{"id":31562,"date":"2024-06-28T15:01:03","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T19:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thinkorange.com\/navigating-the-three-phases-of-preschool\/"},"modified":"2024-07-24T20:35:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T00:35:15","slug":"navigating-the-three-phases-of-preschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkorange.com\/blog\/navigating-the-three-phases-of-preschool\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the Three Phases of Preschool Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are in preschool ministry, you care about the faith and future of the next generation. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You know that preschool ministry is so much more than childcare; it\u2019s helping kids develop a foundation of faith. That\u2019s why you spend a lot of creating environments, training volunteers, and planning lessons to help kids grow in their everyday faith.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because you are a smart leader, you also know that preschoolers don\u2019t learn the same way adults do and they certainly don\u2019t enjoy the same things adults do. (Cue Baby Shark<\/a> as proof.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, isn\u2019t it easy to forget that is the case? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe that\u2019s why sometimes . . . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We try to explain big theological concepts to preschoolers that were transformative for us, but too abstract for them to understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We play worship songs that are a bit graphic for little ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We expect kids to sit still for a really long lesson when even the adults around the room are bored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have all been there. That\u2019s because there are two mistakes leaders tend to make when it comes to engaging kids: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Adults tend to assume, \u201cThey are like me now.\u201d <\/strong>

    Now, none of us would say that out loud, but it can be easy to act that way. We can get so excited about what God is teaching us personally that we want to teach the same exact thing to them. Or, we expect them to be able to behave like an adult. Not only is that rarely effective, we also miss out
    what we can learn from engaging their perspective. 
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Adults tend to assume, \u201cThey are like I used to be.\u201d <\/strong>

    Sometimes, we forget how much the world has changed since we were kids. We forget that kids are living in a world with smart phones, social media, and YouTube. Not to mention they are being raised by a generation that may have different parenting styles and values than the ones that influenced us. 

    That\u2019s why if we want to engage the next generation effectively, we think there is one idea that has the potential to transform everything: phase. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Phase Defined:<\/strong> A time frame<\/em> in a kid\u2019s life when you can leverage<\/em> distinctive opportunities<\/em> to influence their future.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    When churches become intentional about understanding and leveraging what is actually happening in the stages of a kid\u2019s life, it changes how they . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Partner with families at pivotal transitions.
    Teach comprehensively from preschool through college.
    Train leaders how to work with specific age groups. 
    Improve dialogue and cooperation between ministries.
    Resource parents to interact with kids in the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Every kid at every phase is changing in six ways: physically, mentally, relationally, culturally, emotionally, and morally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, what do we need to know about phase in order to engage preschoolers effectively? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Phase Defined: A <\/strong>time frame in a kid\u2019s life when you can <\/em><\/strong>leverage<\/em> distinctive <\/strong>opportunities<\/em> to influence their future.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n