If you have read the first blog in this series you can skip the introductory and concluding paragraphs (in italics).
If you have ever interacted with children of varying ages you would have quickly noticed that they have very different capabilities. This is because children are continually growing and developing in every area and at every stage of their life. It is valuable to understand each stage of development in order to help children learn and grow. But as Christians we also want them to ultimately come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the next few blog posts we are going to be looking at the characteristics of the different age groups, what their needs are and what they are capable of understanding about God. Having this knowledge will help us, as parents and teachers, to teach our children about God more effectively in an age appropriate way. In this week’s blog we will be specifically looking at ages six to eight.
As a side note: We need to keep in mind that these different stages of development are not rules rather they are guidelines. Each child will develop at their own pace, some faster than others. Furthermore, as we look at these general principles it does not mean that every child is the same, they are still individuals with their own personalities, abilities, likes and dislikes. So you need to take the time to get to know each child as an individual in your class.
Their characteristics
1) Physical development
Girls are often ahead of boys at this stage in their development. Children at this age are still developing their fine motor skills and these skills may vary depending on the child. Some will have a reasonable degree of accuracy while others may still appear to be clumsy.
Although these children may be expected to sit in school, they are still very active which means that they can’t sit for long periods of time. So make the most of key concentration times. They have also begun to learn the skills of voice control and rhythm development.
2) Mental or cognitive development
Children at this age have an intense eagerness to learn and ask many questions. They want to know about everything. For example: how things work and why things happen the way they do. They also have a good memory. They still, however, only have an attention span of about 10-15 minutes.
Most children are learning to read and write at this age. They will be learning at different rates so their abilities will vary. Their listening and speaking skills are also developing rapidly. Even though they are beginning to read and write, their vocabulary is still very limited.
They are still literal concrete thinkers, so you need to explain things on a concrete level. Their concept of time, space and distance is also limited. They live in the present, so their thinking is in the “here and now” rather than in the past or future. Even though they are concrete thinkers, they enjoy dramatic play and being creative.
Reasoning skills are also starting to develop. They, however, tend to think that everyone shares their view.
3) Emotional development
Children at this age are experiencing new and intense feelings as they are growing more independent. They are developing self-control, but will still, at times, find it hard to control their behaviour.
These children are very talkative and crave attention. There is still a deep desire to please and be recognised by adults. They are constantly seeking approval from adults, but there is also a growing need for approval by their peers.
Being at school means that their world has begun to expand. They are meeting new people, some who have different backgrounds from their own. They are also learning and experiencing a range of new things. They are becoming more aware of others and less self-centred.
4) Social development
At this age each child is struggling to become socially acceptable to the peer group. They are learning how to cooperate with others. Being first, however, and winning are very important and taking turns is still difficult. Their social process moves gradually from “you” to “we”. Having said this, every child wants to gain their independence.
5) Spiritual development
At this stage of development, children are beginning to develop personal values and can understand the concept of forgiveness. They are asking lots of questions about God and heaven. They are generally accepting of who God is and what he has done when parents and teachers communicate this in their attitudes and actions.
Children can think of Jesus as a friend, but they need specific examples of how He expresses His love and care. It is this understanding that leads many children to a saving knowledge in Christ.
What do they need?
Remember that these children are still very active, so you will need to give frequent opportunities to change position and to move around. Vary the kinds of activities you do to help keep their brains alert and discipline problems to a minimum.
Simplifying tasks for those children who may be weaker in their fine motor skills will avoid frustration and feeling inadequate. It is equally important to have variety when doing craft activities. Don’t choose the same type of craft every week.
You should also have variety when presenting your lesson. Try to explore different types of visual aids, including drama. Using simple maps and family trees can be helpful, however, you will need to be careful because of their limited understanding of time and space. Remember to keep within their realm of experience and limit abstract concepts or symbolic language. Try to use simple vocabulary, particularly when explaining difficult concepts.
Reading and writing abilities will vary, as they are all learning at different rates. Never assume that they can all read. Get to know the ability level in your class and keep any reading material simple. It is equally important to get to know the writing abilities in your class so that you are only expecting them to do what they are capable of. Keep writing to a minimum, as it is slow and spelling will be poor. Always offer drawing in place of writing for those who may struggle.
Try to encourage their eagerness to learn and ask questions, because this is how they learn. However, you will need to come prepared in any given lesson to answer some difficult questions.
There is a great need for adult approval. Because of this need we must be encouraging, as much as possible. Learn their names and use them frequently in positive ways. Seek opportunities to help each child know and feel loved. Show genuine interest in their activities and accomplishments and remember important events. To be able to give them this individual attention it is wise to have a small teacher-to-learner ratio, about 1 teacher per 8 children.
Don’t treat them like babies, when they want to be ‘grown-up’. Give them opportunities to be creative and work independently. Allow them to help you by delegating small tasks to them. Remember that they still need clear guidelines for behaviour and close supervision because they are not always aware of the dangers and consequences of their behaviour.
Provide opportunities for group-based activities. Then call attention to the times when the group cooperates successfully and thank children when you see them sharing and taking turns. Help each child accept the opinions and wishes of others.
The gospel becomes real to children as they feel genuine love from adults. Teachers who demonstrate their faith in a consistent, loving way are models through which children can understand God better. We need to be fair and consistent in our discipline while at the same time modelling forgiveness and reconciliation.
What can we teach them?
If the children in your class have come up from a younger class, they would have already learnt a lot of foundational truths. You will be continuing to build on those truths. You must be aware, however, that some children may be joining your program for the first time. So you will need to teach them those truths from scratch.
Along with everything they could already learn at ages 2-5, here is a list of what they can now learn and understand:
- The Bible has answers to my questions
- I can share God’s love with others
- God helps me do what is right
- God forgives
- God’s presence in every area of life
- Jesus is my friend
- Jesus is the Saviour
- Scripture memory verses with references
- Biblical standards for lifestyle choices
- The Old testament tells what happened before Jesus was born
- The New Testament tells of Jesus’ birth, work on earth, return to heaven and what happened in God’s family.
The next time you are teaching your class, you need to choose material that will help them to learn these truths.
It is valuable for us to understand each stage of development in order to help children learn and grow. But we also want them to come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this week’s blog we had a look at the characteristics of six to eight year old’s, what their needs are and what they are capable of understanding about God. Having this knowledge will help us, as parents and teachers, to teach our children about God more effectively in an age appropriate way.
Thanks for reading my post. I hope you found it helpful. Please send me any feedback, comments or questions that you may have. I would also like to hear if there are any topics that you would like me to deal with in the future. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Bye for now.
References:
- Carmichael, S, 2000, Their God is so Big, Matthias Media, Australia
- Chaun, Robert and Lawson, Michael, 1998, The Christian Educator’s Handbook on Children’s ministry, Baker Books, Grand Rapids
- 2006, Gospel Light, Teacher Training Smart Pages
