| When you deal with preschoolers, one of the | | | | want to stay in the room to chat. Ask that they |
| hardest things to do is to keep their attention. | | | | come back after the children are picked up. |
| Preschoolers have a very short attention span | | | | Plan Short Activities |
| and continually changed their focus from one | | | | If you have your class for about an hour, then |
| activity to the next. If you are in charge of a | | | | you need several short activities. Remember that |
| classroom full of preschoolers, then the following | | | | these kids will not have the attention or the ability |
| tips may help you keep their attention during | | | | to engage in long, laborious craft activities or |
| Sunday school. | | | | complicated games. Make sure that whatever you |
| Plan Ahead | | | | plan is easy to complete with minimal help from |
| When teaching preschoolers during Sunday school, | | | | you. Not only does this save you time and |
| you should certainly plan ahead. Plan a couple of | | | | frustration, but it does give the kids a sense of |
| days before your lesson and make sure that you | | | | accomplishment when they can complete a task |
| have gathered everything you need. This will help | | | | on their own. Your activities do not have to be |
| you stay organized and keep their attention during | | | | complicated or involved to be fun for your kids. |
| the lessons. Planning ahead means that you need | | | | Plan Extra Activities |
| to make sure that you know each activity you | | | | It is always a good idea to plan extra activities |
| will do with the children and that you have all the | | | | when you teach preschoolers. Have a folder or a |
| necessary equipment and supplies on hand and at | | | | box of several activities that you can use as |
| the ready. There will be no need to run to the | | | | quick fillers. This could be as simple as a quick |
| supply room at the last minute to get an extra | | | | game of duck-duck-goose, or a game of "I Spy". |
| pair of scissors or a story book when you plan | | | | When you have activities on hand to fill extra |
| ahead. | | | | time, then your kids will stay engaged. |
| Stay on Task | | | | Stay Realistic |
| It is not always easy to stay on task when you | | | | Last of all, you can help yourself and your class |
| teach preschoolers, but when you need to keep | | | | by staying realistic about your lessons. These are |
| their attention during Sunday school, this is one | | | | preschoolers and you need to keep your |
| way to do it. If you are not focused on the | | | | expectations of what they can and cannot do at |
| lesson and you allow interruptions throughout the | | | | their level. Allow some down time each week and |
| lesson, you will lose the attention of your children. | | | | let them have fun being in your class and visiting |
| This includes minimizing interruptions from other | | | | with their friends. |
| teachers, classroom visitors and parents that | | | | |