My Preschool class meets in the day care center at my church. There is so much play equipment and visual stimulation that it's distracting to teach a Bible lesson. What can I do to make it into a Sunday school setting?
Signed: Over-Stimulated

Dear Over-Stimulated:
If you find the room over-stimulating, imagine what it does to the children. You can tone down your space with a little creativity. Use room dividers to carve out your own sacred space, or move existing tables and toys against one wall, covering them with solid colored blankets or sheets. Attach story pictures and other Bible art to the dividers or a whiteboard. Place a rug on the floor for story time. Create a worship center using a Bible and soft cloth.

Your teaching space can be an oasis for the children, where they can experience rest in God's love for a short time each week.

I like to close my Primary class time with a prayer. Some of the children seem really uncomfortable with this time. How can I get them to participate more fully in practicing prayer?
Signed: Praying for Insight

Dear Praying:
This may be the first time some of the children in your group have been invited to pray. I'm glad you want to help them become comfortable with prayer. It is a faith practice that can become more and more meaningful throughout their lives.

Start with baby steps. In order to have time for unhurried prayer, wrap up the activity time five minutes early. Plan a ritual that you will use each time, such as gathering in a circle, lighting a candle, or asking everyone to hold onto a string. Invite each child to say something he or she liked about the time that day, and have everyone repeat, "Thank you, God."

Model a simple prayer of thanksgiving and/or petition for the children. In time, invite them to add a prayer, and they probably will. Don't be afraid to sit quietly, offering silent prayers to God. Even if they don't pray aloud, you are teaching them how to pray. I would not be surprised if the children begin to look forward to this sending ritual every week.

A parent of one of my junior youth offered to bring his laptop for use in class. How can I utilize the computer to teach a Bible lesson?
Signed: With Not Computer Savvy

Dear Not Computer Savvy:
Good question. If you're not comfortable with computer technology, it's hard to know how to use it effectively in a Sunday school setting. Right off, I'd caution you not to let the computer control your sessions. That said, there are ways that having a computer may enhance your time together.

Start by giving the parent the theme for the quarter and the Bible texts, and invite him or her to suggest websites that would engage your youth. These might include sites that display religious art, lyrics to contemporary songs that reflect weekly themes, or highlight the work that your denomination is doing on a particular topic. There may even be some YouTube video clips that make a modern-day connection to the faith focus.

Used judiciously, that laptop may be a very useful tool to engage your youth. And, as you become more familiar with it, you may find that you enjoy it too.

I love role-playing as a way to engage the children. However, some members of my group feel funny dressing up or down. How do I make it work for everyone?
Signed: Acting Up

Dear Acting Up:
Role-playing is a great way to help children understand the concept of the story and connect it to their lives. I highly recommend it as a teaching tool. What kind of dress-up clothing do you have available? Try adding some offbeat items to the standard bathrobe and shepherd's crook: sunglasses, a backpack, caps, a bandana, scarves. Have some interesting props on hand as well, and vary them from time to time according to the day's Bible story. Be creative!

For those who really don't want to dress up, just write their character's name or description on a nametag for them to wear. The goal of role-playing is to put oneself in the character of another or to work out a solution to a problem. It can be just as effective without dress-up clothes.