This article was guest written by Melanie Kost, Director of Preschool Ministry at Century Baptist Church in Bismarck, ND.
Many parents genuinely want to disciple their children, but life with preschoolers is BUSY. It’s a wonderfully full, but often exhausting season. As ministry leaders, we have an opportunity to help parents make discipleship a doable, natural part of the life they’re already living rather than just one more thing to do.
What if one of the best things we can do as preschool ministry leaders is to make discipleship more doable for parents and easier to weave into their lives? I often tell people that the two best things I can provide for my preschool parents are shared experiences that they can attend together, and ready-to-go resources that they can take home and use right out of the box—no prep needed. Before we explore these two things, let me remind you that this is what we have found works well in our current church setting. Different churches have different resources and contexts; make things doable for your context.
Shared Experiences
In our preschool ministry, we intentionally create experiences that give parents natural opportunities to disciple their children while they’re doing something together. We include age-appropriate and play-based activities that are not only fun, but doable for preschoolers, and we provide simple interactions between parents and children (discipleship opportunities).
To see this in action, check out this free template!
When planning these experiences, we ask ourselves:
- What do we want families to know or experience? We sometimes tie into our monthly curriculum focus as a starting point, but other times we focus on a service project, or an outreach event like story time in the park. Start with one biblical truth, and build from there.
- What could they DO together? So many options here. Remember, preschoolers need to move, build, create, search, serve, pretend, explore; so we include a variety of different activities that are simple and short, yet engaging. The number of activities will vary based on your specific situation, but we have found that about 3 activities work well for this age. Add in some worship, and a few refreshments and you have about a one-hour event, which is just right.
- How can we involve the grown-up? Can we give them something to say, ask, do, wonder about, or pray with their child? We provide written prompts and/or instructions that are simple and easy to do. Mom might talk with her preschooler about serving others while they’re rolling bandages together. Dad might help his child retell a Bible story. Grandma might pray with her grandchild for a missionary. These small moments matter.
- Could any part of this continue at home? Who doesn’t love a loot bag to take home?!? It doesn’t need to be fancy; just something simple that they can do together at home to extend the discipleship back into the home. Don’t forget to include wording for parents to use.
- What can we eliminate? This last one is mostly a reminder for myself. But maybe some of you will resonate with it, too. I have a tendency to “overplan” things, and I constantly need to remind myself that simple is okay!
Ready-to-Go Resources (Simple Truth, Simple Words, Everything They Need)
Don’t just give parents ideas. Whenever possible, do the prep for them. Have I mentioned that preschool parents are busy? A great idea that requires them to find supplies, print something, cut out pieces, read lengthy instructions, and figure out how to present it to their preschooler may never make it out of the backpack.
Some of our take-home resources are just that….one simple activity with prepared supplies or a fun little widget that they can use to do it. Other resources might be more extensive, like our Easter Week activity boxes, or our December Christmas boxes. These contain activities for each day/week that are separated out within the box. We always provide options for those who want things kept simple (i.e. working parents who also have older siblings and have less time), and extended options for those who desire it (i.e. stay-at-home mom who is looking for things for her preschoolers to do).
Ask yourself these questions:
- When a parent opens the resource, will they think “I can do this,” or will they be overwhelmed by it?
- Can a tired parent understand this quickly?
- Does it require supplies they already have—or can we provide them?
- Is it developmentally appropriate?
- Does it create interaction rather than just another craft?
- Does it help the parent talk about Jesus?
Where to Start
Check your ministry calendar and look for ways to piggyback off already-existing activities. What’s one upcoming event you could tweak so parents and children are experiencing it together instead of parents simply watching? Or choose one upcoming Bible story and create one simple, ready-to-go activity families can take home. Then ask yourself: Is it simple? Is it playful? Does it help a grown-up and child talk about or experience following Jesus together?
That’s very doable!
Preschool ministry has an opportunity not only to disciple children but also to build parents’ confidence as disciple-makers. It starts with knowing your context and your parents well.
