Faith-Based Workshops

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God seeks to make Himself known to all persons of all ages through any means.  Young children - infants thru preschool - are no exception; we just need to know how a child learns about God.  Toddlers & Preschoolers aren't grown-ups so let's not try to teach them about God the way that we teach grown-ups.  Participants will gain an understanding of how infants thru preschoolers see God and how to help these young children understand and know God. 

Object lessons are not a new idea.  In fact, Jesus often used every day objects - rocks, birds, seeds, flowers - to teach.  Object lessons give children tangible ways to view abstract ideas and messages from the Bible that adults might take for granted.  By using simple, familiar objects, we can help get the Word of God into the hearts of children.  This interactive workshop will allow participants to discover the benefits of using object lessons as well as give them many object lesson ideas to take home and immediately put into use. 

Science is a method used to build and organize knowledge and understanding.  Why not use science to help children build and organize an understanding of Scripture?  Children & adults find science amazing; it grabs their attention right away.  Once you have the children's attention, it's time to share something biblically sound from the experiment.  It might be what is observed in the experiment or perhaps how the experiment makes the children feel.  You and the children will be able to remember so much about God's Truth because the science keeps the lesson developmentally appropriate, engaging and fun! 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, NIV). Take a step outside and look around – every intricate, beautiful detail of the natural world was put into its place by God. It is in Nature that we have the opportunity to truly feel God’s presence – to intimately bask in His glory. It is also in Nature that children have the opportunity to feed that innate desire to be closer to other living things as they learn, explore, create, and invent without the boundaries of classroom walls. As early childhood educators, we have countless opportunities to teach children about God through what we see and find in Nature. This session explains the importance of providing natural spaces and experiences young for children as well as practical ideas for connecting those experiences with the Creator. 

Music activates the whole brain which ensures much better retention. What could be more important for young children to retain than God's Truth? There are many wonderful, sweet, new songs available today that share beautiful truths from the Bible. This session will help you expand your "Bible Song Library", learn some simple sign language and refuel your passion for sharing God's Message with preschoolers. 

It starts the day after Thanksgiving - the shopping, the decorating, and the fast-paced busyness.  Excitement is building for the children.  They talk about the toys they want, Santa Claus and "Elf on a Shelf".  The secular traditions of Christmas slowly and surely make their way into our classrooms, even in a Christian school.  Is that such a bad thing?  Not necessarily, unless we forget to keep the focus on Christ and the love with which this gift was given.  Christmas is, after all, the celebration of Christ's birth.  This workshop will present options for keeping "Christ" in Christmas including books, activities, stories, and songs.