Help preschoolers learn that God is our Creator and King with this free activity page download focusing on creation.
Fun Friday: Preschool Activity Page Download
Teaching Preschoolers Virtually
At the risk of sounding cliché, preschool ministry looks different than it did before COVID-19 became a household term. One of those differences is how preschoolers gather for Bible study and worship.
Some preschoolers are attending church in person. However, many preschool parents are reluctant to leave their children in a classroom at church. They may either stay home, or keep their preschoolers with them at church. That leads us to explore how to teach preschoolers the Bible effectively whether they come to the church building or not.
At my church, preschoolers only recently commenced gathering with other kids at church. When COVID-19 first hit, we began doing preschool Sunday School online every Sunday morning. After preschoolers started coming back to the church building on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, we decided to keep meeting virtually for Sunday School.
Here are six tips we’ve learned about teaching preschoolers virtually that may help you and your church as you reach preschool families that are not ready to return to church:
- Brevity is a virtue. Limit each week’s online session to less than 30 minutes, or you’ll find yourself talking to an empty room on the other side of your computer screen. Remember, you control the time online. Develop a simple teaching outline that includes games, songs, prayer, and a Bible story.
- Interaction is helpful. If you think preschoolers have short attention spans at church, just try to keep them engaged through a computer screen! Play games and sing songs with motions to keep preschoolers focused on the learning experience.
- Printed materials are useful. Even though you may choose to use presentation software to show posters and pictures, be sure to let the preschoolers see you holding a physical Bible. Also, change up your routine sometimes and hold up a physical teaching picture or Bible verse poster instead of relying on a presentation slide. In addition, follow up each virtual session by mailing a hardcopy of the weekly take-home page.
- Relationships are valuable. Make the experience personal and recognize each child by name. Also, encourage other preschool teachers to hop on the computer. Kids like seeing their teachers, even virtually. For an extra bonus, invite your pastor to make an appearance from time to time.
- Flexibility is needed. In order to reach as many preschoolers as possible, adopt a hybrid teaching model. Include both virtual and in-person teaching times every week.
- Breaks are okay. The business world has taught us during this pandemic season that we can experience virtual meeting fatigue. To prevent burnout, take a break occasionally and let someone else lead the virtual teaching experience. Not only will you get a break, but you’ll be equipping volunteers for ministry.
How long should your preschool ministry continue to meet virtually, even after preschoolers start coming to church physically? That depends on the context of your church and community. I suggest we keep meeting virtually until all preschool parents feel comfortable leaving their children in a preschool room. A free resource that may help you navigate how to minister to and teach preschoolers regardless of their physical location is LifeWay’s Kids Ministry From Anywhere webpage.
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Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ongoing Bible Studies and Network Partnerships, Nashville, TN, and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church and general editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife Janetta is the Preschool Minister. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives, and spoiling their grandchildren.
Fun Friday: Paper Plate Pizza Craft
This week we’ve got an easy and fun craft for preschoolers. Download the directions below.
30 Things Parents Should Say to Their Kids
Words matter. The words parents use have great power to give life to their kids. Here are 30 life-giving things parents should consider saying to their kids on a regular basis.
In the Book of James we read that the tongue, although quite small, can do great things. We are also warned to control the tongue, because it can just as easily do terrible things (James 3:2-12). When we think of controlling the tongue, we often think of stopping it from saying harmful things, but sometimes the greatest harm a parent’s tongue can do is to be still. It’s not enough for kids not to hear life-taking words, they also need to hear life-giving words. Here are 30 life-giving things parents should consider saying to their kids on a regular basis.
- I love you.
- God loves you.
- I will always love you no matter what, because you are my son/daughter.
- You are a blessing, a gift from God.
- I am proud of you.
- I am glad that you are my son/daughter.
- If God would have let me choose whomever I wanted to be my son/daughter, I would have chosen you.
- When you grow up, you can be whatever God calls you to be.
- You matter because you matter to God.
- You can tell me anything, and I will listen.
- God wants you to make much of Him right now wherever you are in whatever you do.
- I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?
- I forgive you.
- I trust you.
- I like who you are.
- Mistakes happen.
- God forgives.
- Trust in Christ.
- What are you reading about in your Bible?
