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.
Fun in the Sun with the Son
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Hey Reader! Summer is a great time to help little hearts experience God in everyday moments. Here are 3 simple ways to have some fun in the sun with the Son this season: Sidewalk Scripture Art – Give kids chalk and let them draw pictures inspired by a Bible verse like “Let your light shine” (Matthew 5:16). What are they learning? Gross motor skill development as they bend over, crawl, and stretch on the sidewalk to reach the edges of their drawings; fine motor skill development and pre-writing as they grasp various sizes of chalk and make multiple kinds of markes (squiggles, lines, curves, etc); creativity and imagination as they decide how to represent specific phrases and scriptures; language skills as they articulate what they drew and why…. What are they learning? Gross motor skills as they move their whole bodies; self-regulation and impulse-control as they move with a beat and start and stop with the music; balance and body awareness as they move from one foot to another, sway and twirl in their group of classmates; social skills as they bond with their friends as they move together in rhythm; stress release as they laugh and giggle together. Bible Story Picnics – Spread a blanket, bring snacks, and read a favorite Bible story under the trees (or maybe by a large window inside in the A/C if it’s too hot outside)! What are they learning? Engaging with God’s word can happen anywhere and the novelty of a new space, a new ritual, even a new texture on their legs (blanket vs classroom rug) keep their brain engaged; the experience of nature rather than just a story about nature is powerful all on its own. (Check out a new course in our course library - Nature - A Child’s Pathway to Experiencing God for more info about this.) “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” – Psalm 113:3 Can you think of some active ways to teach young children this scripture? Take a video and send it to us or tag us on social media! We’d love to see how you and your students do it! Reply and tell us how your class is shining His light this summer! Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
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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! We are on our way to Georgetown, TX, today for our Central Texas State Conference! Would you stop for a moment and pray for us? Here are some specific requests: Safety for our speakers and vendors as they travel. Last-minute details to come together in God’s timing and with His people. That God would supernaturally fill the gaps we haven’t thought of That conference attendees would be equipped well and sense the Spirit of God as they participate. That HVAC and technology would...
Hey Reader! “PRAISE is celebrative worship in which believers magnify and exalt the Lord through expressive acts, enthusiastically proclaiming the unrivaled excellence of His Name, His character, and His actions in a spirit of uninhibited rejoicing!” -Dr. Bruce Leafblad Jean Thomason (aka Miss Pattycake) shared this quote with me recently in a conversation, and it gave me a whole new perspective on some of the typical behavior we see in preschoolers! When I read the words "uninhibited...
Hey Reader! Summer in childcare can be joyful—and exhausting. There’s a little less pressure, and we’re having loads of fun, but the days still require a lot of energy, don’t they? Here are a few quick ways to stay grounded and fill your cup throughout the day! Sip Slowly – Hydrate with intention. Say a prayer each time you take a drink: “Lord, fill me with Your peace today.” Pause and Praise – Take a 2-minute breather to thank God for one small moment of beauty today. Take three deep breaths...