Preschool Blog

I have been an art collector for more than 20 years. My prized collection contains work from multiple budding artists and features a variety of subject matter including portraitures and landscapes and an assortment of mediums (such as watercolors and pencils). Each piece is one of a kind.

Show of hands: Are blocks the first area your preschoolers go to when they enter the room? My hand is raised! The Blocks interest area can be one of the most exciting areas in your Mission Friends room because preschoolers enjoy building and playing with blocks.

Perhaps you have been tempted by the thought, It’s a lot of work setting up the activities suggested in Mission Friends Leader each week. I’ll tell the mission story and they can just play the rest of the time. However, taking time to prepare interest areas for your preschoolers gives purpose to their play and greatly enhances their learning about missions.

I recently heard a sermon with an interesting illustration. Theologians were championing their favorite Bible translations which included the beauty of language in the King James, the integrity of translation of the NASB, the readability of the NIV. Finally, a fourth noted that he preferred his parents’ translation. When asked to elaborate, he explained he learned the most about Jesus by how his parents lived the Word of God, highlighting the value of our influence over young lives.

As preschoolers become more aware of others around them, they start to notice little ones close to their size and age and begin to consider the idea of friendship. Through play and social interactions, preschoolers realize playing with others is fun. And so they begin the lifelong journey of learning skills to make friends.

I recently spent four hours caring for my six-month-old granddaughter. We shared everything from smiles, giggles, diaper changes, and spit-up (oh, the spit-up!) to slobbery loves and peaceful naps. This Nana was exhausted. But caring for that sweet girl was worth every second.

Preschoolers learn best through play and hands-on activities. In Mission Friends, that means we offer preschoolers several choices of activities and allow them to choose, play, and learn through their interactions with supplies, other preschoolers, and leaders. A wide variety of interest area activities are available each month in Mission Friends Leader.

Often credited as one of the early creators of abstract art, it makes sense that Mr. Kandinsky would feel this way. A quick look at his body of work and it is clear he did not feel constrained by formality or realistic subject matter. His art focused on shapes and color, lines, and emotions. He felt free to create what he wanted, not what was expected.

What a precious gift we have been given! The gift of eternity has been delivered so we might choose to accept it and have a personal relationship with our Savior. The gift of Jesus Christ and the gifts and talents bestowed on each of us who choose to believe have been given for His glory and honor. How can we better honor the Lord than to share Him with others and use every gift we have to serve others? We do this with great joy and delight!

Your Mission Friends who just completed kindergarten are about to take a big step as they move up to children’s missions. This transition from Mission Friends to Girls in Action (GA), Royal Ambassadors (RA), or Children in Action (CA) is an exciting time for these rising first graders.

The kindergarten year marks the beginning of formal education. As kindergartners are off to school, they use new skills as they learn to read and write. Even though kindergartners may go to school with other school-age children, they still think more like a preschooler. Each area of development is interrelated for kindergartners in their growth.

Preschoolers want to be helpers. Let’s give them opportunities to do Helping Others activities so they have experiences in sharing God’s love with others in need. Make Helping Others activities a big part of your Mission Friends by planning these activities on a regular basis.