<\/p>\n
Babies<\/em><\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n 1s<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n 2s<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n 3s \u2013 Pre-K<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n Kindergarten<\/strong> <\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bible Story: \u00a0 \u201cThe Church Began\u201d Scripture:\u00a0\u00a0 Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2 Babies Babies are learning that teachers in their room help them when they need a bottle, want a diaper change, or just want to play. What a wonderful way for teachers to help babies begin to understand that people at church care about…","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nBabies are learning that teachers in their room help them when they need a bottle, want a diaper change, or just want to play. What a wonderful way for teachers to help babies begin to understand that people at church care about them. Even the simplest needs you meet for babies can help them feel safe and secure at church. They have not yet caught the concept of church, but they do understand when you meet their needs. You can see it in their responses to you. Your classroom is their \u201cchurch.\u201d Thank you for what you do to help babies learn that church is a happy place to be.<\/p>\n
\nOne year olds have an opportunity to learn that church is a happy place. When their classroom is ready for them, they can immediately engage. Here is an activity you might want to have for this Sunday as you talk about being at church. Locate a plastic laundry basket and a few balls. Encourage one year olds to toss the balls into the basket. Use conversation such as: \u201cI am so glad you came to church today, _____________ (child\u2019s name). I thought you would like to toss the ball in the basket.\u201d Even simple conversations can help them feel happy about coming to church.<\/p>\n
\nTwos are becoming more involved in structured play with other children. They can engage together and are beginning to learn to \u201ctake turns.\u201d Use conversation such as: \u201cNow it is ____________ (say child\u2019s name) turn, then it\u2019s your turn __________________ (say another child\u2019s name).\u201d Sometimes the word share<\/em> is a hard term for children to understand. To some twos, share<\/em> means \u201cI won\u2019t get use it again,\u201d perhaps because this has been their previous experience. As twos learn that taking turns<\/em> means \u201cI get to use it again,\u201d it will become easy to play together. In a few years, they will understand what the word share<\/em> means. All of this helps them learn that coming to church can be fun and a happy place to be.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bible verse \u201cPeople at church helped one another\u201d is a great verse for us to begin to help preschoolers understand what people at church can do for others. This week our own church will be involved in buying groceries that will be given to our \u201cGraceworks\u201d partners. Tell preschoolers that they help people who may not have money to buy food to eat. Our church can help others. Create a pretend store using the food items in the kitchen area. Place grocery bags where preschoolers can \u201cshop\u201d for food. Cut strips of green paper for play money. Create a place where they can \u201ccheck out.\u201d You might say: \u201cWe can bring food to someone who can\u2019t buy their food. We can help others.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nOn Sunday our own church will be involved in buying groceries for those who can\u2019t buy for themselves. We will be giving grocery items to our \u201cGraceworks\u201d partners who collect food for people who are in need. Create an area where children can make their own list of what they think others might need. You may find a list of items the church will be distributing this Sunday at one of the Preschool Welcome Desks. Using this list, encourage the children to make a similar list to take with them. As you do the activity, say: \u201cWe can give food to those who need it. Our church helps, too.\u201d<\/p>\n