EXPERIENTIAL STAGE / AGES 0-6

PRAYER

  • “Jesus help” prayer (for everything from lost toys to scraped knees to monsters)

  • Memorizing the Lord’s prayer

  • Anointing with oil when sick

  • “Go away, monsters, in the name of Jesus.”

  • Praying in tongues with/over your child

  • Thank you game. How many things can you think of to thank God for?

SCRIPTURE

  • Toddler version of memory verses.

    • For example:When anxious: 1 Peter 5:7 = “Throw it to Jesus”

    • Trouble sleeping: Psalm 4:8 = “I will close my eyes and go to sleep because God makes me so safe.”

    • For aggressive behavior: Ephesians 4:26 = “When we’re mad, we don’t bite.”

  • Bible stories read to or shared verbally.

WORSHIP

  • Worship music or “Jesus music”

  • Physical affection during worship at church

  • Interpret for your child by whispering lyric ”translation” in their ear during worship at church 

MISSION

  • Let them serve alongside adults – kids love to “help.” At outreach events, give them kid-sized tasks (stacking things, picking up trash, etc.)

  • Pray for friends who don’t know Jesus. Explain: Did you know that not everyone knows Jesus? How does that make you feel? How do you think they could hear about him?

  • If you provide a weekly allowance, let them put a tithe of their own in the offering plate

  • Pray for any sirens (ambulance, police, fire) you hear or see

  • Pray for and/or engage people asking for moneyPray for missionaries

COMMUNITY

  • Attend worship regularly as a family.

  • Teach that “church” is not a building or an event, but a bigger family they belong to.

  • Let toddlers participate in adult worship (don’t automatically rush to nursery if you can help it)

  • Allow young children to serve alongside parents at church – handing out bulletins, picking up trash, etc.

  • “Family dinner” – expectation of others welcomed at our table regularly, hospitality modeled and practiced

  • Explain the defining values of the family – “We don’t X. We do Y. Because Jesus does Y.”

  • Practice Sabbath with family playtime together every week. No work. No phones.

  • Annual rhythms such as Family Camp

OTHER

  • Sharing daily “gratefuls and grumbles” as a family at dinner or bedtime.

  • Apology and reconciliation “liturgy” – “I’m sorry for X” / “I love you and I forgive you.”

  • Identifying and naming emotions – then matching emotions to Scripture:

  • It’s okay that you’re sad – Jesus cried too. (John 11:35)

  • It’s okay that you’re mad – Jesus got mad too. (Matt 21) BUT, when we are mad, we don’t hit/bite/kick/scream, etc (Eph. 4:26)

  • When I am afraid, I will trust God. (Psalm 56:3)When I’m worried, I can throw it to Jesus. (1 Peter 5:7)