- What are you talking to God about when you pray?
- You are an image bearer of God, a person of infinite worth.
- Why you do what you do matters as much as what you do.
- How can I pray for you?
- Have fun and laugh today.
- You have my total attention.
- What do you think?
- (Grades, sports, etc.) is not most important; God is.
- Let’s do that together.
- You give me joy.
- Yes.
Brian Dembowczyk is the managing editor for The Gospel Project. He served in local church ministry for over 16 years before coming to LifeWay. Brian earned an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
First Impressions for Preschoolers
Can you remember the first time you visited your church? Do you recall the way you felt? Were you greeted warmly and guided to a Bible study class or the worship center? Did you leave after that first visit and feel that you had a good experience?
Now think about the preschoolers coming to your group for the first time. Think about their parents. When you open the door, you greet not only the child, but also his family. How can you make the first impression a positive one for the entire family?
- Smile. Your caring smile and cheerful attitude may calm the heart of a hurried or concerned parent. A preschooler is immediately drawn to a smiling face.
- Kneel. Stoop down to the child’s eye level. Look directly at him and call him by name. This shows the child and his parents that the preschooler is important to your church and to you.
- Reassure the family. Your gentle understanding of their anxiety will help allay their fears.
- Communicate. Tell parents what you will do to provide a loving, secure, and fun experience for their preschooler. Describe a few of the activities and approaches you use to teach the Bible to children in your class.
- Pray. Pray for each child and his family and ask God to reveal just the right way to meet needs.
Families with preschoolers will come to your church from a variety of circumstances and experiences. You are privileged to minister to children and families at this time right where they are. Receive preschoolers with joy when they come to your door, and remember, first impressions are often lasting impressions.
Rachel Coe is content editor for Explore the Bible: Preschoolers resources. She guides preschoolers in Bible explorations every week at her church [in Mt. Juliet, TN].
Preschool Devotions. What???
Got 5 Minutes? Then you’ve got time for devotions with your preschoolers!
Wouldn’t you love for your preschoolers to love and remember Bible stories as well as they remember their favorite bedtime book? You can make that happen. And it can be as simple as brushing your teeth. It’s all about routines. We all do things every day without questioning whether or not we should, or whether or not we have time. Make your family devotions be one of those “things.”
While you won’t get your kids to sit still for 20 minutes, you can capture their attention for 5. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Be intentional. Plan for it, or it won’t happen. Know when and where you’ll do it. Keep your resources in the same place and ready to go. (Even delaying a routine by 20 seconds can make it harder to maintain.)
- Buddy up. Hold each other (spouses or kids) accountable to do it. (Many times, your kids will help with this!)
- Break it down. Sometimes it’s easier to break your times and subjects into smaller chunks. Remember that preschoolers have a short attention span and limited understanding.
- Plan ahead of time. Don’t just open your Bible to a section and decide this is where we’re going to read tonight.
- Lower your expectations. It’s just not always going to be a “special, deep” moment. But it will get better! Some action is better than nothing!
Make your routine less “routine.” Preschoolers learn best by doing. Incorporate that knowledge into your devotion time. Be creative!
- Teach through games (For example: “Follow the Leader” teaches obedience—a good point to make when talking about Noah’s obedience to God).
- Make a photo album of people to pray for.
- Act out the Bible story.
- Color a picture while someone reads the story. (Kids often learn better when their hands are busy.)
Got 5 minutes? You can do this!
“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-21 )
Klista Storts serves as a Content Editor for LifeWay Kids. Before coming to LifeWay, she served as the Weekday and Preschool Specialist at the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as Director of Preschool Ministries at churches in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Klista has a passion for equipping leaders to share the love of Christ and lay foundations for conversion in the lives of kids.
Preschool Craft Activity: Create a Flower Garden Picture
Preschool Craft Activity: Create a Flower Garden Picture
Supplies Needed:
- Bible
- Strips of green construction paper
- Large sheets of construction paper
- Various sizes of muffin cups and mini muffin cups (pastel colors preferred)
- Large buttons (large enough not to be a choking hazard or pompoms)
- Glue
- Washable markers
- scissors
Prepare:
- Cut the green construction paper into strips to resemble flower stems.
- Place the materials listed above on a table for preschoolers to use.
