Going Upstream: Why the Preschool Years Matter for Lifelong Discipleship
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Hey Reader! Beyond VeggieTales and Goldfish Bible stories, worship songs, and fun activities all have a place in early childhood ministry. Children need to hear the stories of Jesus and learn about God’s character. But information alone isn’t the whole picture. Children also need opportunities to experience God—to develop a sense of wonder, curiosity, and connection with the One who loves them. Think about the difference between telling children that God created the world and helping them stop to notice the world He made. Both matter, but one invites children to experience the wonder behind the truth. We don’t have to entertain children every moment or fill every minute with an activity. Sometimes, a quiet, simple experience can be more meaningful than an elaborate lesson. Three Ways to Nurture Wonder Tomorrow You don’t need a special room, expensive materials, or a complicated curriculum to begin. Start by changing how you approach the everyday moments in your classroom. 1. Make room for awe. Take a few minutes to notice something God created. Watch a butterfly, examine a tiny seed, listen to the rain, or observe the shapes and colors of leaves. Rather than rushing to explain everything, invite children to look closely and wonder. You might say, “Look at all the different colors God put in that flower!” Then give children time to explore and respond in their own ways. 2. Let worship be more than a performance. Singing a worship song is wonderful, but children don’t have to sing perfectly, follow every motion, or repeat your words to connect with God. Give them opportunities to sing, pray, listen quietly, or hold a Bible and turn its pages with care. Preschoolers are capable of worshiping God. Our job is to create opportunities and be attentive to what happens, rather than assuming we must direct every moment. 3. Observe before you teach. When a child pauses during prayer, asks a surprising question about Jesus, or expresses a thought about God, resist the urge to jump in with an explanation. Listen. Watch. Give the child room to explore the thought. Children are not simply waiting for adults to fill them with information. They are already created and loved by God. We can honor that by helping create an environment where their curiosity and relationship with Him can grow. The Unexpected Gift for Teachers When we slow down and watch children pray, worship, and wonder about God, we may rediscover something we have overlooked in our own busy lives. We may know the Bible stories well but need to recover our sense of awe at the God those stories reveal. Going upstream doesn’t mean we can prevent every future struggle or guarantee what a child’s faith will look like as an adult. It means recognizing the opportunity we have right now to nurture a foundation of love, trust, and wonder. Tomorrow, try this: pause and watch. Notice a child praying, singing, or marveling at something God made. Resist the urge to direct the moment. Ask yourself, What might God be doing here—and what might I learn from this child?
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team P.S. If you don’t want to receive these weekly emails anymore, no hard feelings. Click HERE to be removed from this list. (You’ll still receive other emails from us based on past preferences.)
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