Encourage Children to Pray in Preschool Sunday School

Encourage Children to Pray in Preschool Sunday School

Do you know some adults who have a hard time praying in church or at a Bible study? Sometimes this is because they are new Christians and that is understandable. Other times it stems from the fact that they never really learned how to pray properly or are just embarrassed that they will not say the right things. Why not teach children how to pray as early as preschool in your Sunday school class? Growing up with prayer makes it much easier to transition this habit into adulthood.

The first thing that needs to be said about this subject is you should never force a child to pray. It is a skill that develops over time and at one's own pace. Prayer helps develop a personal relationship with God, and even if a child won't say a prayer out loud, you can feel comfortable knowing that she is praying silently to Him.

Take the time to explain to your Sunday school class about the importance of prayer. Sure they are little kids, but they understand much more than they are willing to let on. You can challenge their understanding of prayer by asking thoughtful questions to see who can give the right answers.

Once you explain the importance of prayer, move on to teaching your class the Lord's Prayer, and how Jesus gave us this prayer as an example. It is based on the acronym ACTS (A - adoration, C - confession, T - Thanksgiving, S - Supplication). Have parents continue this teaching at home by handing out suggested activities they can do with their children to encourage them to learn the Lord's Prayer. Have small prizes available for each child that can repeat the prayer to you in class as an incentive to learn.

Prayer calendars are a great way to encourage preschoolers to pray. You can find these calendars at Christian bookstores or online. They make a great gift from you to your class, and each day of the year has a suggested theme or subject to pray about. Preschoolers will be excited about seeing what prayer the next day brings, and getting their family to pray with them each day.

Prayer walks around your church from time-to-time will give preschoolers a chance to leave the classroom and hit certain spots around the church where you stop and pray. For example, you might stop at the preacher's door and pray for him, or stop in the sanctuary and pray for the whole congregation. Give children the opportunity to offer a prayer out loud, if they want, and have them take turns at each stop along the way.

You are not trying to create prayer warriors at this stage of the game. But, your constant influence in these little lives will make prayer something they will never forget about. As these preschoolers grow older, they will always remember the teacher that taught them about prayer, and they will pray for you with thanks. You just never how many lives you actually touch, even the smallest ones. Prayer is important.

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Preschool Party Games

Preschool Party Games

Planning a birthday party for your preschooler? Party games are
a great way to keep young children entertained and engaged in the
party. Make sure every child gets a prize of some kind so child
every goes home a winner!

Bean in Your Shoe

One player goes out of the room. A dried bean is given to one of
the players to put in his or her shoe. Play some music and have
all the players dance, each child pretending to have a bean in
their shoe. The player that left the room comes back and tries to
guess who has the bean in their shoe. If they guess right, the
person with the bean in their shoe gets to guess next. If they
guess wrong, they get to leave the room again and try again. If
they guess wrong a second time, they get to choose who gets to
leave the room next.

Hot and Cold

Have the players hide an object while one player leaves the room.
When the object has been hidden, the player that left returns to
the room and guesses where the object has been hidden. This
player must move around one step at a time while the other
players call out “Warm!” or “Cold!” or “Colder!” or “Warmer!” or
“Boiling!” until the player finds the object. The closer they
get, the “warmer” they are. The further away they get, the
“colder” they are.

Lucky Number

Give each child five buttons. The players go from player to
player, exchanging buttons with each other. They can give away as
many or few as they want, but they cannot refuse buttons from
other players. After approximately 2 minutes the leader
calls “Stop!” The leader then calls out a “lucky number” between
one and twenty. Whoever has that number of buttons wins.

Cat and Rat

This game is best for 10 or more players. The players hold hands
in a circle. One player is the rat on the inside of the circle,
and one player is the cat on the outside of the circle. The cat
tries to break through the circle to get to the rat. The players
in the circle try to prevent the cat from getting to the rat.
When the cat succeeds in breaking through the circle, the players
the cat broke between are the next cat and rat.

