You said, “Yes! I’ll lead Mission Friends.”

Then you found yourself in a room with preschoolers, questioning your quick agreement. Don’t despair. It is understandable to feel overwhelmed at a new task. Just remember, there are great adventures, wonderful blessings, and surprising encounters ahead of you — all because you made yourself available to God.

Here are 8 tips to get you started from leaders who have been where you are now.

1. Take advantage of training offered through your association and state Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) organization. You will meet experienced leaders who enjoy sharing about preschoolers and adore leading Mission Friends. Another great source of information is How to Lead Preschoolers, which shares specifically about leading preschoolers in Mission Friends.
2. Planning a month at a time gives you an overview of the whole month and time to gather supplies you will need later. Activities and Group Time plans are written to complement each other, but it’s OK to change certain activities to fit your group’s needs. Try this easy-to-use planning template.
3. Keep a file of resource kit items, games, and pictures from past months to use in the future. File them by Christian concept area (God, Jesus, Bible, church, self, family, God’s creation, community, world) or by themes often found in the curriculum such as transportation, medical, foods, sports, and more.
4. Don’t hesitate to involve parents, other adults, and teens. They can help in various ways such as by sharing a hobby or skill similar to what the missionary does, preparing foods to sample, or cutting things out.
5. Before each session, have a plan with all the needed supplies ready to go. Be prepared to engage the first preschooler who enters the room. The session begins when the first Mission Friend arrives — even if it is 10 minutes early.
6. As a regional special worker for preschool, I am often asked about discipline. Some leaders feel that saying “no” to their preschoolers may make them not want to come to church. However, having set expectations in the room helps everyone feel secure. Tell preschoolers what they need to do, rather than what they shouldn’t do. I say things like, “Use your walking feet,” “Remember, gentle touch,” “We use kind words,” or, for the climber standing on a chair, “Feet on the floor!”
7. Even though you are prepared, things can go awry. An activity doesn’t take as long as you thought. A preschooler has an off day. Something unexpected disrupts the class. Just roll with whatever happens and give yourself grace. You will get to the lesson next week.
8. When things don’t go as planned, remember, as long as preschoolers know that church is a good place, know they are safe and well cared for, know that Jesus loves them, and know that Jesus loves everyone, it has been a good day.
   

Hang in there knowing that one day you will be the experienced leader to mentor another new leader.

by Vivian Howell