Preschoolers need 11 things from your ministry - put them all together and they spell preschooler.
Prayer - Nothing of eternal value will be accomplished without prayer. God can do more in seconds than we can do in a lifetime.
Pray regularly for the preschoolers in your ministry.
Encourage your team to pray through their preschool ministry rosters.
Pray with the children each weekend.
Teach the children how to pray.
Call parents and ask them how you can pray for their children.
Put a prayer verse on the wall in each preschool room - a unique prayer for this year in a child's life.
Recognition - Every child wants to be known and to know that he or she is valued. Preschoolers need to be recognized and called by name.. Learn children's names and use them. Every week find at least one good thing to recognize about each child and knowledge it.
Eye contact - Children need to be looked in the eye when engaged in conversation to feel you're genuinely interested in them. This usually means getting down to a preschooler's eye level.
Security - Preschoolers are growing up in a scary world. Parents hold them closely for fear of kidnapping, abuse or endangerment. Church must be a safe place. Go the second mile to make sure every team member has been background-checked, interviewed, reference checked and approved.
Have a thoroughly secure check-in and check-out system. Put in place volunteer procedures and policies that provide security.
Care - Even at their young ages, preschoolers can sense when someone genuinely cares for them. They need leaders who''ll care enough to pray for their boo-boo's, send them "miss you" cards when they're absent and cheer for them at their kindergarten gradations.
Happy Birthdays - Birthdays are a big deal for preschoolers. They need you to celebrate their special day - so sing, bring in a birthday treat and give them a small gift.
Opportunity - Preschoolers need the opportunity to hear God's truth and and build a foundation for faith development.
Open Ears - Every child needs someone who will listen with open ears. So really listen...to preschooler's stories, questions, fears, and small talk.
Laughter - Every preschooler needs to be able to laugh...to have fun...to be able to be a child. Preschoolers need leaders who'll encourage this tough age-appropriate activities and learning experiences. that allow laughter to happen spontaneously.
Empowerment - God has given each preschooler unique talents and abilities. Empower your preschoolers to use these talents and abilities through learning experiences and activities where they can succeed.
Rules - Preschoolers need clear rules to follow, accompanied with firm and loving guidance, opportunities to make choices and consistent consequences.
