You want to provide the best early childhood experience for children and their parents. But you don’t have easy access to high-quality training. We provide you with relevant, research-based, and Biblically-sound training and on-demand courses so that you and your staff can confidently care for and teach young children.
Beyond the Lima Bean: Teaching Children About God Through Gardening
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Hey Reader! Week 3 of our summer series on books! For many families groceries show up at the front door or are picked up curb-side from the store. Not only do children rarely see the process of planting, growing, and harvesting food – they rarely even see any other food options than what is in their own pantry! A fun conversation with author Sarah Philpott shed some light on why gardening and farming experiences matter so much in early childhood classrooms. (just click on the graphic below to listen to the whole conversation!) When children dig in the dirt, plant seeds, and watch things grow, they learn more than science. They begin to see God’s design in creation. Young children are often amazed when a tiny seed turns into a plant. It can seem someone magical - unexplainable! But this is a beautiful opportunity to remind children: “This isn’t magic. This is the way God created the earth to work.” (from Wake Up Little Seed!) Science teaches us how plants grow. Faith helps us understand Who created the process. When we teach children about seeds, sunlight, water, and soil, we can also teach them that God made the world with purpose and care. Start with the Fruit An easy way to introduce children to seeds is to start with the finished product first – the fruit! Cut open a watermelon, cantaloupe or apple together. (or maybe a pumpkin this fall?) Let children smell it, taste it, and look closely at the seeds inside. Get out a magnifying glass and really STUDY the seeds. Then ask: This is a beautiful connection to understanding the amazing potential God placed inside every seed (and in them)! You can even plant some seeds together and track the changes over time with drawings or pictures. Children practice observation and patience as they wait and watch things grow. Let Children Get Dirty Children need lots of hands-on experiences with God’s creation. Digging in soil, watering plants, and searching for worms all support learning and development by building fine motor skills, encouraging curiosity, and using their senses. In Genesis, God placed Adam in a garden to care for the earth. From the very beginning, people were created to interact with creation. When children explore nature, they begin to see how everything God made works together. Simple Ways to Make the Connection You don’t need a much to teach these lessons. Try:
These small moments help children connect everyday life back to God’s provision. Remember… A seed lesson can become a whole lot more than a science activity. It can become a reminder that God is intentional, creative, and faithful. Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team P.S. If you don't want to receive these weekly emails anymore, no hard feelings. Click HERE to be removed from this list. (You'll still receive other emails from us based on past preferences.)
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Early Childhood Christian Network
You want to provide the best early childhood experience for children and their parents. But you don’t have easy access to high-quality training. We provide you with relevant, research-based, and Biblically-sound training and on-demand courses so that you and your staff can confidently care for and teach young children.
Hey Reader! One of the beautiful things about spiritual formation in early childhood is that it happens through repetition, relationships, and routines—not just formal Bible lessons and chapel. Here are two practical, developmentally appropriate ideas for each age group: INFANTS (0-12 months) Blessing Time – As you rock, feed, or soothe a baby, quietly pray over them: "God, thank You for Emma. Help her grow strong and know You love her." Gentle repetition builds an atmosphere of love and...
Hey Reader! As a new school year begins, it's the perfect time to focus on one of the most important parts of your classroom—not your lesson plans or classroom décor, but your relationships with families. For many children, you'll spend as many waking hours with them as their parents do. That's why it's so important to build a true partnership from the very beginning. Take time to learn about each family. Ask about siblings, grandparents, pets, favorite activities, family traditions, or...
Hey Reader! The first few weeks of school are some of the most stressful (I mean, who can blame those littles for crying a little in such a “strange” place!) and also some of the most critical in setting the trajectory of your year. We often want to jump quickly into curriculum and “teaching”. Afterall, we’ve got 26 letters to teach and about 500 great ideas for crafts, math games and read-alouds ready to go! Stop for a moment and take a breath. We’re giving you permission (actually, we’re...