School and Prayer
Posted By: younger_children on August 13, 2010
Wow! The new school year is upon us, and as the saying goes “as long as there are tests in school, there will be prayer”! 
Our little ones do not have to suffer through tests and exams in preschool [at least, not yet], but prayer can still be a big part of their lives.
How do we pray with our children?
Let children know that they can PRAY SIMPLY
Let children know that they can PRAY ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE
Prayer is LISTENING TO GOD as well as talking to God
Share with children that they can SAY ANYTHING TO GOD
Let children SEE YOU PRAYING!
Consider teaching young children these simple prayers:
Lord, I hope my words and thoughts please you. -Psalm 19.14a
May God bless you!
Be near me Lord, Jesus!
RESOURCES
At Home with God – Family Devotions for the School Year from Upper Room Books
The Psalms
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Piety, Mercy, and Babies
Posted By: younger_children on July 26, 2010
John Wesley prescribed works of mercy and piety as those spiritual disciplines that we are to practice as Christians. Including small children in prayer, celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and worship allows them to fully engage in community. Journeying spiritually with babies and toddlers can prove to be an intimidating experience for many adults. Keeping in mind that small children learn best through observation and experience, Cicero United Methodist Church in Cicero, New York is a congregation modeling what it means to practice spiritual disciplines both corporately and individually.
One member at Cicero UMC shares that the minister “prayed along with” their son when his dog died. This is an example of modeling Christ’s command to love God. What a wonderful formational moment for a child when the pastor and other adults pray with that child in a moment of grief. By engaging in acts of piety, they model for children what it means to love God. Another member at Cicero UMC speaks of the genuine caring for each other and the “world around us.” Their ministries open up opportunities to talk with small children about what it means to “do good”. Through acts of mercy—visiting the sick and homebound, feeding the hungry, giving clothes to those in need—congregations live out Christ’s command to love our neighbor and Wesley’s challenge do all the good that we can. We need to model good works for children. Our children need to see us doing good.
Questions for Discussion
• How does your congregation intentionally model spiritual disciplines for small children?
• How are the concerns and needs of the children included in the corporate prayer life of the congregation?
• What opportunities does your congregation provide for children and adults to engage together in acts of piety and of mercy?
Early Literacy Activities
Posted By: younger_children on July 8, 2010
Looking for literature-based activities for preschoolers? Ontario – Early Years has developed activites related to beloved children’s books that can be used in any setting.
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Media Link of the Week: A Look at Independence Day
Posted By: younger_children on July 2, 2010
This video from Sesame Street paints a vivid picture for small children on why we celebrate Independence Day: Surprising the British
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Helping Children Build Friendships
Posted By: younger_children on June 28, 2010
“Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him with his own soul” – 1 Samuel 18.3
Jonathan and David shared a friendship of devotion, trust, and support. Their friendship exemplifies what we should all strive for in building deeper relationships with one another. By modeling this behavior and creating positive experiences with one another, we allow children to develop healthy friendships and actively participate in Christian Community.
“Create an atmosphere in which children are expected to be kind and supportive to one another”
• allow children to work through problems using problem-solving strategies
• never shame, blame, or humiliate children
“Organize activities that foster participation with others”
• provide opportunities for children to interact within their own comfort zone
• focus on building relationships rather than whole-group instruction
“Involve children in the community”
• tell children Biblical stories and stories of our Christian traditions
• involve parents
Resources
1 Samuel 18
Me, You, Us: Social-Emotional Learning in Preschool by Ann S. Epstein
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