Some questions we might have about teaching early childhood classes relate to developmental issues or abilities. Thinking through these issues prepares us for related challenges so we don’t get frustrated by them.
Frequently Asked Questions about Early Childhood Teaching Related to Developmental Abilities
Will children in early childhood really retain what they learn?
We might be surprised at how much they’re learning even when we don’t think they’re absorbing anything. Many parents have reported tidbits of truth children expressed in relevant moments, or songs they started singing when they thought no one was listening. Even if children aren’t catching everything we’re trying to teach them, we’re laying a foundation which will be built upon for years to come. But there are things we can do to help with retention. We must be careful not to try to teach too much in one session. It’s better to hit on one central theme that we keep coming back to over and over throughout the session in different ways. Repetition will reinforce the truth we want them to remember.
Other Questions:
How important is teaching the Bible to this age when it’s content is so far beyond them?
Is it okay to change parts of the Bible story to better suit this age?
How do we deal with the short attention spans of young children?
You’ll find responses to the above questions in the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions which also looks at 48 other issues related to Bible teaching, answering a total of 153 questions.
Resource to Help with Their Developmental Characteristics: Age Level Characteristics: Early Childhood Module Download