As teachers, we also try to find the right words and methods to reach primaries so they can know God’s truths. Understanding the uniqueness of primaries will help us find the best way to teach them. Here are twenty-six words that describe primaries.
ADMIRING Children look up to adults. Are you practicing what you teach each Sunday?
BUSY Sometimes we wonder where primaries get all that energy! Provide plenty of activities to keep these busy children involved in your lessons.
CURIOUS Use your students’ natural curiosity to interest them in the Bible.
DEVIOUS All people are born with a sin nature. According to the Barna Research Group, 43 percent of born-again Christians are saved by the age of thirteen. You have a prime opportunity to reach your students for Christ.
ENDEARING As you teach your students and pray for them, each one will quickly fi nd a place in your heart.
FAIR Primaries are concerned about fairness. Although life cannot always be fair, primaries will tune out someone who is consistently unfair.
GREEDY Teach your students to be thankful and content in a materialistic society.
HELPFUL Most primaries love to help the teacher. Use this desire to teach them about serving others.
INDIVIDUALISTIC Young children need to be taught to think about others. Offer plenty of opportunities for children to learn to work together.
JOYOUS Sunday School is fun! It is enjoyable to watch the joy on primaries’ faces as they participate in activities that teach them more about God.
KIDS Sometimes we expect primaries to act like little adults. Part of our job is to train them to be more like Christ.
LOVING Most young children love their teachers. Don’t worry about being the perfect teacher because primaries will overlook your faults.
MANIPULATIVE Primaries will do all they can to manipulate situations and adults to their own advantage. They need to learn to put others first.
NOISY Put a group of primaries together, and things are bound to get noisy. Although students need to learn when to be quiet, give them times when they can talk and make a little noise. This will help them be quiet at the appropriate times.
OPEN At this age, you are still the teacher and know everything. Primaries are eager to hear about the gospel and God’s Word.
PERSEVERING Primaries are usually willing to try and try again. Help them keep a persevering attitude by providing opportunity for success.
QUESTIONING Why? Why? Do your primaries love to ask questions? Let your students get you off track occasionally as their questions lead you deeper into the discovery of God’s Word.
REDEEMABLE All children are capable of being redeemed by God. Take some time looking at the more difficult children through the eyes of God.
SOCIAL Many primaries love to talk, especially about themselves. Engage them in conversation to learn more about them and their world.
TEACHABLE Every child in your class is teachable. Rejoice with each small step in the right direction.
UNINHIBITED We lose our inhibitions as we age. Keep your primaries uninhibited just a little longer by making your classroom a safe place to express oneself and even fail.
VARIED God made each one of your primaries different. Vary your teaching methods as much as possible to reach each one of these unique children.
WILLFUL Sin nature makes primaries willful. Lovingly show each child how to surrender his will to God.
EXCITABLE Primaries want you to be enthusiastic. Your enthusiasm will excite them to hear the stories from God’s Word.
YOUNG Because primaries are still young, most of them are still innocent. While we still want to shield them from the world, it’s important to prepare them for the temptations they may face.
ZANY Yes, primaries are a little zany. This is what makes them so much fun! They have an unusual sense of humor and bring life to the classroom. Thank God for the wonderful opportunity you have to work with this age group.
