Your preschool ministry
offers an opportunity to infuse little ones with faith at one of
the most important moments in their lives.
If you work with preschoolers, it's likely you're a big believer
in the amazing way God wired these little ones to learn. While some
on the "outside" -- outside your class walls, outside the world of
wonder that is preschooldom -- find it hard to believe that much
meaningful learning and faith discovery can really take place with
kids this age, you know the truth.
Children in early childhood are
living in moment-by-moment discovery of God's amazing creation.
Their work really is their play. And you get to be part of it as
you champion preschool ministry! Best of all, there's plenty of
science to back up your passion. So read on for the points -- and
the wins -- that'll make your preschool ministry the most vibrant
place in your church!
EXPERIENCES AND REPETITION
Although the human brain continues to change over time, the first
few years of life mark an important time of rapid growth. Babies
and preschoolers' brain synapses, which allow information to pass
from neuron to neuron, are forming at an incredible rate that won't
be matched for the rest of their lives. Their young brains are
prepared to receive input from their environment and to learn, and
the experiences children have can actually modify the function of
their brain as well as its structure.
A child's early environment sets the stage for subsequent
development and may have lasting effects on a child. In fact, the
Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development
concluded, "The question today is not whether early experience
matters, but rather how early experiences shape individual
development and contribute to children's continued movement along
positive pathways."
Repetition strengthens the synapses carrying information from
neuron to neuron, building pathways of learning. For preschoolers,
repetition is not only very enjoyable, it's also the key to
cementing learning. That's why your kids love to hear the same
stories over and over, play the same games, and listen to the same
songs. They're instinctively drawn to repetition.
THE WIN: Use this knowledge to evaluate how you
use your time with preschoolers. As adults, repetition may seem
boring, even irritating. But when you approach your time with your
little ones knowing that repetition is one of the most beneficial
teaching tools available, it's easier to understand and appreciate
why kids love it so. Don't shy from repetition and routine.
Follow the same basic structure. Create a routine
your kids can count on. Set up your class time so the beginning,
middle, and end are consistent. Kids always know that you start
class with the "Good Morning" song, eat snack after Bible time, and
finish class with the "See You Later" song. Consistency gives kids
a sense of comfort and predictability that is soothing and will
help you avoid discipline issues arising out of an uncontrolled
environment.
Let kids explore their favorites. You likely get
requests from kids to play the same games, sing the same songs, and
hear the same Bible events over and over. They may even want to
play with the same toys each time they come. Don't resist this;
remember that every time you repeat something, you're helping to
ingrain it in the child's memory and experiences.
DEVELOPMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES
Preschoolers understand vast amounts of information and learn at a
rate that is nearly unparalled in later life. A perfect
illustration of the speed and depth of learning shows up in
language development. The average 3-year-old has a vocabulary of
900 to 1,000 words. By age 4, that child's vocabulary will consist
of 4,000 to 6,000 words. And by age 5, the number is between 5,000
and 8,000 words, according to early childhood researchers and
authors Carol Seefeldt and Barbara Wasik. Learning literally
explodes in the preschool years.
THE WIN: Take advantage of children's amazing,
God-given capabilities by maximizing your time with them. Reinforce
their positive view and perception of God by fostering a
faith-centered environment that supports your preschoolers' natural
development through your demonstration of grace, encouragement, and
unconditional love. As a figure of authority in their lives, you
reflect God to preschoolers and play a role in how these children
will ultimately perceive the nature of God -- the ultimate
authority figure.
Be sensitive. Researchers have found sensitive
caregiving to be related to numerous aspects of development ranging
from attachment (connection with others) to children's abilities to
regulate emotion, behavior, and attention. Being responsive to a
child's cues is a key to being sensitive. This means being tuned-in
and responding to a child's emotions, interest level, and
capabilities. If you see a boy crying, don't ignore it. Acknowledge
that he's upset and comfort him. Consistently responding to a
child's needs builds trust in your relationship with him, which
ultimately translates into trusting God.
Provide children with an appropriate level of stimulation
-- not too much and not too little. Recognize when a child
is overwhelmed or bored and adjust your interactions with the
child. The best rule of thumb is to time a child's attention span
by his or her age. For each year of age, expect about one minute of
attention. That means for your oldest preschoolers, you'll need to
change focus about every four to five minutes to keep kids
engaged.
Avoid over-controlling interactions. Take
advantage of opportunities to allow children to master their
behavior without your intervention. If a child is capable of doing
something on her own without your help, let her do it to help build
her confidence and sense of self-efficacy. Let children tie their
own shoelaces, clean up after making crafts, or write their own
names on projects. Ask first whether a child needs help rather than
jumping in to do it.
Keep a healthy adult-to-child ratio. Sensitive
interactions with children are easier when the teacher-to-child
ratio is low. For quality care, one caregiver for every three
children is recommended in infancy, whereas one teacher for every
eight children is adequate for 4-year-olds. If you have a
sufficient number of adults, group only a few children with each
teacher.
