Why people move

Ages 9 to 12 Read alone or together · about 30 minutes

Read together

People move for many reasons: work, family, school, safety or a better life.

Some are pushed by hard things like war or hunger. Others are pulled by hope.

Do it

1. Ask a family member if they ever moved, and why. Draw their route on a map.
2. Sort reasons into push and pull on two lists.
3. Read about a Bible journey, such as Abraham (Genesis 12), Ruth or the Holy Family going to Egypt. Add them to your list.
4. Talk about welcoming newcomers: what would help a new neighbour feel at home?

Talk about it

• Which reasons are push and which are pull?
• How can we welcome someone new?

For the grown-up

Migration is part of every family's story, including many Filipino and Latino families whose relatives work abroad. Some people move by choice and some are forced, and children may have friends in either situation. Be kind and avoid political slogans. Scripture often calls God's people to welcome the stranger; that is a labelled summary to check.

Mark as done

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Where this comes from

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Global Trends report, definitions of refugees and displacement
• International Organization for Migration, World Migration Report, definitions of migration
• Book of Exodus 22:21 and Leviticus 19:34 (any standard translation)

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.