VBS 2014 Conference Plan for VBS & Younger Preschoolers
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VBS & Younger Preschoolers: Basic Training for the Youngest
Agents
Before the Session
1) Prepare activity for Discover Your Mission. (This activity is taken from Day 1-Discover Pictures of
Jesus/Lift a Flap to Find Pictures of Jesus.) You will need 6 sheets of colored paper. Fold the
paper in half and attach one of the included pictures inside. The pictures are visual clues for “I
CAN KNOW JESUS LOVES ME.” Feel free to get creative and change some of the items (you can
use a mirror/piece of foil to provide a reflection for “me.”) Tape the folded papers around the
room.
2) On a tray (or table in the room) place a Bible, a doll and a heart. Cover the items with a small
blanket. (This activity is adapted from Day 3 Bible Story Plus for 2 year olds and will be used
during Decide on Your Resources.)
3) Gather 6 gift bags. On the first bag write “Arrival” on the outside and place one of the picture of
Jesus from pack item 10 in the bag. On bag two write “Activity Time” and place pack item 16 in
the bag (if you assemble the cube it might fit in the bag easier). Write “Diaper/Potty Time” on
another bag and place a Bible marker from pack item 7 inside. On the fourth bag write “Snack
Time” and place a Bible story picture inside (pack item 1). Label the next bag “Rest time” and
place the CD inside.” The final bag should say “Dismissal” and should contain the Kid’s Activity
Pak.
Teaching Plan
Discover Your Mission
As participants enter the room, provide each with a field guide. Instruct them to find the hidden words
under the flaps of colored paper around the room and decode their mission. Each picture/word will
have a number beside it allowing participants to know the order of the words on the page.
After a few minutes, ask participants to find a seat and lead the group to decode the message: I CAN
KNOW JESUS LOVES ME. Talk about the importance of providing quality care for young
preschoolers…meeting physical needs, challenging them physically with toys, introducing them to new
social environments. We show them Jesus loves them by caring for them but there is more we can do.
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VBS 2014 Conference Plan for VBS & Younger Preschoolers
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We address their need to grow spiritually by intentionally including activities and conversations
designed to connect them to Jesus.
Decide on Your Resources
Let’s take a look at the resources available to help intentionally develop preschoolers spiritually. Direct
participants to the tray/table with covered items. Pick up the doll and lead a discussion about how the
young special agents God brings to our class help set the tone. Thoughts to include: collecting
information from parents related to schedule/likes/special needs, understanding stages of development
(the curiosity of preschoolers gives a wonderful connection to this year’s theme), the importance of
connecting learning activities to their sense and adult interaction. The children are our first resource.
Next pick up the mirror and talk about the heart of the teacher in this special mission. Keys to a
successful mission include: a heart for the ministry of VBS, a heart for young preschoolers, and a heart
for talking about Jesus (planning and arriving prepared to include Jesus throughout the session). The
teacher is the second resource.
The third resource we have is God’s Word. His spirit and promises can shape our experiences during VBS
more than we can imagine. Leaders need to pray and ask for God’s guidance as they plan, as they start
each day and with each child. Being grounded in God’s word and using the Bible and scripture
throughout each session allows God to work through every element.
Next remove the doll from the tray. What would happen if no children were a part of the VBS
experience? Replace the doll and remove the heart. What happens to VBS if we take the heart of the
teacher away? Finally replace the heart and remove the Bible and ask how our class could be different if
we asked God to lead each day. Take time to pray together for VBS.
Develop Your Plan
Mission discovered. Resources decided. Now it’s time to determine a plan of action. Let’s look at 6 parts
of each session and how we can make the most of every moment. Depending on the size of the group,
have each person/pair take a labeled bag and think about ways their item could be used during the time
assigned on the outside of the bag. After everyone has had a few minutes to think about their item,
have them share with the group and invite others to add ideas. If you have a small group, walk through
the bags together. Below are some suggestions:
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Arrival—welcome the child then use the picture to introduce Jesus and the Bible
verse/story. “Miss Sara is glad you are here and today we are going to talk about God’s
son-Jesus.”
Activity time—the leader guide is full of ways to move from babysitting based play time
to play with a purpose. They key is the teacher and planning to include Bible
conversations throughout the session.
Diaper/Potty time—laminate the Bible markers and let a child hold a marker as you
change their diaper and talk about what it says—put another marker by the sink and
VBS 2014 Conference Plan for VBS & Younger Preschoolers
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point it out to older children when they are washing their hands
Snack/feeding time—use the teaching picture to share the Bible thoughts of the day and
review basic story facts
Rest time—use the quiet music as a way to provide Bible thoughts while resting (tracks
11 and 12 are great for this)
Dismissal—use the kids activity pak to give parents an idea of things they can talk about
at home, use the activity pages to remind the child of the Bible thought as they leave
Thank the participants for investing in the lives of young preschoolers and their families. Dismiss with
prayer.
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Pictures for “Discover your Mission”
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Who do you see?
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