We have found that churches using Bible Song have begun to
include the preschool ages. As a result, we’d like to answer questions and give
you a few tips and ideas we’ve added and learned from others who have involved
preschoolers.
What does
Opening and Closing look like when little ones are involved?
The sounds and excitement of a Bible Song Opening are attractive
to most small children. With parents in tow and a lap to sit on or a hand to
hold, small children can see, feel, and join in the fun.
It’s a good idea to have some shakers or noisemakers on hand in
a basket for small hands to shake and rattle as the Books of the Bible Songs
are sung or during the theme scripture song.
Preschool age enjoy imitating and when it is time to learn how
to sign the verse, they can be shown two or three signs and will imitate
motions very well.
Prayer time is a good time to role model quiet time for all ages
and for Bible Song, little ones can begin to learn a response also. The prayer
response is always part of the scripture verse for the day. Repeating it at
least three times and even adding one or two of the key words in sign language
helps little ones get involved in the prayer response.
During Closing, the sound of the theme scripture song draws
small children back into the gathering place. Younger ages handle consistency
very well and in fact thrive on it. Drawing them back to the same place for a
Closing each week is a ritual for them that they look forward to.
Quiet time for prayer is introduced and if possible lowering
lights or preceding prayer time with an “inhale”, “exhale” exercise gets all
ages on-board and little ones join right in with youth and adults to do the
same.
The blessing is always a favorite for small children. We hear this
time and time again. There is no better time in life to introduce blessing one
another physically with the sign of the cross. Little ones not only imitate
this, but look forward to this special part of closing time.
There will always be young ones who can’t sit still and parents
who are so stressed that a child in their hands is too much on certain days.
If there are no other
adults to rescue a parent and be the extra hands, we have found it is good to
have a nursery available.
Our goal? To place tools in the hands of parents to realize
their role as faith guide for their children, help role model it for them once
a week, and invite them to practice the same in their home.
The most important ingredient?
We want to provide an atmosphere that says, “I like being here.”
“Someone is listening.” “I want to come back” for both the parent and the
child.
What do
the little ones do during Art Attack small group time?
Small group time for preschool age may be one or two
adults/youth with a small group of children or include parents. This is a
decision to be made by each individual congregation. We have found that a group
of 4 to 6 children is best at this age.
Smaller is definitely better for the children and for retaining
volunteers!
Some suggestions for activities with little hands and
hearts in mind:
1.Take the black and white He Qi artwork on the front cover of the
hand out and enlarge it. In the group, ask the children what they see and take
turns posing like the people or animals/things. Then invite them to color it
and hang it up so the story can be retold each week as you work your way
through the Bible. After coloring, the
pages can be included digitally in a future Pwr Pt for all to see.
2.Use the signing DVD and
practice signing with the tutorial version with the children. Then do the song
version and invite the children to sign along with it. There is hardly ever
enough time in large group opening for the little ones to “get it” in a short
period of time. They could learn one a week ahead and teach it next week for
opening.
3.Print out the memory
cards on cardstock, laminate them, (both He Qi art and Cartoons) and use them
for games. The most basic one is mentioned in the Art Attack suggestions and is
a match card game. You could also make up a game. Example: Enlarge the He Qi
woodcut from the front page of each Hand Out. Tape them on the walls in
different places. Give the children several cards each, and invite them to
match their card with the artwork on the wall.
4.Make play dough and
after using a journal (or the same story from a Children’s picture Bible) to
read the story, give each child a piece of play dough. Choose an object or
person from the lesson to make or talk about and start making it while you are
talking to the children. Invite them to make it along with you or make
something of their own. Ask them to tell you what they made. Invite the
children to pose with their creation and take a digital picture. Most small
children enjoy posing and smiling for pictures and this gives them something to
contribute to a future presentation.
5.Use newsprint. Roll it
out on the table and invite each child to use crayons or markers and draw as
you retell the story. Take time to share what each child drew. At this age, one
never quite knows what is drawn until asked!
6. If there is access to the internet, use a laptop computer
in small groups and play games together found at FINKlinks online. The games
online are definitely geared to little ones.
7. An idea from Peter Eckerman’s congregation
in Australia: Dress children in costumes and pose like the people in the story.
Take pictures and for week two of the same scripture story, insert the photos
of the children in costume in the cartoon on the Pwr Pt and retell the story.
It definitely holds their attention and they remember the story. 3 year olds
are a challenge on this one sometimes, but the 4-5 year olds love it.
8. Spend time at the beginning to ask about
Highs & Lows. In the cases of little ones we usually ask “How are you?” and
ask what they did this week in preschool. What was your favorite thing to do
this week? Who is your best friend? What did you do with your friend this week?
At this age level when sharing relationships smaller groups are best. Invite
parents and/or other adults to join for just the first 10 minutes to accomplish
this relationship building piece.
9. If there is not a large
group closing, it’s important to role model prayer and blessings. This age
group especially is very good at being lead through doing the same as the
leader. In this case, it’s a good thing to allow the last 5 minutes to be a
time when you role model: “Take a deep breath” “Inhale”, “Exhale” (repeat until
everyone is paying attention), “then fold hands or pose however you’d like to pray
and when praying be sure to mention each child’s name. They will be accustomed
to this and wait to hear their name. Then take time to begin a blessing by
tracing the sign of the cross on each child’s head while saying a blessing.
Invite children to bless one another also.
Children love to calm down, listen, and be moved into a calm
setting for short periods of time.
10. Last, but not least, adapt the ideas found
in the Art Attack Assignments guide for various ages and “preschoolize” them.
Send us your ideas to share with others.
Debbie Streicher is
National Director of Children and Family Ministry. She is located in Northern
Virginia and happy to address any questions you may have regarding Faith
Inkubators’ resources. Please contact her at dstreicher@faithink.com.