Balloon Race

Give each child a self-addressed postcard. Have the children
dictate to an adult notes to write on their postcard that state
they are having a contest to see whose balloon travels the
farthest. Also ask that the location, date, and time that the
balloon is found be written on the postcard by the person who
finds the balloon and that the person drop the postcard in the
mail. Place the postcards in ziploc bags and attach them to the
balloons. Set a date for when the contest ends, and launch the
balloons!

Farm Animals

Secretly give the name of a farm animal to each player. The
leader yells “Go!” and each player acts out their animal at the
same time. At the end of 2 minutes, each player calls out as many
of the animal names as they can remember. The player
that remembers the most animal names correctly wins the game.

Dog Bone

All players are seated in a group. One player is selected to be
the dog. The dog sits with his back to the rest of the players. A
bone (eraser, ball, or some other object) is placed on the floor
behind the dog’s back. One at a time, each player tries to sneak
up behind the dog and steal his bone. If the dog hears a sound
from the player trying to sneak up behind him, he “barks” and the
other player returns to their seat. If someone is successful in
stealing the bone, that player returns to their seat and hides
the bone. All of the players then say, “Dog, Dog, where’s your
bone?” The dog has three chances to guess who stole his bone. The
person who stole the bone gets to be dog next.

Break the Balloon

Each child receives a balloon. The first child to blow up their
balloon and pop it wins (show the children how to tie the
balloons before the game begins).

Blind Man’s Bluff

Choose one child to be blindfolded. Let the child wander around
the room until they touch another child. The blindfolded child
tries to guess who they have touched. If they are correct, the
other child gets to blindfolded next. If they are wrong, they get
to be blindfolded one more time. If they are wrong a second time,
they get to choose who gets to be blindfolded next.

Penny Dropping

Give each player 5 pennies. Place a jar on the floor behind a
chair. Have the players take turns kneeling on the chair and
trying to drop their pennies into the jar. Their hand should not
go lower than the top of the back of the chair. Whoever gets the
most pennies in the jar wins the game.

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Free Preschool Games Online and Your PC

Free Preschool Games Online and Your PC

Introduce Your Preschooler to Free Preschool Games Online with Your Own PC

One way to introduce your child to the world of personal computers is to introduce them to free preschool games online. Schools are now implementing new and wonderful technology to enhance your child's reading, math, science and social studies skills. Why not start them off at home and introduce them to free online games in the comfort of your own home before they get to school? There are many companies that produce software made especially for your sweet preschooler and you and your preschooler can have a blast exploring all the free preschool games online!

Awesome Preschool Games Online

Just do a simple search for your child's favorite cartoon character and you will be amazed that the software companies are way ahead of you. They have made online learning activities and games for your child in the form of your preschooler's favorite character. They are smart folks. They know that a child will learn from their favorite characters and you can relax knowing that you have taught them how to use your personal computer in a way that is healthy and is building their skills for their future in the near-by school years.

Capture Their Imagination Before Something Else Does

The best way to capture your preschooler's imagination and channel it into an educational pursuit is through preschool games online. When you and your child see the colors and the sounds and repeat them together, it will be happy moments that you will always treasure.

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Are Preschool Online Games For Your Child?

Are Preschool Online Games For Your Child?

Preschool Online Games Bring An Edge

Many people feel that online learning gives their children an "edge" that gets them started early on to prepare them for preschool or kindergarten. There are some absolutely wonderful new resources online if you are a parent of a toddler or preschooler looking for educational games.

The Most Important Aspect of Online Preschool Learning

The most important aspect is to know what your child is viewing at all times and not to substitute it for your own love and attention. There are those many times when you need a babysitter, and online educational learning can fill this gap nicely. Make sure your child is within your sight and earshot and listen carefully to what they are doing at all times. Having your child learn letters and sounds and engaging their minds and even playing the games with them at times, is a wonderful way to introduce them to school. In the past, kids played "school" but now children can actually play school online.

