How to Make a Simple Toy Boat to Teach Kids Consistency

How to Make a Simple Toy Boat to Teach Kids Consistency

Materials Needed to Make a Simple Toy Boat

• Empty Shampoo Container – I used a Pantene bottle.
• Plastic Drinking Straw
• Thin Washi Tape
• Patterned Scrapbook Paper
• Sticker Letters
• Single Hole Puncher
• Scissors or Paper Cutter
• Utility Knife
• Super Glue

How to Make a Simple Toy Boat to Teach Kids Consistency

1. Clean out a shampoo or conditioner bottle and remove labels.
2. Cut a rectangle out of the top of shampoo or conditioner bottle.
3. Using the extra plastic piece, cut out a keel for the bottom of your boat.
4. Decorate the top of your toy boat with washi tape, stickers or Sharpie makers.
5. Cut out a triangular piece of paper for the sail.
6. Using letter stickers or a marker, write the word consistency along the edge of the sail.
7. Punch two holes at the top and bottom edge of your sail.
8. Weave a plastic straw through the two holes.
9. Using a blob of hot glue or super glue, attach the straw to the bottom of the center of the boat. I originally used a mound of Play Doh, which didn’t work very well.
10. Attach the keel on the bottom of the boat with super glue or hot glue.
11. Optional: If you don’t want your boat to float too far away, attach a string. This lesson can be done indoors in a bath tub or in your natural environment (nearby lake, pond, or even a large puddle).

Lesson on Consistency

Consistency

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadiest, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” – 2 Corinthians 15:58

I grew up with a dad who enjoys sailing. Therefore, I understand the purpose and importance of a keel.

Discover boating says that a keel “prevents the boat from being blown sideways by the wind, and it holds the ballast that keeps the boat right-side up.” Basically, a keel helps the boat stay in balance and not lean to one side. This causes a boat to stay afloat.

I think it’s a perfect word picture for the consistency we’ve been talking about with our kids this week.

We do not want our personality and behavior to become unbalanced and unpredictable. There are times to be spontaneous, but when it comes to character, we want to have God as our keel so we can stay stable and not drown in this thing called life.

In making a fun and adorable (and working thanks to my second attempt) toy boat, we were able to talk about the concept of being even keeled.

I talked about our failed attempt also. With the ship that sunk, I could use the comparison of a life that is off balanced. The results can be harmful.

There was discussion about keeping God as our keel because he will always be there to help us make our lives and character more consistent.

Character Development Series

If you are new to my character development series, let me tell you a little bit more about these lessons. If you check out my character development tab, you will discover 52 character traits we work on throughout the year, which equals one word per week to focus on with your kids.

Hovering over the tab will reveal all of the words. Each character trait has 7-9 lessons, so if you wanted to work on character daily, this can be an amazing resource.

This year, I want to focus on cleaning up my series by presenting the lessons to you be compiling all of my lessons on a particular week, this week focusing on consistency.

In this series, you will find a word, definition, scripture to memorize, book lists and a number of activities and crafts related to the topic.

I hope you are inspired to work on character with your kids because being intentional in your parenting will help give great direction to both you and your children.

Note: This post was originally created in 2012, but it has been updated with a whole new boat tutorial and photos in January of 2019.

Want More Lessons on Consistency?

Teaching Consistency Through Role Playing

Teaching Consistency Through the Scientific Process

Teaching Consistency with “I Will” Statements