On a recent family vacation, I was reminded of the importance and influence of an adult’s interaction with a preschooler. In our cabin in the hills, we had only the usual amenities to supply fun and games for the children. We had taken only a few toys for the two preschool boys, books for the older girls, and some paper and crayons.
For a couple of days, the 20-month-old stayed at the cabin while parents and older siblings went to family conferences. It was my joy to play with and care for the toddler during that time.
Looking around the cabin, I found things to turn into toys: empty gallon jugs and water bottles, plastic straws and bottle caps, wooden spoons, cardboard food cartons, and so on. Josiah and I began to explore our “toys” and create ways to play. It was a grand time for both of us as we filled the days with imaginative play. Anything and everything could become something to manipulate, toss, push, hide, and explore.
This weekend of play revealed the power of the imagination, but the more important takeaway was the confirmation that it’s not the toy, but the teacher, the adult, who makes the difference. Fun is more fun with two!
Some churches are blessed with resource rooms filled with toys. That’s great. Other churches, such as church plants, off-site congregations, schools, remote areas, mission settings, may not have a wealth of fancy toys. Take heart. Whatever the circumstance, interaction with the child far outweighs the value and number of the toys you provide.
To think about . . .
• People, not toys, create foundations for learning.
• Every interaction with a child has the potential for teaching and learning.
• Relationships set the stage for engagement.
Rachel Coe is content editor for Explore the Bible: Preschoolers resources. She still gets covered up with to-do lists, but makes teaching preschoolers a top priority.