The Second Thing To Consider

The second thing to consider is the type of program they are listening to and interacting with while you are not watching. Make sure there are no scary images, but instead foster healthy thoughts and dreams. Listen to see what the educational game is asking the children to do or to repeat. It is so important that you are aware of each aspect of the game that you introduce your child to while you are busy doing other things that life brings our way.

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5 Jolly Preschool Christmas Games

5 Jolly Preschool Christmas Games

Christmas games for children are so jolly! Preschool Christmas games for little ones get the kids in the holiday spirit, and keep them occupied and out of mischief!

Christmas Garland Limbo Activity

Materials Needed:


Christmas Garland, about 2 feet
Christmas CD/Tape
CD/Tape Player

Instructions:


Pop a holiday CD in the radio to set the mood.
Appoint two preschoolers to hold the limbo "pole."
Have each preschooler hold onto an end of the Christmas garland and stand next to one another, pulling the garland taut to create the limbo pole.
Have preschoolers form a line and take turns seeing how low they can go.
If you want your Christmas garland limbo activity to be a competition, eliminate preschoolers after they fail to make it under the limbo "pole."
The preschooler who is able to slide under the limbo pole at it's shortest height wins.

Candy Cane Pass (Relay Race)

Materials Needed


4 candy canes per team (have a few extras due to breakage).

Instructions:


The first player holds 4 candy canes between his/her fingers and passes them down the line, teammate to teammate, without dropping any.
The first team to pass the candy canes all the way down the line are the winners.

Ring the Bell

Materials Needed:


Cardboard
Bells
Ribbon
Bean Bags

Instructions:


Cut a large bell shape out of a large piece of cardboard.
Attach bells to a piece of ribbon.
Then attach the ribbon to the top of the bell cutout.
Let your children throw bean bags or balls through the hole and ring the bell.

Christmas Match

Materials Needed:


Cardboard
Pair of scissors
Pencil

Instructions:


Create several different Christmas Shape Cutouts (Santa, stocking, ornaments, Christmas Trees, etc). Cut them in half and then have your children match the halves.

More Christmas activities and preschool Christmas games:

Mini Stocking Advent Activity Preschoolers will delight in counting the days till Christmas by discovering a holiday trinket in a mini stocking each day until December 25.

Candy Cane Tree Advent Activity Preschoolers will enjoy decorating a small Christmas tree with a candy cane each day until Santa arrives.

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Kids Preschool Games Free Online Learning

Kids Preschool Games Free Online Learning

Are you looking for kids preschool games free online to entertain your child? There are many websites offering kids preschool games free online such as kids typing games, nick kids games, sight words games, and many more. Preschoolers will not only be entertained by playing games on the web but they can also have a great computer learning experience as well.

While online kids preschool games free up parent's time at home by keeping their kids entertained it can also provide for a very educational experience by helping children become familiar with the keyboard, the mouse and computer technology. Having exposure to computer technology and becoming familiar with the use of a keyboard and mouse can make it easier and more comfortable for the child to learn how to type later on.

Preschoolers often enjoy the interactive learning experience kids preschool games free can provide. This can be a more educational experience than watching television which provides no interaction. Parents can enjoy watching their children interact with the games provided on the computer rather than watching their child veg out in front of a television tube.

Lastly, kids preschool games free can improve a preschoolers fine motor skills. Find motor skills generally refers to the small movements of the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, etc. Using a computer keyboard and mouse can provide practice and improvement in a child's finger, hand and hand-eye coordination. And since the development of fine motor skills plays an important part in school readiness and cognitive development it is integrated into every preschool curriculum.

As noted above, preschool kids can not only be entertained by all the preschool games offered on the computer today but they can also benefit from improving their fine motor skills and have very educational learning experience at the same time.

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Top 5 Best Selling Christmas Toys 2008

Top 5 Best Selling Christmas Toys 2008

Best selling Christmas toys, is a popular online search every year before Christmas, and Christmas 2008 is no exception. The reason being of course that these lists help busy moms and dads select toys that are guaranteed to fill their children with great joy when they open their gifts at Christmas.

