Teaching the Children: Through the Chaos
Teaching—whether in a formal school setting, at home, or in Bible class—is a source of great joy in my life. While I don’t have experience in a traditional classroom beyond my own time as a student, I have over 17 years of experience teaching in the home and Bible classes. Some days bring more challenges and frustrations than others, but every day holds a reason to celebrate. Learning is a lifelong journey, and not all lessons come from books. Sometimes, the teacher becomes the student.
I have the honor of serving as the education coordinator in our congregation and the privilege of teaching Bible class. For some time now, I’ve been teaching the 3–4-year-old class. At times, I feel “stuck” there, but lately, I see the blessings more than the burdens. These are the years when the brain is making foundational connections for cognitive, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual development that can last a lifetime.
I often have only one student, which gives me a great deal of freedom and flexibility in our 45 minutes together. Whether I have one child or a room full, my approach remains the same. Bible class follows a routine, with interactive opening songs, a Bible lesson, and a related craft or activity. Within that routine, I assess the needs of the child(ren) and adjust accordingly.
This past Sunday was one of those days. My one regular student was clearly having a rough morning. Despite my best efforts, she wasn’t ready to move from crying in the doorway to starting class. I sat down in my chair and gently asked if she wanted to color. She said yes. I asked if she’d like to make a lion mask or a puppet—she chose a puppet. I asked if I could read the Bible story while she colored. Again, she said yes
We were nearly out of time when she suddenly realized we hadn’t done our usual routine, which begins with toy cars driving to the church building. I asked if she’d like to finish with puzzles, and she agreed. As she worked, she named the animals, something many almost-four-year-olds do. When she came to the gorilla in the zoo animal puzzle, she called it a “monkey bear.” I’m not often speechless when working with children, but in that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to correct her. It was such a beautifully accurate description.
As I listened to her play, I thought of this quote from Mister Rogers: “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
Children talk about everything as they play. If adults are willing to listen, meaningful connections can be made—connections that shape how they learn and grow. If you ever have the opportunity to serve the children in your congregation, take it. You just might learn as much as they do.
