Age Level Overview

PreK-Kindergarten

Young children experience God through the people who care for them. When caregivers are trustworthy and loving, then they can transfer that trust and love toward God. Young children learn as they explore the world through play. Play that is based on key Bible stories helps them explore the ideas and symbols of the faith community. Young children need to know that God loves them unconditionally. Even when they make mistakes, God’s love for them does not change. They need reminders that God watches over them and they are never alone. They need to be introduced to Jesus as a loving friend who cares for them. The church can be a safe, welcoming, and loving place for young children to experience God in age-appropriate ways.

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Elementary

A sense of love and belonging is very important for younger Elementary children. Learning to communicate clearly, express feelings, show empathy, apologize, and forgive are all important areas of growth for this age group. Younger Elementary children value rules and fair play. They want good to win over evil and may imagine God as a divine superhero who rewards good and punishes evil. Younger Elementary children are developing a sense of what is right and wrong. They strongly desire to please adults and may feel guilt or shame when they do things that they know are wrong. It is therefore essential for adults to convey the love of God in tangible ways. Because these children are concrete thinkers, try to communicate faith concepts in ways that connect to their everyday, sensory experiences.

Older Elementary children perceive God as both creator and friend. They know the rules and want life to be fair. They have a growing understanding of wrongdoing and forgiveness and need assurance of unconditional love when they make mistakes. They want to know how God is at work in their lives and the world. As they become increasingly aware of the larger issues of the world, they may show compassion and concern for those who are suffering or being treated unfairly. Older Elementary children respond to God in deeply personal ways. They express their feelings through art, prayer, silence, and faith conversations. In a safe and respectful environment, they are able to share their spiritual experiences with others. They are careful observers of the adults around them and need role models who live out their faith.

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Junior Youth

Junior youth are filled with critical questions and insecurity as they undergo puberty and establish new levels of independence from their parents and caregivers. They rely heavily on peer relationships yet also value relationships with adults outside their immediate family. Junior youth are beginning to learn critical thinking skills which brings an awareness of inconsistencies in what they’ve been taught and the realities they see in the world around them. Caring adults are needed to provide guidance and support to youth as they begin to develop their own personal values.

Junior youth most often have faith experiences that are influenced by the expectations and judgments of others (both peers and significant adults). They tend to believe what the church—and their friends—believe. Junior youth need to ask important faith questions to help move them toward making a thoughtful and personal commitment to follow Christ. In order to do that, junior youth need to feel that they belong and are loved and accepted in the church. Spiritual practices help them understand God’s intentions for the world, process questions, and develop a personal relationship with God.

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