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.
Experiencing God Through Interactive Storytelling
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Hey Reader! Does your storytime (especially Bible time) need a little pick-me-up at this point in the year? Young children learn best when they can see, move, touch, and participate. When Bible stories become something children experience, not just hear, the message begins to take root in ways that are way more fun and, therefore, more impactful!!! Bible stories are full of action, emotion, and wonder—and young children naturally respond when we invite them into that experience. Our Bible story time should be one of the MOST fun times of the day! Interactive storytelling helps children stay engaged longer, understand what’s happening in the story, and begin to connect God’s Word to their own lives. Most importantly, it reminds children that God’s story includes them. Bring Stories to Life With Movement Adding simple movements can completely change how children listen and respond. March in place as the Israelites travel through the desert. Gently rock side to side as the storm rises before Jesus calms the sea. Pretend to build with invisible tools while sharing the story of the wise builder. These small actions help children’s bodies match the story they are hearing. When children move as they listen, they are more likely to stay focused and remember what happened next. Let Children Touch the Story Telling exciting stories just requires some simple, familiar objects and a little bit of intention. A piece of blue fabric becomes water. Smooth stones fit perfectly in a child’s hand during the story of David. Toy animals help children imagine Noah’s ark. A small flashlight brings stories about light to life. Let children hold or pass these items as the story unfolds. Touch helps make big ideas feel more concrete and keeps little hands busy. Invite Children to Use Their Voices You might say, “God made the world,” and invite children to repeat it with you. Simple phrases like “Jesus loves us” or “Thank you, God” help reinforce the heart of the story. Children naturally want to talk…so let them! With older preschoolers, ask questions like “What do you think happens next?” or “How do you think they felt?” invite children to think more deeply about what’s happening! Act Out the Story Together Children don’t need costumes or scripts to participate - just a little imagination. Invite them to help with simple roles. Some can pretend to be animals, helpers, or followers. Others can show emotions using their faces and bodies. Keep it brief and flexible and give them time to process in their own way. The goal isn’t performance. It’s participation. Acting out Bible stories helps children begin to understand trust, kindness, courage, and God’s care in ways that feel personal and meaningful. They get to practice the character qualities you want them to build! Connect the Story to Everyday Life Throughout the day/week, use small moments to help children connect what they heard to what they experience every day. You might ask, “How can we help our friends like the Good Samaritan?” or “Who can we show love to in our classroom today?” Keep the conversations short, concrete, and connected to what children already know. Remember, Bible stories are more than lessons to be taught. They are stories meant to be lived. 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! Physical movement is important for all ages in early childhood—not just for large and small muscle development, but for all learning. Movement helps children focus, remember, and stay regulated. Today, I’m sharing simple, realistic ways to add more movement into your day, no matter the age of the children in your classroom. Transitions: Move It Like This! Walking quietly in a straight line is hard for preschoolers—and often leads to behavior struggles. Instead, turn transitions...
Hey Reader! Many young children are wiggly, loud, and constantly on the move, especially at this time of year. You might find yourself saying, “Let’s walk!” for the tenth time before 10:00am… or wondering how they still have so much energy when you feel completely drained. (Just me?) Here’s the good news:When children move their bodies, they’re not just “getting energy out.” They’re building balance, coordination, strength, and confidence. And the best part? You don’t need extra supplies or a...
Hey Reader! It’s center time, and one of your children is completely absorbed—stacking blocks, knocking them down, and starting all over again. You’ve already said, “Clean up!” a few times… but nothing. No response. No eye contact. No movement. It’s easy to think, “He’s just not listening.”So now what can you do? Because getting frustrated and repeating yourself yet again isn’t working. Start With a Reflection Before correcting behavior, try this simple shift: Say what you see—like a mirror....