6-8 Year Olds: Characteristics
- Active
- Curious about things and people
- Questions “how?” and “why?” and “what about me?”
- Imaginative; enjoys stories about animals, trains, fire engines
- Lengthening attention span; interested in following through, but attention span may still be short
- Sociable; plays well with other children; sense of property rights; rules are meaningful
- Developing language skills; talks; tells stories; tends to exaggerate
- Establishing self-concept; pride in independence; rebels if interfered with
- Developing initiative; more independent for washing, dressing, eating, household tasks; takes more responibility for staying within bounds and putting toys away; beginning to develop judgment
- Needs to feel safe and secure; responsive to adults; seeks their approval
- Developing at indvidual rates; children of same ages may be at different stages in development of language, social skills, and cognitive ability
6 – 8 Year Olds: Appropriate Concepts
Concepts About God:
- God uses other people to care for me
- God hears me when I pray
- God knows what is best for me
Concepts About Jesus:
- Jesus loves me
- Jesus is my friend
Concepts About the Bible
- The Bible is God’s Book
- The Bible tells me the right things to do
Concepts About the Church
- The church is where we learn about God
- God’s helpers work here at church
- I can help at church
- I can bring gifts here to show I love God
Concepts About Family:
- God gave me my home and family
- God uses other people to care for me
Concepts About Themselves:
- I can help at home
- God wants me to share with others
- Gods wants me to be helpful and honest
Concepts About Others:
- Some children do not know about God
- I can pray for people who tell others about God
- I can give money to help people tell others about God
- I can understand the behavior of other children
- Some things are true and some things are not
- Learns through all senses