Engaging Toddlers with Bible Stories is a free training course full of practical ideas for telling Bible Stories in Church based Toddler Groups.
Getting started in Bible Storytelling in a Toddler Group is sometimes daunting this training course aims to
- Give you confidence in your storytelling
- Provide practical ideas for including your audience of toddlers and their adults in the Bible Story time
- Offer a simple way of putting together a Bible Story script for Toddler Group Bible story time.
There are four short videos packed with practical ideas. And by short we mean short – you don’t need much time to watch.
Why a training course for Toddler Group Leaders?
I’ve been telling Bible stories to toddlers in baby and toddler groups for over 14 years and over that time I’ve learnt a lot. Being part of a team and listening to other people telling stories has been really helpful – we can learn so much from others. This mini course is really just what I’ve learnt so far!
Who’s it for?
Use this Toddler group training course as a refresher if you’ve been telling Bible Stories to Toddlers for years, or as a starting point if this is something you’ve never done before but would like to have a go. It is lots of fun to tell stories to young children and very rewarding and the more you tell Bible Stories to young children the better a storyteller you become.
Telling Bible Stories to young children in Toddler Group is very special. The Bible is full of wonderful stories about real people that are relatable. There are stories about families, animals, journeys, the ordinary everyday and the miraculous – and most importantly they are about the truth of Who God is and what he is like and how we can be in his family. Telling these stories is a privilege.
What’s included in this Toddler Group Training?
We cover how to put a story together, how to get your audience joining in and listening and we share some examples of stories to tell.
What do I need to take part in the course?
You just need a bit of time, a way of watching the videos (all are in this post or on our You Tube Channel), a notebook, a pen and a Bible.
How much does it cost?
It’s free! So jump in and have a listen. Start at the beginning or skip to the video that interests you the most. I hope you enjoy it and find it useful.
There are four short videos – it won’t take too much of your time to watch. They are full of practical hints and tips. Beginning with thinking about our audience to finding the focus of your story to putting a simple story together and then telling it.
All you need is a pen, notebook and your Bible. You can watch them all in one sitting or spread them out.
Getting Started In Bible Storytelling to Young Children – Introduction
Session 2 – Finding your Focus
Session 3 – Engagement with the Bible Story
Session 4 – Build and Tell your Story
I hope that you enjoy this mini course for Toddler Group leaders and find it helpful.
See this page for some hints and tips for telling great Bible Stories to young children for more ideas for your Toddler Group.
FAQ’s about Engaging Toddlers with Bible Stories: Free Mini Course
Can Toddlers sit and listen to Bible Stories?
Yes and No! Toddlers can listen well to engaging Bible Stories that are told in a way that is suitable for them. Think short, clear Bible Stories that use suitable language and include props and/or actions.
Are all Bible Stories suitable for toddlers?
It’s good to think about the suitability of Bible Story content when telling Bible Stories in Toddler Groups. Avoid violence and focus on the familiar – homes Jesus visited, animals in the Bible, Saying thank you to God. Bible stories that have a clear narrative with a clear problem and solution are straightforward to tell. For example Jesus calming the storm. The storm is the problem, Jesus calming the storm is the solution.
How long should a Toddler Group Bible Story be?
Great question. Toddler Bible Stories can be several minutes long. If you have props and ways of including toddlers by doing actions during the story, Toddlers can enjoy a good story in Toddler Group that lasts several minutes.
How do I stop parents talking in the Toddler Group Bible Story?
Stopping parents talking during a toddler group Bible Story can be very difficult. Here’s a few ideas to try
- Always begin story time the same way. Choose a song or rhyme and ask everyone to sing or say it with you. Then tell the Bible Story.
- As everyone settles ask parents – ‘please can adults be quiet during the story. It helps me a lot and I really appreciate your help in this.’
- If parents talk during the story you can include an action for everyone to do, or ask everyone to repeat a phrase.
- Think about your set up. Have everyone sit near enough to the story teller that they feel that they need to llisten.
- Sometimes it’s really helpful to have other toddler group leaders sitting among the adults. They can set an example to other adults.