The Importance of Movement with Preschoolers:
God has wired preschoolers to be “on the move.” They do not do well in learning environments where they are required to sit/be still for extended periods of time (no more than about one minute per year of age!) Try some of these movement techniques to help your Bible-learning activities with preschoolers be more effective:
- Use lots of music. Provide background music for all preschool learning environments. In group time experiences, preschoolers love to move their bodies, sway to music, and sing very simple songs that help them learn Bible truths.
- Preschoolers learn best in an environment that provides choices. This type of experience allows them to move from activity to activity depending on their interests and approaches to learning.
- Play lots of games that require movement: detecting, exploring, investigating.
- Let the kids find the Bible verses as they are able. Let them actually help you do things … make play-dough, help serve snacks, set up activities. Let them manipulate items (puzzles, blocks, art supplies, dramatic play) to help cement Bible truths into their hearts and lives.
Preschoolers “on the move” are “happy learners!”
Jerry Vogel serves as a Childhood Ministry Specialist in Lifeway Church Resources. He is married to Janie and has four children and thirteen grand kids. Jerry is committed to enriching the lives of those who teach kids as well as making eternal investments in the lives of children.
