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Sit down and color
Children have short attention spans.
I have always known this, but I am reminded of it every Wednesday night when I teach a children’s church class for 3- to 5-year-old boys and girls.
When I started teaching the class more than a year ago, I was warned about the attention spans of children this age. I was told that when deciding on activities, I should plan to spend one minute on it for each year of their age. Sometimes I feel like it is one second.
My lesson plans have the same structure every week, but different activities to fill them. I have to have a starting activity to keep them busy while we wait for the latecomers. I also plan time for music, working on the memory verse they are supposed to learn, a story, a craft, a game and a snack. All this takes place in about an hour and 15 minutes.
Music time is my favorite, because I am just a big kid at heart. I turn the music up and let them dance, sing and even shout if they want to. They are often shy, so I let loose and sing and dance along with them. The idea is to expend a little energy before we go into story time. It’s futile really, because they don’t run out of energy. Ever.
The hardest part of the class is always the craft. Though there is a maximum two-year age difference between these children, that can be a big difference as far as their development is concerned. Some children need help doing everything. Others want to do it themselves. Some whip through the craft and say, “I’m finished. Can I play?” Others are still on the first step when everybody else is halfway through.
It can be difficult planning for the age differences, but it is also enjoyable. I do think my lack of teaching experience limits the new activities that I try with the children, so I am always open to suggestions. If you can think of any quick and easy crafts or games to try, I would love to hear them.
I do have a few rules though. I don’t do glitter. That rule is absolute. Children that age don’t understand the phrase, “Just a little glitter.” You can almost guarantee one of them is going to dump half the contents on the ground. Scissors I am very careful about dispensing, even when they are the safety kind. My kids love to make cuts, but getting them to do it in a controlled fashion has proven difficult.
Do you have any suggestions for fun crafts or activities for 3- to 5-year-olds that can keep their attention? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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