Considering these realities, we need to understand that the formation of our children primarily begins with parents and trickles down through family members, teachers, and others responsible for nurturing their hearts and minds in a safe environment. These formative years are the prime time to instill biblical worldview principles.

Ask yourself, “How is the responsibility to shape worldview reflected in your school programs, the classroom, and the spiritual formation of your students?” Let us work together to seize this crucial window of opportunity to shape our students’ beliefs and values!

The ACSI Flourishing School Culture Model (FSCM) is a powerful tool that underscores the importance of a commitment from all school constituencies to the central purposes of Christian education. It advocates for holistic teaching, an integrated worldview, spiritual formation, discipleship, and family-school partnership, strongly linked to flourishing outcomes.

A preschool program’s purpose is not just a statement but a reflection of its mission and vision. It should be deeply ingrained in the instruction, curriculum, discipline, and relationships between student and teacher, guiding every aspect of our educational process. Your role in shaping this purpose is invaluable, as it directly impacts your students’ learning journey.

So, how can we help form the biblical worldview of our preschool students? I’d like to provide you with some ideas and resources that will help you on this journey of spiritual formation.

First, our understanding and practice of teaching the Bible to our students must be the centerpiece of all that we say and do. Bringing the Bible to life in the classroom cannot merely be a passive addition of “Bible Time” within the classroom setting. Instead, it requires educators to actively integrate biblical principles into every aspect of the curriculum. Just as we provide time for the students to explore and learn by seeing, touching, hearing, and moving, Bible time is the center of all the other activities. To saturate our teaching with biblical principles, it is crucial for directors and teachers to have a deep understanding and commitment.

Simple stories from the Bible provide essential principles we can use in our daily interactions with our students. For example, using these principles daily, we can redirect behavior, teach a new concept, guide students during conflict resolution or problem-solving, etc. This integration enriches the teaching and helps educators create a nurturing and values-based learning environment.

Visual aids such as pictures, props, or even simple crafts are great tools for connecting our preschoolers to the stories and concepts through hands-on experience and visual cues.

Interactive activities and role-play allow the preschoolers to stay engaged with the Bible story and the principles taught.

Repetition can be critically important for learning in general (Karpicke & Roediger, 2008), especially for memory (Hintzman, 1976). It helps reinforce learning and internalize important biblical truths. Children learned the words better when they heard the same story repeated than when they heard the same words presented in three different stories (Horst et al., 2011). You can read, sing, and role-play Bible stories with your students and teach them how to apply them to their lives.

Simplified concepts that can be taught to preschoolers according to age group. For example, a group of preschoolers building with blocks on the floor and another group on the sand table. This gross motor activity can be used for “problem-solving, imagination, collaboration, mathematics, creativity” (NAEYC, n.d.), etc., and to teach biblical principles, Wise and Foolish Builders. Discuss the experience with the preschoolers. Focus on practical lessons instead of discussing abstract theological ideas. Incorporate play where each activity has a purpose. How can you incorporate biblical principles through imaginative play centered around biblical stories and characters?

Modeling Behavior: “Do as I say, no as I do.” Have you heard this before? Preschoolers learn by example from their peers and teachers. How do you model kindness, patience, empathy, resilience, and perseverance to your students? How do you measure spiritual growth in your students? Do you use a spiritual assessment for your students? Student Outcomes should include Spiritual Formation and be shared with parents.

Prayer and Worship: Teaching our children the privilege to talk to God through prayer and celebrate who He is through singing songs are tangible ways to engage them in what is a lifestyle for any believer. One way to model and teach your students how to pray is by using the ACTS Prayer adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Engage your students according to their age; ask them why they are thankful or what they adore about God.

Parent Involvement is another area where teachers can communicate what their children are learning and encourage them to have conversations at home. Sometimes, a phone call to one of your parents about how much you delight in hearing Annie pray during circle time is more valuable than sending home art and crafts done by the child. To reinforce biblical teaching, provide resources to families about child development, parenting, discipline, etc., with a biblical worldview.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 is a command for Christian parents and us, as educators who spend many hours with these children. Remember to make His words the center of your classroom through deeds and words.

References:

How your baby’s brain develops. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby. (n.d.). https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/how-your-babys-brain-develops#:~:text=Your%20baby%27s%20brain%20begins%20to%20develop%20in%20the,grow%20and%20develop%20for%20many%20years%20after%20birth.

Oshman, J. (2017, July 25). Worldview is formed by age 13: Who’s shaping your kid’s? The Oshman Odyssey. https://www.oshmanodyssey.com/jensblog/n6pb5opplj5kaq12ihl4gahklx7oc1#:~:text=Worldview%20is%20developed%20between%20the%20ages%20of%2018,most%20people%20become%20an%20evangelist%20for%20their%20view.

Sussex Publishers. (n.d.). Why children like repetition, and how it helps them learn. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/the-baby-scientist/201907/why-children-repetition-and-how-it-helps-them-learn

Wilson, Rev. S. R. (2020, June 1). Lesson: Wise and foolish builders – ministry-to-children. Ministry. https://ministry-to-children.com/lesson-wise-and-foolish-builders/

Acts prayers. Kids Corner. (n.d.). https://kidscorner.net/parent-blog/teaching-acts-  prayers#:~:text=ACTS%20is%20an%20acronym%20that,ve%20caused%20God%20and%20others.