100 Best Ideas to Turbocharged your Preschool Ministry (2 page)

R
ecognition
—Every child wants to be known and to know that he or she is valued.
Preschoolers need to be recognized and called by name.
Learn children’s names and use them.
Every week find at least one good thing to recognize about each child and acknowledge it.

E
ye Contact
—Children need to be looked in the eye when engaged in conversation to feel you’re genuinely interested in them.
This usually means getting down to preschoolers’ eye level.

S
ecurity
—Preschoolers are growing up in a scary world.
Parents hold them closely for fear of kidnapping, abuse, or endangerment.
Church must be a safe place.
Go the second mile to make sure every team member has been background-checked, interviewed, reference-checked, and approved.

Have a thoroughly secure check-in and check-out system.
Put in place volunteer procedures and policies that provide security.

C
are
—Even at their young ages, preschoolers can sense when someone genuinely cares for them.
They need leaders who’ll care enough to pray for their boo-boos, send them “miss you” cards when they’re absent, and cheer for them at their kindergarten graduations.

H
appy Birthday
—Birthdays are a big deal for preschoolers.
They need you to celebrate their special day—so sing, bring in a birthday treat, and give a small gift to the birthday child.

O
pportunity
—Preschoolers need the opportunity to hear God’s truth and build a foundation for faith development.

O
pen Ears
—Every child needs someone who’ll listen with open ears.
So really listen...to preschoolers’ stories, questions, fears, and small talk.

L
aughter
—Every preschooler needs to be able to laugh...to have fun...to be able to be a child.
Preschoolers need leaders who’ll encourage this through age-appropriate activities that allow laughter to happen spontaneously.

E
mpowerment
—God has given each preschooler unique talents and abilities.
Empower your preschoolers to use these talents and abilities through learning experiences and activities where they can succeed.

R
ules
—Preschoolers need clear rules to follow, accompanied with firm and loving guidance, opportunities to make choices, and consistent consequences.

—Dale

I keep a photo of my youngest daughter just above my workspace at church.
It was taken at vacation Bible school when she was 3 years old.
She’s praying to Jesus with her hands folded and her eyes squeezed shut.
The look on her face speaks of a determination for God to do something great.
It’s as if she’s praying for true revival to break out.
More than likely that wasn’t on her mind.
All I know is that every time I look at it, I’m filled with complete joy.
After I take in the expression on her face, though, the next thing I notice is that she’s wearing her princess shoes—and then I burst into laughter.
I wanted her to stay 3 forever.

My favorite thing about preschool ministry is getting to be around 3-year-olds every week.
Have you ever noticed how happy they are just to be here?
When I’m having a bad day, I think,
Go visit the 3-year-old ministry, and all things miserable will vanish.
When I come to the door, they run to get hugs and receive my words of praise.

As precious as they are, though, teaching them can be frustrating if you don’t know what they’re capable of doing.
Here are developmental characteristics common in 3-year-olds.

• Preschoolers play with other children. This is different from 2-year-olds, who play alongside other children. Three-year-olds need to know the names of the other kids. Help them meet and make new friends.
  
• Preschoolers are very active. Playtime is essential for large muscle development. Give them lots of opportunities to run, jump, tumble, and climb.
  
• Preschoolers’ fine motor skills have developed. They’re able to color with more ease and pick up small objects. Not all 3-year-olds are ready for scissors, but crayons or markers are perfect for helping them hone their fine motor skills.
  
• Preschoolers are very imaginative. Let them use their imaginations, especially during Bible time. Three-year-olds love to pretend they’re in the lion’s den or in the belly of a giant fish.
  
• Preschoolers like to listen to books and look at pictures. Use pictures to help convey spiritual concepts or biblical truth.
  
• Preschoolers have short attention spans. Don’t worry about 3-year-olds who don’t seem to be listening. Often they’re learning more than those who seem to be engaged.
  
• Preschoolers want to please adults, and they thrive on approval. Shower them with genuine praise over every little thing. This also builds confidence.
  
• Preschoolers are sensitive. Use a calm, loving voice when talking. Saying something with the wrong tone or voice inflection could upset them.
  
• Preschoolers have increased self-control. Three-year-olds know right from wrong and what obedience is. Help them continue to function within the rules.
  
• Preschoolers ask lots of questions. This is how they learn. Don’t let it drive you crazy; be patient.
  
• Preschoolers like making their own choices. Let them choose the play centers or color of crayons they want to use. Offer activity options. They’ll grow as they confidently make choices.
  
