Play! Listen! Talk!

Check out my Wordle! It came from Wordle.net, a website that creates cool "word clouds" from the text in your blog. I simply entered my blog address and it created my Wordle for me. The largest words are the ones I use most often. Here's what mine looks like right now. It's just what I'd want it to look like: talking about following Jesus in every lesson!
You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. Have some fun yourself at Wordle.net :)

What did the preschoolers at your church do today? I saw kids shaking rhythm instruments, clapping to music, singing in the kids' choir and especially having fun waving palm branches! (Well, actually tickling each other with palm branches!) Excitement just builds and grows this time of the year. Kids are going on vacation, camping trips, enjoying Easter Egg hunts, even visiting the Easter Bunny at the mall.

Do you worry that the message of what Jesus did at Easter gets lost in all the excitement? I do, because it seems that the words about Jesus' love, and the people praising Him aren't even heard. But in all the playing and talking (did anybody listen today????) I know that the foundation is being built, one bit of awareness at a time. And at such a joyful time of year, where else would we want to be but with God's family, in His house, celebrating His love for us!

We didn't really have signs of spring in our class today--but we had our bright yellow Daffodil duck puppet who always brightens up our room and children's faces.

It's so amazing to me the interest that can be attracted by one friendly puppet, even when used by a teacher who isn't skilled with puppets. Today Daffodil was scared by a loud noise. Gradually throughout the class a child here and there would talk about his or her own fears--storms and big dogs were at the top of the list. We acted out (over and over) the Bible story of Jesus showing His power and love by stilling the storm and the disciples' fears. I'm praying that the message of this lesson sticks close to these children.

What I learned today: Doing anything with water or beanbags are sure-fire methods for involving children. And even when I had tired of repeating these fun play activities--the kids hadn't! As adults, we often think "once and done." But not preschoolers--repetition really is the way they learn best!