City Church Chicago

“Kids learn better when they are having fun, and church was never meant to be endured, but enjoyed.  The heart of our worship is always to reveal God as a father whose love rises above any circumstnace and who created the laugh, the tickle and the smile.“-David Wakerley, Hillsong Church.

The Christmas season offers so many opportunities for family interaction, play and fun.  Opportunities such as baking cookies, decorating the Christmas tree, wrapping presents and visiting family and friends are interactive “teachable moments” that children learn not only social skills, but physical, language and reasoning skills that are developed through all these fun activities. The “Christmas Season” is fading as we begin a new year; the laughter and joy of children opening their presents and discovering surprises Santa left are memories.  The familiar Christmas music on the radios, in the CD player and on the ipods has been changed and stored away for another year.  If you’re in the midwest, or any part of North America this time of year, its cold outside and children are playing indoors and starting back at school.  It has been extensively researched that children learn through play and build on their development through activities such as: drawing, building, dancing, singing, crafts, dramatic play, playing games, science projects, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and playing computer/video games.  As we settle back into our routines, and start a new year, what interactions, routines, and play do you and your family share on a daily or weekly basis?

We know children learn through play, but its also important for us to infuse positive interactions with children through their play, as children will only play what they already know.  Scholastic Book Company has stated, “all play is educational play, just as all television is educational television.  We may not be happy about the curriculum, but the learning happens, just the same.  Good stuff, bad stuff, stupid stuff- it all gets played and learned.” This teaches us that children learn by doing, watching, observing everything around them and the play they experience as children transform into hobbies or “adult play” as they grow older.  Essentially, play teaches children trial and error; connections to events, feelings, memories, thoughts; and how to organize information in their brains.

As an early childhood and parent educator for the past 10 years, I have seen children grow and develop through implementing various curricula, lessons and interactive activities to promote development.  I have worked with many families to implement structure and routine to their daily schedules to help curb challenging behaviors and maximize learning between home and school.  I’m excited as I interact with children and families at City Church because now we get to discuss how child development and the roles of parents and educators is demonstrated by Jesus in the Bible.  In Luke, chapter 14 as Jesus talked with the Pharisees, he tells them (us) that today is the day to teach your children, not to wait for another day and by teaching our children and interacting with them by modeling Christian behavior, infusing Bible lessons into play, and establishing routines to live and lead a Christian life, we are building a solid foundation for our children to build their house and life upon (Matthew 7:24-29).  Jesus taught his followers by sitting with them (Matthew 5:2) and interacting with them by meeting his followers where they were.  In Luke chapter 5, Jesus taught his followers from Simon’s boat and demonstrated his teachings using the fisherman’s “play” or “work” experiences.  Jesus teaches his children in our daily lives, through activities and work we do and enjoy; he interacts in our play!  Raising children with Christian values is exciting, fun and enjoyable!  Values and habits formed in children’s brains start young and continue through adulthood but start with positive adult interactions and modeling Christian behaviors through “Child’s Play”!

Tags: children, City Kids, families

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