Talking with Preschoolers
Young preschoolers have a limited vocabulary and limited understanding. Much of the communication with preschoolers is non-verbal. The tone of voice, facial expression, and body stance tells the child if an adult is tense, relaxed, angry, happy, or joyful. The preschooler needs to hear the name of Jesus spoken in loving ways. When the body language of the adult matches the words spoken, the child knows the words are true. Even though the infants or toddlers may not understand everything that is said, they need to begin hearing about God and Jesus from an early age. Tell an infant that God made him. Talk in a gentle voice. Smile when talking about God. Sing a song about God to a toddler. Clap the rhythm of the words from a Bible thought with a one-year-old. Let the child hear words of thanks to God.
A preschooler is not able to think in terms of symbolism. For the child to comprehend, the words have to relate to something the child already knows. This is why preschoolers do not understand figures of speech. They do not yet have the mental capability to think in abstract phrases.
Avoid using terms such as the, “House of God”. A preschooler would know this as church. Use words that do not have symbolic meaning. The preschooler thinks in the here and now. A child will understand the phrase, “Tell others about Jesus,” much more than “shine your light on the world.”