- Glue a muffin cup to an end of a green strip of paper to use as a Bible marker. Write the Bible phrase, “Jesus is alive” on the strip of paper. Place the Bible marker in the Bible at John 20:1-18.
- Place the Bible with Bible marker on a table with other craft materials listed above.
Teach:
- Encourage preschoolers to decide how many “flowers” they want to make in their garden picture. Demonstrate how to make a flower by gluing a strip of paper onto the large piece of construction paper. Then, glue a muffin cup on the construction paper at the top of the green strip of paper. If a child chooses, he can glue a button or pom-pom inside the muffin cup.
- Allow preschoolers to use markers to draw other things in their gardens.
- As the preschoolers make their garden picture, open the Bible to John 20:1-18. Share the Bible story about Mary visiting the tomb and her encounter with Jesus. Emphasize that when Mary left the garden, she was happy because she knew Jesus is alive.
- Remind preschoolers that Easter is a happy time and can remind us that Jesus is alive and He loves them.
- Discuss with preschoolers how they can know Jesus loves them.
Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.
Volunteer Appreciation Resources
Looking for some fun gift ideas to show appreciation to your volunteers? We’ve got your covered! Click below to download some fun ideas.
Soapin’ you have a merry Christmas!
Easter Egg Hunt Blues
The annual Easter egg hunt is over, leaving in its wake empty plastic egg shells covered in dry grass and stained with melted chocolate. When you and your team were stuffing those 14,000 eggs, you thought this day would never come. You fretted over securing enough candy, and your house looked like the chickens had come home to roost. Now, you’re wondering why you feel blue.
After a major event—even one filled with blissful mirth—feeling melancholy is normal. One way to escape the doldrums is to get some physical nourishment and rest. Next, take some time to evaluate the Easter egg hunt. I suggest doing this alone first, and then with your team. Ask yourself (and your team) questions such as these:
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- What was our goal or purpose for the event? (If you held the Easter egg hunt because, “We always have one,” then you may need to redefine your goal before planning the next one.)
- Did we accomplish that goal or purpose? In what specific ways?
- Did we plan the event with enough lead time to be successful?
- Did the entire church participate, or just a select few? How can we involve more people in the next big event?
- Who came to the egg hunt? Regular attenders of our church? Unchurched people in our community?
- How did the Easter egg hunt further the mission of our church?
- What can we do next year during the Easter season to reach families with the gospel?
We ask ourselves these tough questions to ensure that egg hunts and other events are vehicles that help accomplish the mission of the Church as set forth in Matthew 28:18-20, to “make disciples.” All those mismatched plastic eggs you find under your couch and in the church flower bed six months from now, just might be worth it.
Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ministry Publishing, Nashville, TN. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before coming to LifeWay. He is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. Landry also teaches children at his church in Middle Tennessee. He and his wife Janetta are the grandparents of two adorable grandbabies.
Bible Teaching Activity: Bible Teaching Picture Puzzles
Puzzles are a helpful teaching tool to keep preschoolers engaged in learning. Many children enjoy puzzles, especially reflective, visual, and logical learners. Use the activity below to teach and review any Bible story with preschoolers.
Supplies Needed:
- Bible
- 2 Matching Bible Teaching pictures (save teaching pictures from the leader pack each quarter)
- Scissors
- Glue or glue stick
- File folder
- A piece of Velcro®
- Plastic zipper bag
Prepare:
- Open a file folder horizontally.
- Attach one teaching picture to the right side of the file folder with glue or a glue stick.
- Then, cut the matching teaching picture into the number of pieces developmentally appropriate for the children in your class.
- For storage of the puzzle pieces, attach a plastic storage bag with Velcro® inside the folder and left of the picture.
- For durability, consider laminating or covering the teaching picture puzzle.
Teach:
- Open a Bible to the Bible story and place the puzzle (folder open showing the Bible picture and the cut puzzle pieces beside it) on a table.
- Invite a child to put the puzzle together. Encourage him to place the pieces over the completed picture. (To make the activity more challenging, guide a child to put the puzzle together beside the teaching picture.)
- As the child works, share the Bible story.
- Review the Bible story with him, asking questions and referring to the picture in the puzzle.
- Help him discover ways he can apply the Bible story to his life.
Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.
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