Spiritual growth occurs in all developmental stages and in all aspects of life—mental, physical, social and emotional. But what are those growth stages? And how can we encourage the development of faith in children during these crucial periods? Below you’ll find a sketch of the stages, and tips for ministering effectively to children in each of these stages.
Infancy-3 Years: Sensing Security
Development and Need
The greatest need for children from infancy to three is to feel that the world is a safe place and that the people in it are dependable. This sense of security and trust usually comes from the family and provides a foundation for children to trust God.
The primary development during this time is mimicking. Babies mimic the movements of those around them—smiling, clapping, making sounds. By age 2-3 children are walking, running, and exploring everything around them; they can dress and feed themselves. They have learned the basics of language and can carry on conversations using a limited vocabulary. In church we encourage children to mimic actions such as praying, and repeating Bible words.
Ministry Implications
- Talk, read, play, sing, and pray with children.
- Involve children in activities with other children and adults.
- Begin family faith traditions and holiday rituals.
- Provide parenting classes and support groups for parents.
- Consider baby dedication or baptism ceremonies.
Three to Seven Years: Experiencing Faith
Development and Need
During the preschool and early childhood years, children typically act with “experienced faith.” For the most part children respond to the actions of parents and adults, while learning to initiate actions. They explore and test, imagine and create, observe and copy, experience and react. Their acts provide a mirror and a test within the family and faith community context. In this context they are experiencing the faith of their family.
Ministry Implications
- Continue the activities begun in infancy, but with increasing involvement of the children.
- Add to the reading and playing, Bible stories with exciting narration, and encourage active use of imagination on the part of the children.
- Involve the children in creative telling and dramatizing of Bible stories.
- Encourage children to ask questions about the Bible reading, and imagine what Biblical characters might say if they could be there.
- Provide a worship readiness opportunity to help children understand what it means to worship and why the church participates in the various aspects of the worship service.
Seven to 12 Years: Relational Faith
Development and Need
During these years, children have developed the ability to see themselves as a separate individual, and have begun to form friendships, mostly with members of the same gender. It becomes increasingly important to belong to groups, to do things with their peers. They have broadened their relationships outside the home, but the family is still the central influence. Children are beginning to take responsibility for their actions, realizing that freedom requires accountability.
Ministry Implications
- Offer times when parents and teachers can talk with and listen to the children.
- Plan family times when parents can be involved in the program so they can share the church experience with their children.
- Give children opportunities to lead the Bible reading, discussion, and prayer.
- Providing informal times when children can do something while discussing issues that are sensitive or important to them.
- Plan service projects that could include the family, such as helping to feed the homeless, food or toy drives, church clean-up days.
- Include opportunities for older adults in the church to share their faith stories and life experiences.
In addition to Sunday school, provide other times for children to be part of the church community, learning as well as participating and sharing. Midweek club programs and youth groups are places where children can experience belonging and build relationships with peer and Christian adult role models.
Thirteen to 18 Years: Searching Faith
Development and Need
During the junior high and senior high years, children are learning how to separate from their family, while maintaining an interdependent relationship. They are developing a clear sense of identity and forming their own inner value system. They are capable of experiencing secure faith and making commitments to causes.
Ministry Implications
- Teens should be able to have input into how they will demonstrate their Christian values.
- Support and encourage children and youth taking part in worship services.
- Look for opportunities for intergenerational learning experiences.
- Encourage youth to share faith experiences with their family and church family.
- Encourage youth to be involved in service and mission opportunities.
- Provide opportunities for youth to lead or teach younger children in different contexts such as Sunday school, Pioneer Clubs, and Vacation Bible School.
Throughout their lives children are constantly being influenced by the examples of others and the experiences they have personally. One of our major responsibilities in Christian education is to provide them with strong Christian role models with whom they can build meaningful and solid relationships. We must also provide multiple experiences where they can discover, practice, and exercise their faith. Our Christian education environment should be a laboratory where children can learn to live out their faith as they progress through these various developmental stages. The overall children’s ministry atmosphere should be open, friendly and inviting so that even unchurched children in the neighborhood will want to be part of it. Our underlying purpose, as we nurture and guide children through the normal paths of faith development, is to teach them, “Above all else, guard your heart. It is where your life comes from” (Proverbs 4:23).
Judy Bryson Pioneer Clubs® President
Judy Bryson is President/CEO of Pioneer Clubs—a church-sponsored midweek ministry for children, ages two through sixth grade. Pioneer Clubs’ three unique programs offer age-specific groupings, large group/small group and small-church ministry formats. Churches are encouraged to select the program that best meets their ministry needs.
Resources:
Is It A Lost Cause? Having the Heart of God for the Church’s Children, by Marva J. Dawn A Sympathetic Understanding of the Child: Birth to Sixteen, by David Elkind Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey: Nurturing a Life of Faith, by Catherine Stonehouse. Will Our Children Have Faith?, By John H. Westerhoff III.
