Biblically grounded insight for today’s early childhood professionals.
Brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, Reimagine Childhood delivers practical strategies, expert advice, and faith-filled encouragement for teaching and caring for young children.
Each episode features conversations with trusted voices in early education, offering tools you can use right away—whether you’re in the classroom, leading a team, or supporting families.
Welcome to Reimagine Childhood brought to you by Early Childhood Christian Network—where we equip you with the tools you need so you can confidently care for and teach young children.
We know early childhood is prime time for all development and, yet, we often overlook our critical role in providing optimal learning experiences. In every episode, you’ll find seasoned experts sharing their passion and expertise in a way that is easily applied to everyday experiences in the classroom and anywhere else you’re involved with young children. We want to protect and celebrate early childhood in all its wonder and imagination, rather than rushing through it to get “prepared” for the next stage.
So….how will you reimagine your approach to early childhood? We’d love to invite you on this journey with us!
In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer welcomes Renee Blaine, associate preschool minister at Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. With over three decades of early childhood experience, Renee shares her passion for building biblical foundations in young children in age-appropriate ways. They discuss how to integrate biblical literacy into the classroom, drawing parallels to teaching emerging literacy. Key strategies include building oral language, introducing repetitive truths, and creating a love for God’s Word. The episode highlights the importance of partnering with parents and provides practical tips for incorporating faith-based messages into everyday learning. 00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood 00:48 Meet Renee Blaine: A Journey in Early Childhood Education 02:22 The Importance of Biblical Literacy in Early Childhood 07:18 Practical Strategies for Teaching Biblical Literacy 18:47 Regional Conference Promotion 21:03 The Importance of Music in Early Childhood 21:56 Laying a Solid Foundation of Faith 25:41 Teaching God’s Word Effectively 29:53 Equipping Parents and Educators Download the Gospel cube Renee talked about in the episode – https://elevatechurchconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8.5x11_GospelCubeImages-1-1.pdf Renee’s cube is adapted from this resource (which has TONS of other resources for teaching the Bible)! https://sundayschoolzone.com/bible-story/gods-unfolding-story/ Renee wrote a blog article with great tips for sharing the gospel in an age-appropriate manner with young children, including instructions for using the cube above: https://elevatechurchconference.com/preschool-ministry-sharing-the-gospel/