Preschool Blog

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

So much growth takes place between the sweet newborn stage through age two! It seems that babies, ones, and twos are able to do something new each day as they develop at such a rapid pace. Preschoolers in this age group are a delight to watch as they grow in each area of development. Though each child is individual, we give some highlights of development at this stage.

I taught in a private Christian school for five years as an elementary teacher. I fondly look back at those years as some of the toughest and best in my teaching career.

Invite families of preschoolers to a summer Mission Friends show and tell enrollment event. Families can experience the same fun that preschoolers have at Mission Friends, learn what preschoolers do at Mission Friends, and enroll their preschoolers to be a Mission Friend!

Preschoolers need stability. That is why routine and consistency are important for them. When changes shift their foundation, they may “lose their footing” and feel at risk. A family move can have this effect on preschoolers. It can manifest in all types of behaviors like tantrums, crying, and lashing out, as well as heightened shows of emotion such as sadness, fear, and anger.