Play. It’s what children do. But, some teachers might have questions about its place in the classroom. Those hesitancies can be resolved if we look at, and use, play as a Bible teaching method. Play becomes a Bible learning activity when it’s purposeful, tied into the lesson, and not merely a time filler.
Questions about Using Play as a Bible Teaching Method
Class time is so short. Shouldn’t teaching the Bible be our top priority?
Teaching the Bible definitely should be our top priority. Like the use of any other method, play can be a means of learning that meets children on their age level. We must remember that play is their work, the way they learn. Children, with their short attention spans, thrive on activity. We can’t expect them to sit and listen to Bible stories for the entire session. With intentional planning in how play gets used, it can be a very effective teaching method to use with children. They will be learning without even realizing it. For Tips: Play: It’s How Kids Learn Worksheet
You’ll find a few additional thoughts about the above question in the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions which also asks and answers this question:
Doesn’t playing and having fun give children the wrong impression about church life?
The handbook asks a total of 153 questions covering 49 different issues related to Bible teaching.