Bible in Classroom — Is there a BIG Bible in your Toddler and Preschool classroom? Little children need to know the Bible is touchable and very real. Show them each week where the story is found in God's Word. Let them turn the pages and see the words.
Preschool Playtime — Plan an out-of-class activity in the park during the week. Invite the whole family. This will take the pressure off of you to watch each child, but you can have the time to play with the kids individually. Don't let the moms occupy all your time. You're there for the children. This will allow you to build better relationships with both your students and their parents.
Student-Created Mural or Bulletin Board — Post pictures of everything blue in the summer landscape (sky, flowers, ocean, swimming pool, blue jeans, blueberries).
Toddler and Preschool Crafts & Creative Ideas by Sue Jakes
Egg Heads
Use plastic Easter eggs to make play people for your children. Pull the eggs apart and glue pebbles into the bottom half of the egg (if you want your play people to make a rattle noise, use pebbles without any glue). Glue the two halves of the egg together and decorate the egg with drawn-on eyes, nose, mouth and hair using a non-toxic, permanent pen.
Let Your Fingers Do the Storytelling
Try using finger puppets if you are telling a story with many characters. Finger puppets can be made from strips of construction paper that are decorated with crayons and then taped around your fingers. Finger puppets can also be quite elaborate creations made from felt and yarn. Fingers of gloves can be decorated so each finger becomes a different story character. Keep fingers bent when those characters are offstage, and raise your fingers as the story characters appear.
The Do-It-Yourself Sound of Music
Four-and five-year-olds love making music and it's good for them. Playing instruments strengthens their hand-eye coordination and listening skills. You can make simple rhythm instruments from materials found in most homes. Ask parents to begin collecting the items several weeks before you actually need them.
Drums can be made out of three-pound coffee cans with plastic lids, ice cream cartons, large shortening cans or plastic wastebaskets. Make sure to remove any rough edges and tape lids in place.
Shakers can be made by filling small boxes, plastic Easter eggs or empty salt containers with dried beans, popcorn, rice or anything else that makes an interesting sound (packing tape works best as a seal). Watch younger children to be sure they don't put bean, rice or small objects in their mouths.
Sand Blocks to rub together can be made by gluing sandpaper to old toy blocks or lumber scraps (sand rough edges of lumber smooth).
Bells can be made by sewing three to five jingle bells to a six-inch length of elastic. Sew the ends of the elastic together to make bracelets that can be used on wrists and ankles.
Click here to read more about Toddler and Preschool Sunday School
Click here to read about Catechizing Toddler and Preschool aged students
Sue Jakes is the Children's Ministry Coordinator of the Presbyterian Church in America.
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