early childhood

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early childhood essentials

WELCOME TO

EARLY CHILDHOOD! Thank you for joining the team! As a member of the Early Childhood team we are asking you (along with God’s help) to build relationships with a group of children to facilitate spiritual growth at whatever age or stage that child may be in. Every role on the KidsWorld team has an important part in accomplishing our Mission: Making passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who are Belonging, Growing, Serving and Reaching.

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Small Group Leader Responsible for the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of your small group throughout the day • Prepare and implement provided small group material. • Greet parents and interact with children throughout service. • Encourage and direct your small group of children and adult/parent and student helpers. • Pray for the children in your small group. • Clean up and set up for following service if needed. • Fill out “new kid” postcards for any new children in your small group that day.

Adult/Student Helper Help the small group leader as needed • Participate in all activities, knowing that your first goal is to assist your assigned small group leader. • Greet parents and interact with children throughout service. • Clean up and set up for following service if needed.

Large Group Communicator/Storyteller Responsible for delivery of large group curriculum • Prepare lesson by reviewing provided curriculum and reviewing scripture in your own Bible. • Rehearse lesson before presenting on weekends. • Gather any supplies that you desire to use, but are not listed in curriculum. • Relax and allow the Holy Spirit to work through your storytelling.

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We want you to understand the why behind the how. We will get to the how - but let’s start with the why. There are seven “guideposts” that shape our curriculum and those will help put some meaning behind what you prepare for each week you serve in KidsWorld.

Empowering Family as Primary: We believe that families are the first place where faith should be formed and nurtured. We have approximately 40 hours in a year with the average child who attends Christ Community - their families have over 3,000 hours to influence their kids - so it is our job to empower and equip families to lead their children in faith formation.

Spiritual Formation for a Lifetime Faith:

We want kids to be more than just

informed about the Bible and faith - we want them to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and spiritually formed by God’s Word. Rather than teaching and drilling on a bunch of facts, we want to give kids space and time to explore God’s Word and what the Holy Spirit might be speaking to them in order to promote a lifetime of faith.

Scripture is Our Authority:

The Bible is God’s truth for daily living that guides us

to know God and interpret our lives through the lens of His character and perfect will (2 Tim. 3:16–17). We will always use Scripture as the basis of each lesson we teach.

The Holy Spirit Teaches:

We intentionally create environments where the Holy

Spirit is free to move, teach and lead through His Word and other believers (John 14:26). You will see this especially in our Worship Response time, but it should be evident in your small group time as you are aware of how the Holy Spirit is moving.

The Big GOD Story:

The Bible, or “The Big God Story” as we like to call it, is God’s

ENTIRE story. It incorporates all of history, stretching from Genesis to Revelation and beyond, sharing the good news of redemption through Jesus (Rom. 8:1–2). When we teach the Bible as ONE story, we help kids understand how God has been working on His plan of Redemption since the fall of man, and He never changes.

God is Central:

Because it is one story, the emphasis is on God’s love and

redemption through Jesus. God is central to His Word, our lives, and the gospel (Col. 1:20). When we teach a story, we will emphasize what God has done in history and the life of the highlighted person, telling the story with God as the hero!

Inspire, Equip and Support:

We want YOU as a volunteer to feel inspired to make

passionate disciples, equipped with the knowledge and materials you need to do so, and supported as we all pursue this mission together. 6

Explore Each week there is an Explore “Focus” station that will help kids enter into their day by allowing them to engage in hands-on experiences as they begin their time of worship. Most Explore stations are set up on a table as you enter your room and will have some open-ended questions to ask the children throughout the time they are at the Explore station. Additional activity stations (large muscle, small muscle, manipulative, books, etc.) will be in your classroom also. By giving our kids fun activities to plug into right away, we can create an atmosphere that will encourage them to arrive early to join the fun. This is also a good time for leaders to build relationships with the kids. You can be more than a teacher; you can become a friend.

Your role: • Welcome the kids as they come into your room. • Guide them to the Explore activity or other activities set up and waiting for some interactive fun! • Get down on their level and play – this is the time to begin to build relationships. • Observe the room for any child who needs special attention (i.e. might be upset, new to the room, etc.).

Large Group Discover and Respond Children move into a large group setting and participate in discovering God’s Word through storytelling, worship and interactive experiences such as the day’s “What’s It,” Mail Time and Wardrobe of Wonder. Each large group experience also contains a worship response time. Some weeks are designed for more specific interactive expressions of response and others through music. This time is intended for kids to freely express their worship as God’s Spirit leads them.

