Spiritual Characteristics of this age group:
- have a growing sense that God is very special and real
- tend to have a literal concept of God, as a grandfather figure
- readily accept what you say about God
- sense that God loves them and cares for them and that they can love and trust him
- enjoy frequent repetition of Bible stories
- can recite simple prayers and may add their own ideas
- generally, do the “right thing” out of fear of punishment or to win approval
- sense that church is a good place to be
Concepts with this age group:
By the time children have completed the twos and three-year-old Toddlers, they should have a concept of the following:
- God is love
- God created all things
- God is good
- God loves and cares for me
- Experience a sense of belonging to God’s family-Children of God
- Jesus is God’s son
- Jesus is my special friend
Scripture
- The Bible is a very special and important book
- Hear Bible stories about people who tried to live as God wanted
- Practice holding a Bible
- Say and sing Bible verses
- Begin to associate Bible stories read with reading out of the same book that is at home, in worship, and in Faith Formation.
- Observe parents and teachers reading from the Bible/Bible story book.
- I give thanks to God by praying and sharing
What stories are appropriate?
Age appropriate Bible stories for younger children:
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Prayer
- Associate prayer with good things
- Learn simple table prayers
- God is great and God is good, and we thank God for our food. AMEN
- No particular body position is necessary
- Simple language used
- Giving thanks for food after eating makes more sense to this age child
Music
Bible Reccomendations