Showing Respect for Toddlers

SHOWING RESPECT TO TODDLERS

Contributed by Anya Motley

Allow toddlers to make some choices, such as which game to play. Giving children choices in the little things lets them feel independent, and they may challenge you less frequently.

Listen to children when they speak. Get on their eye level, and do not interrupt children. If you do not understand what the child says, ask him or her to repeat it. You are letting the child know you care what he or she thinks or feels.

Point out the positive more often than the negative. Thank children for their obedience. Tell the child what you like about him or her. If you “catch” the child doing good things, say so!

Instead of listing forbidden behaviors, list desired behaviors whenever possible. Instead of starting every rule with “don’t,” such as “Don’t mark on the wall,” you can say, “Use the crayon to draw on your paper.”

Avoid labeling children negatively. If you say the child is bad or stupid, he or she will believe it. Then the child will begin to behave according to the “bad” or “stupid” label. If you affirm positive traits, the child will try more to be that way.

When possible, give a reason for the boundaries you set. For example, say, “I tell you not to climb on the table because you could fall. You could hurt yourself.” This does not always guarantee compliance, but the child will be more likely to follow a rule if he or she understands why you gave it.

Make sure the child knows what the rule is before you discipline him or her for breaking it. Remind the child of the rule often, since toddlers still forget easily.

Make sure your expectations are age-appropriate. Is the child physically and mentally able to follow this rule? For instance, toddlers can only be expected to sit still for one to two minutes before they need to move around or switch activities.

Try not to shout. Shouting frightens young children and causes their emotions to escalate along with yours.

IDEAS FOR TEACHING EARLY ELEMENTARY

Contributed by Donna Fillmore

Verse-a-Month Club

Initiating a Verse-a-Month Club at your church will encourage children to learn God's Word.

By learning just one verse a month during grades 1-6, children will know 72 verses.

In addition, the pattern of memorizing scripture is well established, and hopefully will continue throughout life.

Four Corners Memory

Divide the children into four groups. Assign each group to a corner in the room and number the corners from 1-4. Choose one child to be the Caller. Before playing the game, briefly review the words of the current Verse-a-Month Club verse or any verse you want to review.

The Caller stands with his or her back to all four groups of children and says a number: 1, 2, 3, or 4. The children in that corner say the verse. Then they sit down. The teacher redistributes the children in the other three groups so that there are children in all four corners once again.

The Caller calls out another number. The children in that group say the verse and sit down. Again, the teacher redistributes the remaining children to fill the four corners.

Continue in this manner until there is only one child left. This child becomes the Caller for the next game.

Sponge-Painted Memory Posters

Before class, draw the outline of a box in the middle of a 12” x 18” sheet of light-colored construction paper. Inside the box, print the Verse-a-Month Club verse children are learning. Make one sheet for each child in your group.

In class, cover tables with paper and provide paint smocks. Have paper towels and water or baby wipes available for cleanup. Pour liquid tempera paint into small plastic containers. Provide inexpensive, porous sponges, one sponge for each color of paint you provide. Limit the number of children who paint to six at a time.

Show the children how to dip a sponge into the paint, wipe off the excess on the sides of the paint container, and lightly dab the sponge on the paper to create a lacy pattern. Children can use a variety of colors to create interesting designs around the Bible verse area.

As children work, talk about the verse and what it means. When the paintings are dry, let the children take the project home to help them learn the verse.

Tip 1: No matter what you say about “dabbing” the paint, you will probably have some children who insist on painting in solid color. Don’t worry about it. The activity is still valuable as an aid to Bible memory.

Tip 2: The bowls from frozen dinners make an excellent size and type of paint container.

Tip 3: Provide a few extra sponges in case children forget and use one sponge in more than one color of paint.

Tip 4: For an easy paint smock, cut off the bottom of a medium or large plastic bag from a grocery or discount store. Children slip their heads through the top of the sack and their arms through the handle openings. If necessary, attach a spring-type clothespin to the back of the sack to adjust the fit of this paint smock to the child’s size.

TEACHING CREATIVELY

How to Plan and Develop Lessons to Make A Difference in the Lives of Boys and Girls

In this resource, author Betty Robertson challenges you to fling out your arms --

take a deep breath of the fresh air of creativity and new ideas

which surround you the moment you step away from your “box” --

stretch your mind to think and learn in fresh, new ways!