Using a combination of great retailers and manufacturers like Amazon, Mattel, Fisher-Price, Hasbro, etc. I have produced a short list of the best selling Christmas toys 2008 that will help you to make your selection easier and faster, and, help you save money along the way.

1. Elmo Live by Fisher-Price

Is it live or is it Elmo Live? For the first time ever, in this truly life-like creation, Elmo really appears to be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like a muppet. His mannerisms are right on target and his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. Elmo waves his arms, sits and stands, and even crosses his legs while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo's foot, tummy, back or nose. Measures 12" tall.

2. Fur Real Friends Biscuit My Lovin' Pup from Hasbro

This ultra-realistic FurReal pup is the perfect first pet for any little girl or boy. Biscuit responds to you and obeys six different commands: sit, lie down, sit up, beg and speak. He'll also give you a paw when you ask if he wants a treat. Biscuit's soft, cuddly fur and puppy-dog eyes will instantly win you over. Sitting pup measures 21" tall.

3. Playskool Dance Cam from Hasbro

Catch your moves on the tube! With the Dance Cam, children can be the star of their own show and see themselves dancing on the TV screen along with cute, animated characters. Friends can join in on the fun, too.

Simple to set up and provides hours of active, silly fun. Features three modes of play -- dance along with animated characters, learn a cool move or freestyle with your tunes. Comes loaded with 20 favorite preschool songs.

4. Bakugan Battle Pack from Spinmaster

This Bakugan Battlepack Teal and Red Set has small spheres that magnetically morph into powerful Bakugan warriors when they roll onto the real metal gate cards. Use strategy to place your metal gate cards effectively as each cards affects the battle differently. Then master you precision shooting skills to roll your Bakugan into battle and win.

5. Wild Planet Hyper Dash from Wild Planet

It's the electronic game that's as fast as you are. Test your speed and agility in a race against time using five targets and an electronic handheld unit. To start, set up your targets on the table, around the room, around the house or throughout the yard. Then, follow the announcer's commands as you zip around your racecourse to tag your targets with the handheld unit. The fastest time wins. Features four game modes that challenge your speed, skill, memory, coordination and teamwork. Includes ergonomically designed Hyper Dash unit and five labelled targets.

Any of the above top 5 best selling Christmas toys 2008 will make an awesome gift for your loved ones. And there just isn't a better feeling all year than when we see our childrens' faces light up, and see their shrieks of joy and delight when they open up their gifts, is there? For me it has always been the best time of the year.

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How To Effectively Use Games In The Preschool And Elementary Esl Classroom

How To Effectively Use Games In The Preschool And Elementary Esl Classroom
Organization. The first thing you should do when start teaching a preschool or elementary school ESL class is to figure out how to organize your class. For the younger students you'll want to change your activities every five to ten minutes because they have shorter attention spans. If you don't change your activities, they'll soon start losing interest. As you get towards the higher elementary grades, you can expand the time you spend per activity. The best way to gauge this is to pay attention to your class for the first few days to see what length of time works the best for them. Additionally, try to have everything ready to go before the students enter the classroom. That way you can go from activity to activity with minimal downtime.

Expectations. If you notice that your class is getting noisy or rambunctious, it's time to change activities. Kids of this age are active and like to be active; in order to balance out the energy levels in the classroom, alternate between active activities and quiet activities. If you have a large class you will need games that do not degenerate into chaos. This will leave you exhausted and the children ignorant! Also important is that the language in the game should be well within the grasp of the children. Start simply and increase the difficulty of the language, or increase the amount of vocabulary in a given game gradually. If you see that the children are hesitating too much in a game switch to an easier game immediately.

Be careful how you use activities that require fine motor skills - or more importantly pay attention to your expectations for activities that require fine motor skills. Children in preschool and early elementary are just learning to write in their own languages. This is not the best time to bog them down with writing in English as well. It is better to spend the bulk of the lesson time on listening and speaking skills for the younger children. As they progress through elementary school, however, you can begin using games and activities that require them to write small amounts.

