When we are working with pre-school children it is important to realise that they do not think in the same way as adults. Children often think literally and try to fit information into their frame of reference.  Psychologists often categorise thought processes into different types such as physical, social, mental and emotional.  Below some mental characteristics are identified and a comment is made as to how this characteristic might be taken into account by adults.

Children love music. Even young babies respond to music and music is a good tool to use to emphasize listening skills with children from an early age. Music is fun. It enables children not only to sing but also to move and dance or even create music with various instruments. Try to include music in as many activities as you can at playgroup or you can have a special time for music in your program.

If there is a parent that can play a musical instrument, invite them to share their talent at playgroup. If no one feels confident enough to play, use suitable CDs so that children can enjoy music.

Get the children to make music by providing simple instruments such as tambourines, shakers, drums, whistles, triangles, bells, etc. There are many percussion instruments that can be utilised to make music. Don’t be afraid to make your own instruments too.

Dancing is another activity that can be done with music. Movement/dance helps with their gross motor skills and co-ordination. Try dancing with scarves or use hand actions to songs.

If you are not sure of what songs to sing, start with the classic ones like “Twinkle twinkle”. There are so many suitable children’s CDs available; you will soon have a favourite collection.

Don’t worry about how well you sing, children will always enjoy the opportunity to sing, dance and join in. The most important thing is to enjoy the music.

Although Playgroup seems to be for children, it is also an opportunity to minister to parents as well. Parents need the gospel as well as children. The goal for all ministry is to bring children and their families into the church so they can have a living relationship with Christ.

Playgroup provides a wonderful opportunity to create links to parents. Some ideas to encourage those links are:

• Ask non-Christian parents to be helpers eg morning tea preparation. This gives opportunities for building rapport and enabling them to become familiar with the church grounds.
• Have extra leaders at playgroup whose ministry is especially to minister to parents.
• Send parents a newsletter every term with a fun church letterhead, providing dates of playgroup events happening and how they could join in to these events.
• Invite playgroup families to whole church family events such as Carols by Candlelight, Palm Sunday, Easter, Church picnics or Special anniversaries.
• Try to be aware of what is happening in playgroup families’ lives. Be compassionate if they are struggling with an issue such as an illness. Possibly make hospital visits or provide a meal for the family at these times.
• Don’t forget to follow-up once you have connected. Relationships take time.
• This is not to be done solely by the playgroup leader.  It needs a whole church to link with families.
• Finally don’t forget to ask your church for prayer support. Remember all Christians are in ministry and all ministries are linked.

Ideas for activities should be based on the observed interests and development abilities of the children. Children sometimes like to do the same activity week after week building their understanding of concepts and skills over time. Some children need encouragement to try different things and you need to have a good understanding of their interests. Not all children are interested in the same thing (like adults). Below are some suggestions of themes you could try in your playgroup.

Equipment
2 x A4 pieces of coloured card
a marker pen
a pencil
scissors
glue

Method
1. Using one piece of coloured card, trace around your child’s hands. Cut the hand shapes out.
2. Write “I love you” onto one of the hands.
3. Now cut a 2.5cm strip along the width of the other piece of card. (So you have a strip 2.5cm x 22.5cm)
4. Concertina fold that strip of paper so that you have at least 11 spaces in the concertina.
5. Fold it about 5mm at each end (to use as a tab to glue it to each hand)
6. Write “this much” across the concertina folds.
7. Now sit the folded piece in between the two hands, make sure the hands are placed so that they match up when the card is closed.
8. Glue the strip in between the two hands using the two smaller tabs you folded earlier.
9. Fold it together and present it to Dad. When it’s folded out it will say, “I love you this much” in between the two hands.