Here’s an excellent thought from AquaChurch 2.0: (page 306)…

The first four years are absolutely as critical to spiritual and moral devleopment as they are to social and intellectual development. A child’s spirituality begins before it is born. Churches that help parents understand and address a child’s “learning windows” from the womb onward will lead the way. If working parents can expect nursery-care centers to stimulate their child’s intellectual development from day one through a variety of stimuli, why are our churches lagging behind in offering children sounds, images, and touches to stimulate their spiritual imaginations as well?

I currently teach preschoolers ages 3-5 in an early childhood center that recently opened only 3 months ago. Parents and their children are visiting and touring everyday to investigate the school. They’re interested in our programs, our routines, our activities, and our curriculum. They’re looking for those activities that stimulate children’s intellectual development and encourage them to explore activities and learning centers.

The preschool and children’s ministries in our churches need to offer activities and curricula to stimulate children’s spiritual development as well as the spiritual development of parents. After all, education (including Christian education) begins in the home.

Our family center buildings with rock-climbing walls, water parks, and bowling alleys are great ways to open the doors for children and their families, but our churches need to provide them with spiritual nourishment as well. We need to provide stimulating sounds, images, and touches with lessons straight from the Bible.