Bandages & Big Love
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have’”
Luke 10:30-35 (NIV)
My daughter loves this parable. She’s always drawn to the kindness of the one who stopped, the one who noticed and chose to help. Even at a young age, children instinctively recognize compassion. They know what love looks like when they see it.
What’s so powerful is that Jesus doesn’t simply tell the expert in the law who the good neighbor is, He asks him. “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor?” The answer is obvious, even to little ones. The good neighbor is the one who showed mercy.
This story gently teaches our littles that loving others isn’t just about knowing what’s right: it’s about seeing, caring, and acting with kindness. Jesus shows us that God’s love moves toward people who are hurting, and He invites us to do the same, no matter who they are.
Engage:
As you read the story, slow down and invite your little one into the moment. Feel free to swap out harder words for simpler ones (like inn for hotel or denarii for dollars) so the story is easy to understand.
Ask questions that help them feel the story, not just answer it:
“If that was you lying on the road, what would you hope someone would do?”
“Do you think the man felt happy or scared when no one stopped?”
“How do you feel when someone notices you and helps you?”
“What made the kind man different from the others?”
Apply:
Help your little one connect this story to everyday life. Littles may not walk past someone on a road, but they do get chances to be kind neighbors every day.
Talk about familiar moments:
A friend who feels left out
Someone who gets hurt while playing
A sibling who needs help
A classmate who feels new or nervous
Explain it simply:
Jesus teaches us that loving others means noticing and choosing kindness, even when it’s not easy.
Share a short story about a time you noticed someone and helped them. Littles learn powerfully from your examples.
Repeat & Reinforce:
Bandage the Neighbor:
Use a doll, stuffed animal, or sock puppet. Let your child “bandage” a boo-boo or hug the toy. Say: “Just like the kind man helped, we can help others when they’re hurt or sad.”
Caring Collage:
Cut out pictures of people helping each other from magazines, coloring sheets, or printables. Glue them onto a sheet and say: “Every picture shows ways we can be good neighbors!”
Snack Share:
Have your little one help hand out a snack or treat to a sibling, friend, or neighbor. Talk about how sharing shows God’s love.
Help a Neighbor:
Notice ways to help someone around you: carry groceries, lend a hand, or get them out of a tricky situation. Littles learn so much by watching and copying kind actions!
Closing Thought:
I love pairing this teaching with Matthew 9:12, where Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” It’s a beautiful way for our littles to understand that, just like the Good Samaritan stopped to help someone in need, Jesus saw us and came to help us too. He cares about every person, big or small, and He wants us to care too. Every time we notice someone who needs help: our friends, siblings, or neighbors, we are showing God’s love in the world.
I’ll leave you with this fun 4-minute “Love Your Neighbor” sing along video!
For even more hands-on fun, pair it with the activity sheet below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Bandages & Big Love Activity Sheet
Bring Luke 10:30-35 to life with this 2-page “Bandages & Big Love” activity sheet!
Page 1 features a memory verse fill-in, a simple prayer, and a “Color Your Kindness” activity to track your littles’ acts of love throughout the week.
Page 2 is a hands-on cutting activity: cut out the little man, cut the bandages, and paste them on his boo-boos - helping your child see how small acts of care and kindness can make a big difference, just like the Good Samaritan.
Love Your Neighbor 🏠 | Learn Kids Christian Songs 🌼 God's Greenhouse 🌼