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Your role: Sit near or with your small group, not in the back of the room. Leaders/ helpers should work together to “cover” the room to make sure all kids are within reach if needed. Please help to refocus children sitting near you even if they are not in your assigned small group. Encourage your kids to listen and participate in large group. Set the example – if you act and look bored and uninterested, the kids in your group will follow you. If you’re excited and follow directions, so will the kids. This is not a time to check your cell phone. Please avoid taking children to the restroom during large group, (this can be distracting and end up making more kids want to leave the room). Ask the child if it is an emergency; more often than not they can wait a few minutes. If you must take a child to the restroom, please wait until all kids are standing for a song or interactive time during large group.

Small Group Respond Children now have the opportunity to reflect on what they have heard, engage in relationship and respond to God individually or corporately by creating a meaningful project or piece of art.

Snack/Bible Review Questions Your role: Settle your kids back to the table or small group blanket. Use hand sanitizer, pass out snack (check for allergy tags) and say a prayer of thanks. Use Review Pages or provided Bible to discuss today’s Big God Story with your group (no need to re-teach story). Ask questions to prompt further conversation about what the kids just experienced in large group. A lot of these questions are open-ended. We do not need the “right” answer but are looking for kids to really ponder and dwell on the wonder of God and a growing relationship with Him.

Blessing The blessing is a very special time of the morning - do not skip this! The blessing is a time for kids to practice another physical posture of worship. The blessing time does not have to be an intimidating prayer for the leaders or 9

children; use this as an opportunity to declare the truth of God’s love and scripture in their lives.

Your role: Have your kids place their hands out in front of themselves, palms up to receive a Blessing. Open the Bible provided in your small group bin. Follow directions and read the “Blessing bookmark” provided in the Bible.

Create The Create activity is a hands-on opportunity for children to give artistic expression to what God is doing within them. Sometimes the activity is done individually and other times as a group project. We are not looking for a “perfect” craft activity to take home, but more of a physical reminder of time spent responding to God.

Your role: Take time to review this activity before you come to class so you can focus on the activity and not be reading from your small group lesson. Before you have kids start the activity, explain and model what the kids are to do for the activity. When serving with preschoolers, it’s always a good idea to show the items you will be using and explain steps involved before passing supplies out to kids. Reference the Bible truth and connect it to the “why” of the Create activity. Conversation questions are provided for this activity to help reinforce the day’s Bible truth. Return all supplies to the appropriate bags in your curriculum bin. If you serve at the first service of the day, please remember to keep enough supplies in the bin for the next service. If you find while using your supplies that glue is old or a stapler doesn’t work, please go ahead and throw away old supplies - don’t return them to your small group bin. Please inform KidsWorld staff if supplies are low and you think the next service time might run out of supplies.

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Engage/Connect Often times there will be a Engage/Connect activity in your lesson; this is a time for children and leaders to connect with each other in a large motor skill activity. If time allows after your Create activity or Blessing, this would be a good time to do the Connect activity.

Your role: Have everyone sit down and get ready to listen to the rules of the activity. (Try whispering as you sit down to help kids concentrate.) Before you have kids start the activity, explain and model what the kids are to do for the activity. Show the item you will be using (scarves, bean bags, etc.) Reference the Bible truth and connect it to the “why” of the Connect activity. When you are finished with the activity, have kids sit down again and collect items. (This will help with kids crowding and running into each other.)

Remember Verse This Bible verse will change every 4-6 weeks. Please work with your kids to help them hide God’s Word in their heart.

Your role: Review motions, explain any difficult words of this week’s Remember Verse. Encourage kids and parents as they leave your small group to practice the Remember Verse during the week.

Wrap Up Most weeks you will be busy with Create or Connect activities up until the parents pick up kids. Please do not allow kids to return to activity stations. The goal is for kids to stay with you until every child is gone. Occasionally if service runs late you can use the provided coloring page or puzzle to help kids remain in small group.

Your role: Keep your kids at your small group table or blanket until parents arrive. Review your Remember Verse again.

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Have kids color the provided coloring pages for the week’s lesson. Puzzles are available if all activities have been done. “Hamilton’s Box” is provided in the some Preschool classes.

Family First Look The Family First handout is a “pre-teaching tool” for parents. This resource encourages families to introduce next week’s lesson to their children before they arrive for the weekend. Family First includes the following week’s curriculum information: The Big God Story, Blessing and Remember Verse.

