How to teach babies and toddlers.

 

How to teach babies and toddlers?

Teaching or training babies and toddlers can be stressful; even preparing a lesson for this age group is a TOTAL headache. They are slightly difficult to work with; they are unpredictable; you can't tell them to sit down, to listen, or to just give common, clear commands. You can't ask them questions based on the lesson just to make sure they understand; they can't ask you questions either. So you need to make sure the lesson is simple and clear for them to understand. Your classroom routine needs to be fun, engage all five senses, and still be age-appropriate.

 

Spiritual messages to teach babies and toddlers:

• God loves you.

Learning objectives: God's love is great; he loves everyone; and God is love.

• God loves your family.

Learning objectives: God loves everyone; he is love; and he loves those we love and those that love us too.

• God made everything.

Learning objectives: God is the reason we have all that we have; God made mommy, daddy, sister, brother, grandmother, pets, animals, etc.

• God is truthful, good, and caring.

Learning objectives: God is kind, God is warm, and God has a very big heart.

• We can pray.

Learning objectives: We can talk to God, God is listening, and we talk to God through prayer.

When teaching babies and toddlers, it is very important to keep in mind that babies and toddlers have been blessed with an attention span of about 2–4 minutes. If you haven't checked last week's blog, it has more information on the characteristics of a baby and toddler. Do check it out: https://littlelambsofchrist.blogspot.com/2023/12/why-teach-different-age-groups-in.html

In the classroom:

1.    Be on time so that you can hug each child and mention their name as they walk in. It is important to have a co-teacher for this class since they are hands-on. While you are teaching, the co-teacher can handle the crying baby if the parent is not around.

2.    Gather around. Sit on a clean mat or rug. have an opening prayer where you pray.

3.    Get them excited for class. Sing a song or two (the wheels of the bus and/or father Abraham).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_04ZrNroTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On20xSFp0VY

4. Check attendance: Sing your attendance song to check who came to class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZragmYBm9o 

Zoom, zoom, zoom, who came to Sunday school? Zoom, zoom, zoom, who came to Sunday school? If you can, the co-teacher can answer and say, "Sally or Johnny," and then put a sticker on their attendance sheets.

Lesson time: God loves me.

Since babies and toddlers have a short memory and short attention span, telling them or teaching them that God loves them would be a TOTAL waste of time. I hear you say, So what then? What do we do, Amanda? Relax; it's simple, not as A, B, or C, but you'll get the swing of it. You will have to sing your lesson through...Yup. When teaching any age group, it is important to maintain eye contact with your learners. When you stand over them, like in a classroom setting, they could easily feel intimidated, and when they sit at a higher eye level than yours, that makes them think or feel as though they are above you. Always maintain equal eye level.

Songs to sing for this particular lesson:

1. Jesus loves me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqghCEtlTFo

Have a teddy bear that has a big red heart on it, and while singing, you could hug the teddy. Babies and toddlers associate themselves with teddy bears, and any higher authority would be associated with Jesus or God. Pass the teddy around as you sing for everyone to hug and love.

2. Jesus loves the little children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP8_c0UxmdQ

Have a simple picture of a baby or toddler and a big red heart cut out; paste the baby or toddler on Jesus' heart. Hold up the visual aid for each child to see. Another thing you could do is have a simple portable mirror with no sharp edges, and while you sing this, they could look in the mirror and see that they are loved by Jesus.

For babies and toddlers, I wouldn't recommend singing Jesus died for the little children since they don't understand death and dying.

3. He's got the whole world in his hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEkXzi19Crk

With this one, you could simply cut out a big globe and sort of have it in your hands as you sing.

When teaching this age group, you need to be consistent in how things are done in the classroom. Repeat, repeat, and repeat. They learn through routine and repetition, so this particular lesson you can do for 4 or 3 weeks. The only thing you could do is maybe switch up your visual aids.

Simple visual aid template: https://www.coloringall.com/coloring-pages/hearts/blank-heart/

https://twistynoodle.com/baby-5-coloring-page/

https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/teddy-bear-coloring-pages-drawing-kids_52614114.htm

These pictures must be coloured in.

Pinterest is a great site to explore when looking for worksheets and craft ideas.

Your visual aids must be simple and straight to the point. If you are going to make them colour-in, give them the big wax crayons and monitor them. If and when you are done and don't know what to do with them, bring out that box full of toys, throw them out and let them have a field dday. Make sure the toys are always washed since they put evvvvverything in their mouths. Have wipes in your magical teacher box, since they are unpredictable, and as far as snacks, refrain, if you want to find out if any of the children have allergens or anything. Enjoy teaching the babies and toddlers, they do learn, and when they learn, they grow.