From Rex and Jodi VanBibber (sunnyhollow@computerlink.com) http://www.yavapai.com/sunny
Subject: Teaching Preschoolers Through Bible Stories
Larry, we really appreciate what you are doing with your website. We showed it to our pastor and his wife (who homeschool for all the reasons you give about public schools) and they said, "It's about time more people started taking that kind of a stand!"
Rex and I take a special interest in the children even before they get to school - while they are still preschoolers. Our concern is that so many are exposed to "TV Heroes" (the junk food you talk about in your writings) instead of the real heroes of the Bible. We want to show that Bible Story heroes can be so much more fun! And these are real stories about things which really happened! They have stood the test of time, they honor God, and lift up Jesus.
Parents are busy and often feel they don't have time to teach their preschoolers. Yet this is the most intense period of soaking up information their children will ever go through! (Just like a sponge as you put it in your writings). And it needn't be hard or take a lot of time. God has put everything we need for teaching preschoolers right in the Bible Stories! You can even teach preschool concepts along with spiritual values by making little learning games to play after hearing the Bible Story. Do counting games for "The Little Lost Lamb," practice measuring things after hearing "David and Goliath," or build vocabulary about all the things God has made in "The Creation Story."
God has put everything needed for learning right in the child! Curiosity, the senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching), wanting to know everything about the world around him or her, and being able to learn through play. After all, what we call "play" is really the child's work. This is the way God made him or her to learn. This is why simple hands-on learning games are the best way to teach at this level.
God even took care of "too little time." He gave an excellent formula for teaching at the preschool level. (Isaiah 28:10).
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;
Line upon line, line upon line;
Here a little, and there a little.
When you break big tasks down into small chunks, you can fit them into your schedule better.
Our suggestion to parents is to do a new Bible Story every week. Then do learning games all through the rest of the week, reviewing the Bible Story as you do so. Fit them in here and there when you have a moment, when you are doing chores together, or riding in the car. "Here is something red. How many more red things can you find in the room? Remember when God made the rainbow? I'm glad He made red, aren't you?"
God also gives some assurances in the Bible which parents can really take to heart! He hears you (from 1 John:5:14). And He will instruct you in the way you should go and guide you with His eye (Psalm 32:8).
Ask the Lord, "What do you want to do through me today to teach this child you have given me? I am available." (The key words are "through me" and "available"). Then rest in these thoughts from Ephesians. God can "do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (3:20) and He will do it "throughout all ages, world without end" (3:21).
Take this prayer from Paul as your own. (Col. 1:9-10) "We always pray for you, asking God to fill you with knowledge of His will, with all the wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives. Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants, and always do what pleases Him, and you will grow in your knowledge of God. (Good News for Modern Man).
Telling Bible Stories To Preschoolers Can Be Fun! Here are some tips for getting started.
1. Pray. Ask God to give you the words He wants your children to hear. He knows their need. Let Him work through you. This is the most important thing you will ever learn about teaching young children.
2. Prepare. Read the story in your Bible beforehand. Write down the main points on a sheet of paper which will fit into the Bible. Wedge the paper in tightly so that it becomes like a page. This will keep it from moving around and falling out. Use the points you wrote down to tell the story in words your child will understand. Remember that he or she will take everything you say literally. So keep it simple.
3. Hold the open Bible on your lap. This helps the child see the relationship between God's Word and the story you are telling.
4. Here is the fun part. Design some simple games in which your child can match and sort items, take things apart and put them together again, hide and find things, and talk about it. Here are some examples.
Recall the story of Noah's Ark as you match pairs of Animal Picture Cards. Your child will be distinguishing likenesses and differences and learning animal names.
After hearing about the story of Creation, toddlers love to find little pictures inside Peek-In Tubs (made from margarine containers) and then answer questions to show just how much they know. "What is that?" A cat. "What do cats say?" Meow. "Who made cats?" God did!
Older preschoolers may draw a picture about the story and tell it to you. Print their words right on the pictures and keep these in a notebook to read again later.
Parents, you are the teacher God wants for your preschooler. And it can be so much fun! Don't be afraid to do it. Here is what God promises you in Isaiah 45:2: "I will go before thee and make the crooked places straight."
From Rex and Jodi VanBibber
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