Spiritual Characteristics of this age group:

• have a very real spiritual nature, a strong sense of who God is, and often relate to Jesus as their friend
  
• are aware of right and wrong and begin to experience guilt and understand forgiveness.
  
• understand God’s love and our response within the context of everyday experiences. By and​ large they are still concrete thinkers
  
• can be delighted and awed by Bible stories and often use their imagination to ask questions can express their love for Jesus in words and actions

Concepts with this age group:

By the time children have completed the 4 and 5 years old, they should have a concept of the following:

• Experience awe and wonder of God- like God created everything-Creation Story
• Experience a sense of belonging to God’s family - Children of God
• Two sacraments: Baptism and Communion
• Our offering is a way of saying thank you to God and to serve God
• Story of Jesus’ birth
• Jesus died so my sins would be forgiven
• The resurrection stories 
• Learn the Doxology
• Learn two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Scripture

• The Bible has two parts: Old and New Testaments
  
• Hear Bible stories about people who tried to live as God wanted
  
• Practice holding a Bible 
  
• Say and sing Bible verses
  
• Associate Bible stories read with reading out of the same book that is at home, worship, and Sunday school. 
  
• Observe adults reading from the Bible/Bible story book.
  
• Genesis 1:31 (God saw what God created and it was good)
  
• Psalm 100:1-2 (Make a joyful noise to the Lord) 
  
• Matthew 7:12 (Love your neighbor as we love ourselves)
  
• 1 John 4:19 (We love because God first loves us)

What stories are appropriate?

Age appropriate Bible stories for preschool children:

• The Big Flood (Genesis 6:14, 19-22, 7:17, 8:1-20, 9:13-15) (don’t emphasize sinfulness of world-too abstract) 
  
• Abraham’s Faithful Journey (Genesis 12:1-5)
  
• Miriam Cares for her brother (Exodus 2:1-10)
  
• Ruth is Kind to Her Mother-in Law (Ruth 2)
  
• Samuel helps Eli (1 Samuel 2:18)
  
• Solomon Builds the Temple (1 Kings 5-8, selected)

• Mary’s Promise of a Child (Luke 1:26-38) (ignore virginity of Mary)
  
• Visit of the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11)
  
• Presentation of Baby Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:22-39)
  
• Jesus Teaches in the Synagogue (Luke 4:14-30)
  
• Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)
  
• Jesus’ story of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:2-7)
  
• One of Ten Tells Jesus Thank You (Luke 17:11-19)
  
• The Birthday of the Church (Acts 1:4-5, 13-14)

Prayer

• Praying is talking to God
  
• Provide some opportunities for prayer being cautious of asking a child to pray before guests
  
• Begin requests for help from God in prayer like… Help me to remember to cross the street carefully…to take turns…to help others….to listen
  
• Older kindergartners may pray for someone else: Help the Doctor help uncle John

Music

Bible Reccomendations

Preschool

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