The other day, I was caught up in dramatic play with my granddaughter. We were deep in detective mode when a “message” arrived from a supposed friend. After some sleuthing, we decided it wasn’t from our friend at all—it was from an imposter!

I suggested she send back a virus so we couldn’t be tracked. After some imaginary tapping on a plastic box, she grinned and said, “I sent him the chicken pox.”

Later, I shared the story with a friend at church who teaches RI. She chuckled too, then added thoughtfully, “One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn is understanding where children are in their thinking and to teach at their level.”

Children’s logic is wonderfully imaginative, but it also reveals the stage they’re at in understanding the world. To my granddaughter, “virus” meant something familiar—like the chicken pox she’d had a couple of years before. To me, it meant something digital and sneaky: same word, different worlds.

Children bring their own frame of reference, their own playful logic, and their own way of making sense of life. Our role is not to rush them past it, but to meet them there, and teach appropriately with patience, humour, and guidance.

Early Childhood (Ages 3–6): Learning through Play

Concrete thinkers: At this stage, children grasp ideas best through what they can see, touch, and do.

Strategies:

Use object lessons (e.g., a flashlight to show how Jesus is our light).

Incorporate songs, rhymes, and repetition to anchor truth.

Keep lessons short and interactive—attention spans are brief!

Free lessons to download for pre-schoolers:

God is Thoughtful: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/God-is-Thought-Full.pdf

Handy Dandy Day: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Handy-Dandy-Day.pdf

Middle Childhood (Ages 7–10): Exploring and Questioning

Curious learners: They begin to ask “why” and “how,” moving beyond simple facts.

Strategies:

Introduce stories with moral choices—Bible characters facing dilemmas.

Use games and skits to let them act out lessons.

Encourage memory verses with actions or crafts to reinforce meaning.

Free lessons to download for Middle Childhood:

Samson’s Bumpy Ride: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Samsons-Bumpy-Ride.pdf

Lying in Wait (Cain and Abel): https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lying-in-Wait.pdf

Preteens (Ages 11–12): Thinking More Abstractly

Emerging abstract thinkers: They can begin to understand symbolism and deeper connections.

Strategies:

Discuss parables and ask what they mean in everyday life.

Invite them to journal or draw their reflections.

Create team challenges (like treasure hunts) that require applying biblical truths.

Free lessons to download for Preteens:

God’s Got an Army: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Gods-Got-An-Army.pdf

Stand: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Stand.pdf

Spud and the Figs (Evangelism): https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/spud-and-the-figs/

Teenagers (Ages 13+): Wrestling with Identity and Belief

Critical thinkers: Teens test ideas, question authority, and seek authenticity.

Strategies:

Facilitate open discussions where doubts are welcomed.

Connect lessons to real-world issues—justice, friendship, resilience.

Encourage peer-led activities to build ownership of faith.

Free lessons to download for Teenagers:

I Know Who I Am (Daniel’s Different Diet): https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/I-Know-Who-I-Am.pdf

Questioning God (Job): https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Questioning-God-Story-of-Job.pdf

God Rocks (God’s Characteristics): https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/God-Rocks.pdf

Don’t Be a Baby (Maturity in Christ): https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Dont-Be-a-Baby.pdf

Practical Tips for All Ages

Know your audience: Observe how children respond—adjust pace and depth accordingly.

Layer truth: Start simple, then build complexity as they grow.

Engage senses: Use visuals, sounds, movement, and touch to make lessons stick.

Closing Thought

Jesus Himself modelled this approach—He spoke in parables simple enough for children yet profound enough to challenge scholars. When we teach according to children’s levels of understanding, we do the same, meeting them where they are and guiding them so they grow in understanding.