Using God’s Design for Learning

by: Becca Manny, LFC Next Generation Director

Have you ever watched a child at play and thought, “I wish I could bottle up that energy,” or better yet, “I wish I was having that much fun.” Children have an uncanny ability to embrace their current circumstance and turn it around for fun and enjoyment. These natural explorers have a knack for finding new things (whether safe or not) and letting their curiosity lead the way. With energy and gusto, they willingly play with others, with little introduction it seems, and can create a game with the most mundane of everyday items—did you know there were more than 300 uses for an empty laundry basket!? Yes, with age comes wisdom and a greater sense of caution, but many wish our energy levels never died down and our natural curiosities pushed us to learn more each day. 

Movement and Adventure

               As we sit children down to begin studying scripture, we do not want to ignore the fact that children love movement and adventure. Parts of the Bible may seem intimidatingly complex or boring, and they may initially seem unappealing in content to occupy young children. In our children’s ministry at Living Fellowship Church, we want to tap into children’s natural instincts and tendencies while recognizing that some scripture is challenging to understand. If you were to step inside our preschool room, you would notice a variety of toys, but also a variety of activities. Songs without motion may hold less meaning, so we move a lot as we lift our voices to God. Lengthy verses that are not broken down into sizeable chunks are not heard and certainly not fully understood. Stories and explanations without visuals lack clear interpretation. We are aware of how children develop cognitively and how their physiological needs should determine how we structure activities during our time together on Sunday mornings.

Meeting Their Needs

               Not only do we want to meet the particular needs of our preschool learners, but the needs of the elementary school-aged children too. This age group also needs movement and visuals, but this group has a greater need for moments of reflection and time to further interpret information. Since sitting silently and pondering scripture is probably not the preferred learning style of most third graders, we seek to structure lesson activities with many opportunities to think aloud and share ideas, write out understandings, and creatively express through art how God’s word can be interpreted and applied. In our children’s church service, you will find the kids singing, dancing, jumping, or holding props. You may also overhear them sharing their ideas with others or taking time to compare their own experiences with what we have read in scripture.

               God designed children to be active learners who have a great desire to explore and be inquisitive rather than passively sit and listen with no objective. We aim to tap into those child-like instincts of curiosity, energetic play, and the desire to be heard. Looking at the children we serve, you cannot help but see the outward reflections of God’s gifts and beauty. These are His children made in His image, and we are blessed to serve them.