Parenting preschoolers can be physically tiring, but these years can also be ones of laughter, joy … and incredible learning (on the part of your child). Think about that tiny baby you brought home from the hospital just a few years ago. You cuddled him in your arms, played with his fingers and toes and marveled at the sweet baby, peacefully sleeping.
Now, just a few years later, that same child talks incessantly, can tie his shoes, navigate his computer games and make his own peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. As we see our children master a speed-course of life skills, our desire is to focus that learning in the right direction.
One way to do that is to use the unique characteristics common in preschoolers to teach and guide them.
1. Preschoolers ask questions … dozens of questions. How often have you heard, “But why, Mom?” or “How come, Dad?” They’re asking because they want to know. They’re learning. (And yes, sometimes questions get out of hand when a child asks the same question 49 times. You can tell when he’s being silly and when he truly wants know.)
Answering those questions with patience is importance. Not only is this our opportunity to teach kids about life and begin to establish a biblical worldview, but it is also a gateway to the future. If we answer our child’s questions patiently when she is young, she will be more apt to come to us when she’s older and the questions more vital.
2. Preschoolers watch and observe. Many times we think of this characteristic as something bad … as in they’ll imitate our bad habits. But preschoolers imitate everything and that includes the good. They imitate out kindness to others, our excitement about church, our prayers, our respect for other people. We can teach a lot by modeling godly living.
3. Preschoolers enjoy repetition. We don’t have to tell you that, do we? Your child wants the same three books read to her every night! You could “read” the books in your sleep. But you can also use that desire for repetition to teach Scripture, biblical concepts and other good information. Often it is the verses we were taught as young children that are firmly implanted in our minds as adults.
4. Preschoolers want the approval of adults. Because the preschool years are also training years, we, as parents, often use words such as “no,” or “don’t do that.” Those words are necessary, but we need to balance them out with positive approval – or give three words of positive approval to every negative demand. (Three to one is not scientific, but simply a reminder to let our children know that we notice when they do the right thing.)
5. Preschoolers confuse real and fictional. Children believe us. They look to their parents as all-knowing … so we need to be extremely careful in what we’re telling them. We need to teach them that God’s words are true and that’s there’s a difference between the account of Queen Esther and Cinderella. Before you read and tell a story, emphasize whether you’re speaking truth or fiction.
6. Preschoolers love silliness. You know that, right? Your three-year-old loves to giggle. Your four-year-old loves to say funny-sounding words. Remind them that God created laughter. God made us the way He did so we could enjoy fun!
7. Preschoolers can learn the difference between right and wrong. Actually they are often better than adults at knowing right from wrong because dad and mom remind them. When they get angry, they have a time out. When they hit their brother, they need to apologize. When they throw their toy, the toy is taken away. (In contrast, as adults, rarely do we have someone reprimand us when we’re angry or have a bad attitude or gossip.) We need to address the bad behavior and reinforce good behavior and why this is important.
Children learn a lot during the preschool years. Let’s take advantage of that and teach them that God created them, loves them, knows all about them and has provided a way for their sins to be forgiven.
We have a job to do. We have a responsibility. Let’s joyfully teach our little kids the big truths of God’s Words.
