask: “Who loves you?” and let each child say or point.
  3. Hum “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188) softly as you turn the pages.
  4. Finish at a picture of Jesus Christ: “Heavenly Father and Jesus love you too.” Hug yourselves.
  5. Stay in the nursery room with both adults. Talk about “the people who love you,” never who is missing. If a child drifts off, let them go.

😴 Melting Snowmen · 4 min

  1. Spread out a blanket. Say: “We’re snowmen, and the sun is coming out.” Children may lie down, sit or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Melt slowly, slowly, all the way down: “Drip… drip… drop.” Stay melted and still for a few breaths.
  3. Hum “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228) softly and pat backs gently. Whisper each child’s name: “Heavenly Father loves you, Ella.”
  4. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Hugs for Home · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, tap bells on the Sound Board: “Time to put the toys home!” Put toys in their bins together.
  2. Sit together one more time. Hug yourselves: “Heavenly Father loves me!” Hum “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) as parents arrive.
  3. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Wave and say: “Merry Christmas! Heavenly Father loves you!”
  4. Share today’s family note from the app with parents, and tell them one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Keep them busy with Peekaboo Present or a picture book. 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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