Frequently Asked Questions about our Program

Mixed-Age Groups

Preschoolers will be in small, mixed-age groups with other young children, aged 3 through 5 years old. Elementary school children (kindergarten through 6th grade) will also be in mixed age groups.

These small groups, will be led by adults or teenagers who love children and love the Lord.  If you still might have some doubts....

FAQs for Preschool children
My 5 year old will be bored with all these little kids.
My 3 year old will get hurt by the older kids.
My child won't come if she can't be with her friend...

FAQs for Elementary School children
My child won't come if she can't be with her friend.
My child won't like being with little kids.
My child will get trampled by those bigger kids...
You'll have to water down the Bible lessons so everyone can learn.

My 5 year old will be bored with all these little kids.

5 year olds play an important part in their Groups. They now become the "big kids" who can cut with more accuracy, glue more easily, and (gasp!) even write their own names! Younger children will love being with your child and will show their affection generously. All this admiration is wonderful for your child's self-esteem and allows him or her to serve younger children in hands-on, practical ways.

My 3 year old will get hurt by the older kids.

Actually, the younger children will be loved, served, and doted on by the older children in their groups. Plus, in a mixed-age small group, the leader has much more time to spend one-on-one with your child. And you can be sure that the activities are all specially designed just for mixed-age groups, so younger children won't be in over their heads.

My child won't come if she can't be with her friend.

We will make ever effort to accomodate your requests to be paired up with a friend - but we cannot guarantee it. While it's true that your child may not be able to be with his or her very best friend, there will be opportunities to make many new friends. Studies show that children learn as much - or more - when they're linked with kids of different ages. In fact, one study observed that children naturally chose to play with other children their age only 6 percent of the time. They played with children who were at least one year older or younger than they were 55 percent of the time.

My child won't come if she can't be with her friend.

We will make ever effort to accomodate your requests to be paired up with a friend - but we cannot guarantee it. While it's true that your child may not be able to be with his or her very best friend, your child will have wonderful opportunities to make new friends, and interact with a new group of children. Most of us assume that age-graded classes are the best way to go, simply because that has been our only experience. However, studies show that children learn as much - or more - when they're linked with kids of different ages. In fact, one study observed that children naturally chose to play with other children their age only 6 percent of the time. They played with children who were at least one year older or younger than they were 55 percent of the time.

My child won't like being with the little kids.

Parents are continually surprised that, after a few days of VBS, their older children love this newfound role! Suddenly, they're the "cool" big kids with younger children looking up to them. And while your child is helping younger kids with simple tasks, he or she is having the chance to serve and demonstrate Christ's love! It's a meaningful way to discover - and practice - the joy of service.

My child will get trampled by those bigger kids.

VBS is carefully designed for groups of multi-age children. That means games are noncompetitive, team-building activities (brilliantly disguised as wildly fun games) in which your child's abilities will shine. In fact, many games are designed to highlight the importance of smaller kids. It's more likely that your younger child will be loved, affirmed, and doted upon by his or her older group members.

You'll have to water down the Bible lessons so everyone can learn.

Since VBS doesn't rely on more traditional teaching methods (like fill-in-the-blank puzzles or word searches), kids experience Bible stories in powerful, life-changing ways. And that's something kids of all ages will enjoy...and remember. Then, group leaders gather with kids for small-group discussion. These are questions that apply to every child but may touch each child at a different level. Each child is exploring his or her relationship with God in an age-appropriate way.

Millions of children have experienced this multi-age approach with surprise and delight at the outcome. Children's ministry experts agree that combining ages has numerous benefits: teaching children to work together, experiencing what it mean to be a family, and serving others in love.

For more information, contact the VBS director:
Beverly Gayman

 

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