• Preschoolers are just beginning to learn how to share. Role-play sharing with them while they’re playing.
  

Three-year-olds are wonderful.
Get to know who 3-year-olds are so you can better teach them about who God is.

—Gina

I’m not a big fan of roller coasters, but for the sake of living up to being a “fun mom,” I endure them.
If I had to pick a favorite ride, it would be the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World.
It goes from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds.
The one and only time I rode it, I was lucky enough to get in the first car—it’s a minute and 22 seconds of pure excitement.

The Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster offers a great illustration of the way children grow and develop during the first four years of their lives.
From a baby’s first breath, he or she takes off on a rapid-pace journey of learning and exploration.
It’s like going from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds.

As preschoolers mature, their growth rate begins to slow down.
Around 4 years of age, preschoolers start to refine the skills they’ve learned during the first four years of their lives.
They’re ready to show you how big they really are and what they can accomplish on their own.
When teaching older preschoolers, 4 and 5 years old, knowing their developmental characteristics will help you be more effective.

• Older preschoolers’ social skills continue to grow and develop. Give them opportunities to socialize with one another.
  
• Older preschoolers are learning to respect others. They’re ready for rules, so set guidelines they can follow; for example, be kind to one another, share your toys, and listen to your leaders.
  
• Older preschoolers are learning to share. Remind them that sharing pleases Jesus and that everyone can have a turn.
  
• Older preschoolers’ small muscles are continuing to develop. They’re more capable of cutting out shapes and are able to color within the lines. Four-and 5-year-olds are ready for scissors, but make sure they’re not sharp or pointed. Cutting out shapes and crafts gives kids a great sense of independence.
  
• Like 3-year-olds, older preschoolers want to please adults, and they thrive on approval. Shower them with genuine praise, and let them know how proud you are of them.
  
• Older preschoolers enjoy and want more responsibility. Make a list of chores they can do in your room; for example, scooting chairs up to the tables, sweeping the floor, wiping down the tables, and picking up toys.
  
• Older preschoolers want to make choices. Let them choose a play center or craft experience.
  
• Older preschoolers need climbing apparatuses and active play to release energy. If you have access to outside play, take advantage of that. If not, make sure you include some energy-busting activities within your schedule.
  
• Older preschoolers are curious. Four- and 5-year-olds ask lots of questions. You may even need to plan an extra five to 10 minutes of group time just so you can answer all their questions. Have fun with this and understand that this is how older preschoolers learn.
  
• Older preschoolers can express themselves well and show their feelings of anger and happiness. Be prepared for emotional outbursts, but never respond with a raised voice. As Proverbs tells us, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”
  

An important thing to remember about 4- and 5-year-olds is that, although they’re becoming more independent and doing more things on their own, they still need our help.
It’s easy to get impatient with older preschoolers, especially when they’ve been going along doing things for themselves and then all of a sudden they have a little bump in the road.
Adults and parents need to demonstrate patience.
The way you react and respond to children’s needs will affect the development of their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Your older preschoolers are at a critical time of development in their lives.
They’re finally beginning to put it all together.
How exciting for you as a preschool leader to know that you play a vital role as you assist them in this learning process.
Give them the love, kindness, and patience they need as they grow toward fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives.

—Gina

Without a doubt, boys and girls learn differently.
Gender differences are very real, present at birth, and a critical factor in how a child is raised, disciplined, and educated.
This doesn’t mean that all girls learn one way and all boys another, but there are significant differences that appear to be at their highest level among preschool children.
Check out these differing areas.

Hearing
—This is one of the earliest differences that can be documented.
Girls can hear soft sounds better than boys.
This difference alone can cause problems in your preschool ministry.
If an adult speaks in a normal tone of voice at the front of the room, boys at the back of the room may not pay attention simply because they can’t hear what’s being said.

Rate of physical and mental maturity
—Another difference that’s obvious to even the most casual observer is that girls mature physically and mentally faster than boys.
By the age of 6, girls can be one year ahead of boys.
A boy will probably not be able to write as well as a same-age girl because muscle development in girls’ hands is more advanced.

Behavior issues
—Adults tend to reprimand boys more harshly and more often than girls, which can lead to increased aggressiveness in boys.
This directly relates to the fact that boys are tested for learning and behavioral disorders twice as often as girls and represent two-thirds of children who’ll repeat a grade.
The increasing number of boys being diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder might actually be a result of teaching that ignores gender differences.