Your role: Please be intentional about handing out the half sheet Family First handout to PARENTS as they are picking up their child. Prepare a statement such as, “This is what Eliana heard today in the Big God Story and what we will be learning next week,” “Here is a Blessing you can pray over Josie,” or “There is a new Remember Verse for Zachary to learn next week.”

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Prepare Know what your role is on the day you serve. Make sure you have reviewed your lesson ahead of time so you are able to focus primarily on your kids during small group and not continually looking at your lesson. You don’t need to read word for word from your lesson; summarize in your own words when asking a question or stating directions to your kids.

Some Clear Rules to Keep in Mind You are the adult/student leader; we want the kids to have fun and learn, but also be kind and safe. Listen to the person talking. Don’t hurt others or yourself with words or actions. Don’t hurt the church property or supplies. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.

Encourage Never degrade or embarrass a child with words. Keep in mind that all issues are not discipline related. Some kids may have a need that you may have to address in a creative way. Be careful to discipline a child’s action, not the child. Encourage those who are following appropriately with affirmation (“Sarah, I like the way you waited patiently when I passed out the snack.”)

Get on the Child’s Level Look the child in his/her eyes and have him/her look back at you. Use age-appropriate words and expectations.

Handling Disruptions Help preschoolers explore within boundaries. Here are some suggestions how to handle disruptions:

Ignore: Sometimes it’s best to simply ignore the behavior. Some may be seeking your attention. Some may have just slipped up. Use your judgment on when to engage with the child.

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Eye contact If a child continues to be disruptive, try and catch his/her eye. Oftentimes a simple glance is all it takes to let them know they need to pay attention.

Get Close & Invade Their Space Some children need to be close to someone in order to re-engage. Simply sit closer to the child and see if that helps. Some kids need a gentle reminder to help pay attention, such as a hand on their shoulder. If two kids are having difficulty paying attention, seperate them and ask one child to come sit by you.

Redirect If a child is having trouble paying attention, give him/her and object (not a toy) to hold while you are talking. As long as they are sitting quietly and focused, they can hold the object. Give them a special job to help them keep busy and feel a part of the group.

Remove Don’t reprimand in front of other kids. Speak gently yet firmly. State the behavior you would like stopped. Then talk about the behavior you would like to see. (“Tim, it’s fun to play with blocks, but if you keep throwing them we can’t play with the blocks. Let’s see if you can build a big tower with the blocks?”)

Give Choices Give a child choices within limits that everyone can live with. Be prepared to follow through with your options. (If a child is running in room: “Sam, you can walk in the classroom or go play with dinosaurs.”) Don’t say you will call a child’s parents - unless you are willing to do that.

Respond with Empathy The behavior belongs to the child; there is no need for the leader to become frustrated. Have an empathetic response that you can use to separate yourself from the behavior and not get angry. If a child is fighting over a toy. “Bummer. It’s hard to share sometimes. You can share the cars or you can try out the Lego table.” Let the child make the choice.

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A preschool child (a regular attender, not a first-time visitor) comes into class and is crying because Mom and Dad left her. “Ohhh, this is so hard when we have to say goodbye to Mom and Dad; they’ll be back right after storytime. You can come color a picture, play Legos or you can stay here and be sad until you feel better.” Let the child make a decision; if he chooses to cry, it’s ok. She will come join class when she is ready.

Use Enforceable Statements Enforceable statements tell kids what WE WILL do or allow, rather them telling them what do do. I’ll begin as soon as your are seated. Those who follow the rules are welcome to play the game. Kids who sit in the circle are allowed to have graham crackers.

Affirm If you see an improvement as weeks go by, even the smallest one, be sure to affirm the child by stating what you saw and the behavior that worked.

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2-3 Years Old Physically Move constantly; develop large muscles with walking, running.

Spiritually Understand God’s love by the way parents love them and the way people treat each other rather than by what people say about them.

Socially/Intellectually Prefer to play alone. Self-centered; need training in cooperation and taking turns. Understand only one direction at a time.

4 Years Old Physically Coordination improves, small muscles begin to develop. Learn to tie shoes, button, zip.

Spiritually Understand that praying means talking to God. Ask questions about God.

Socially/Intellectually Seek approval of adults. Less individual play, include others in imaginary play. Are curious: ask how, what and why frequently.

5-6 Years Old Physically More coordinated, agile and strong. Develop hand skills; cut out large objects, almost color within the lines.

Spiritually Understand God made them. Articulate God’s love by doing kind things to others. Notice when adults say one thing about God and then act differently.

Socially/Intellectually Want to play games other kids are playing or mimic activities that adults do. Tattle to get attention. Can carry out instructions.

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