How I was introduced to flannelgraph stories as a child
When I was growing up, a neighbor lady taught Vacation Bible School at her house year-round!
Because of that I learned all the major Bible stories at a young age, which grew my trust in God.
Although she used a variety of fun flip books and demonstration aids, her use of the flannelgraph predominated.
Flannelgraph is three-dimensional
Flannelgraph is a charming yet lost “art” of storytelling for the younger set these days.
Although computer graphics and media can now do anything, they are merely a trap, especially for young children, since they are two-dimensional.
Best developed through hands-on three-dimensional activities, spatial reasoning is on the rise in our technological society.
Maturing vision weakens with too much screen time.
Young children need lots of hands-on sensory experiences in real-life three-dimensional form.
Mesmerized by pictures that stick to a board, they played with the felt figures themselves…a sensory integration activity that grew creativity.
Retelling the story as they engaged with the flannelgraph pieces after Bible story time enabled my kids to develp their oral skills, an essential skill in the grammar school years.
My son’s declining health
When my kids were little, my son was not doing well health wise.
Although he was an extremely happy and active boy, we practically lived at the base hospital.
While living on base we found a sense of notoriety from many who recognized us as we ventured out.
At the age of 12 months my son developed a cough/vomit situation in the middle of every single night, resulting in an inhaler prescription.
Over the coming months he required as many as 10 asthma meds) while his low preemie weight continued to decline.
More interest in activity and adventure than food, my son grew tall while becoming more thin.
After my 18 month old son endured a severe bout of walking pneumonia which plunged his weight severely below the growth chart norm, I began self-quarantine for me and my kids.
Instead of group situations, we social distanced while continuing going out and about to play, explore, and enjoy fresh air.
With this radical decision, we all stayed healthy for the next few years.
The pediatrician also finally discovered the cause of the nightly cough/vomit…acid reflux.
After a course of new medication he son’s huge medication list reduced to only one.
Flannelgraph devotions begin for my kids
Meanwhile I had long yearned for a flannelgraph set I saw at the local homeschool Christian bookstore.
Gorgeous and complete with every imaginable scenery, people, animals, buildings, plants, in the Bible, the Betty Lukens flannelgraph set also included an excellent resource book.
Due to expense, I focused on the adorable children’s Bible from which I read a story every morning at breakfast.
During this time I was gifted a generous sum of money that I invested in the Betty Lukens flannelgraph I had long yearned for.
Now the big question was, do I get the small or the large? Well, God had provided the money, I got the large set.
Reading daily from the children’s Bible continued, but every Sunday morning I shared a flannelgraph story, supplemented with activities from Mommy Appleseed: Planting Seeds of Faith into the Heart of your Child by Sally Leman Chall.
Flannelgraph Benefits for my kids
My kids learned the major Bible stories while developing in other ways.
Playing with the fuzzy flannelgraph pieces, they developed their Sensory Integration abilities.
They learned problem solving skills when placing the pictures on the flannel did not guarantee it would stay in place.
As they enthusiastically played teacher, retelling stories afterwards developed their peech skills.
It’s amazing how God coordinates everything.
Salvation Story
Devotions with the flannelgraph set coordinated with activities from Mommy Appleseed, prepared my kids to receive Christ into their heart.
I was honored to be the one to talk to them about Christ and lead them in the sinner’s prayer for salvation.
What greater honor is there for a teacher/mom?
Learning to trust God during Thunderstorms
We were living in tornado alley at the time, on the Texas Oklahoma border and our final years there were perilous with wicked winds that began near us and swept down Oklahoma City.
Through the story of Noah’s Ark through flannelgraph, my preschool daughter learned not to be afraid in her room at night, or even during storms.
Learning to trust God during Major World Events
When we began homeschooling, flannelgraph became part of our morning devotions before our daily studies took place.
One morning while in the middle of our math lesson, my mom called to tell me about the plane that crashed into the tower in New York City.
Alarmed, I turned on the television. In horror the kids and I watched the destruction unfold.
Sitting next to the tv was the flannelgraph with the story we had done earlier in the morning, about how all Christians will go to heaven. I Thessalonians 4:13-17
All day we talked about the take away from our Bible study that morning: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11.
As we watched the horror worsen, we prayed for all horribly affected.
At that moment, 9/11 taught us how life as usual turns to destruction.
What are we living for, the dot or the line?
Are we focused on the earthly, which is temporal, or heaven, which is eternal?
Only two things in this world will last for eternity, God’s Word and humankind’s souls.
Seek God, pray, live the faith, share the good news, serve God by taking a stand for truth.
Epilogue 2024
When we moved to Virginia from Texas, I gifted our flannelgraph set to my brother, who told the stories to his children, now committed to Christ.
My kids held on to their faith through homeschool, standing brave to testify truth on their college campus, witnessing Christ in their career, and now upholding Christ in their marriages as they begin their own families.