Variation. You want to make sure your activities appeal to all sorts learning styles, so even when you are using games to teach grammar you'll want to vary the types of things you expect your students to do. For preschool and early elementary grades, stick to games that use talking, listening, looking and moving. For middle and high elementary, you can continue to use games that use talking, listening, looking and moving and add in some games that use writing and reading.

Going along with this same idea, think about what children learn from the easiest. Television commercials are short and catchy and the most memorable are the ones that are repeated often. Keep these characteristics in mind when you are teaching grammar to your students - incorporate these characteristics into your daily activities.

Respect. To make games work for you and your class, be sure to operate your class with the utmost respect - both to and from students. This includes teaching your students from the very start that you expect respect at all times. This includes giving encouragement and following the rules.

That said, you'll need to make sure the rules for all of the games are clear and manageable. When possible, explain the rules in the students' native tongue so that they all know what is expected of them. When there is an environment of respect in the classroom, the students will feel safe enough to participate in the games so that they can get the most educational value out of them.

Towards the end of elementary school, you can start introducing competitive games, but only if the class is respectful and it shouldn't be the main focus of the game.

Routine. Even if you only have your students for a short time every week, establishing a routine will help the class go smoothly. Children of this age (preschool through elementary school) thrive on routine and if they know what to expect next, they will be more able to participate in what's going on now. Set up a schedule for the type of activities you'll be doing at any given time throughout the class whether it is a game, story or song or whatever you want to do. Then, when you are planning your class, plug in the appropriate activities to each section of time. You should also leave a little time at the end of the class period to allow the students to clean up and gather their things as well as time for you to recap the class, praise the students and tell them good-bye.

You can also designate a "sign" to use to signal to the students when it is time to change activities such as clapping or signing a specific song so that they know it's time to return to the circle, table or desks.

Nurture. Perhaps the most important thing you can do with your students is to nurture them everyday. For each child in your class, find something you like about him or her and be sure to tell him or her. Be encouraging, patient and kind while playing games and participating in activities and they'll like you as a teacher and a person which will in turn help them get excited about your class and what you have for them to do everyday.

Just by keeping these tips in mind, you'll be able to teach children grammar with ease. You'll be having fun and they'll be having fun - so much fun, in fact, that they might not even realize they are learning in the process!

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Finding Preschool Educational Toys For Your Child

Finding Preschool Educational Toys For Your Child
Preschool educational toys can be as simple as blocks, puzzles, memory games, and plastic food. They can also be more involved with the newest technology where you child sits down to watch videos and follow along with books. The choice is yours. Below we will be looking at how a few of these Preschool Educational Toys can be helpful in getting your child ready for school.

Blocks are perhaps the simplest Preschool Educational Toys you can have. Blocks help build the child’s mind from discerning shapes to figuring out how to build something. While blocks are simple, they allow your child to develop the fine motor skills it takes to stack and stack without collapsing. They also enable your child to use imagination and start a project and finish it. This is also true of puzzles and the memory game. With puzzles, even the most simple, enables your preschooler to visualize the piece and how it will fit within the rest of the shapes. They also get the joy of seeing the picture complete. You will be amazed how many times they will do puzzles over and over again. Memory games allow the child to see the pictures and match them up with the corresponding piece.

The newest technology for Preschool Educational Toys involves children’s laptops as well as videos to watch. These can be helpful as your child gets older, but there is nothing like playing. Arts and crafts seem like a messy waste of time, but it can be huge in watching your child grow and develop. By all means get some LeapFrog Videos and even some Baby Einstein but make sure you don't let those take the place of play.

The idea behind Preschool Educational Toys is to help your child develop their five senses as well as help them develop the use of their brain. A young child's brains has the power to soak up as much information as you can supply. Whether you choose a Preschool Educational Toys or just some scissors and paper, choose them and allow your child the chance to develop while having fun.


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