Under 5’s Encountering God
My name is Jackie, I am married to Chris and a mother and grandmother. I lead Sparklers as well as being in the teaching team on a Sunday for the under-5s. I have led Pebbles (3-4’s) at the New Wine Christian Festival for 15 years. I have recently retired from 30 years of running a music business, working with this age group. This has given me an amazing opportunity to observe their interaction with worship and the world.
I believe that babies and children are deeply spiritual human beings. In Psalm 139, it says, ‘You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb’. This speaks to me that they have been immersed in God’s presence … it goes on… Verse 15 ‘You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born…….
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me” – and he meant it, so how do we show up, be present, nurture and let love grow this little spiritual being…. Let’s be honest, life with this age group is wonderfully chaotic. Between snack times, muddy puddles, and bedtime negotiations, it might feel impossible to carve out space for anything else. But here are just a few thoughts to get us started …
Helping Little Hearts Connect with a Big God
When we think about helping our under-5s encounter God in their world, it can feel a bit daunting. But it’s simpler and more fun than you think. They're full of energy, their attention spans are short, and sometimes it feels like getting through the day is a miracle in itself! But the beautiful truth is that because young children are deeply spiritual, often more open to God than we realise. They don't need a theology degree to encounter Jesus; they’re wired for wonder, imagination and connection, and what they need is space, language, and permission to explore.
Everyday Moments, Sacred Encounters
One of the most powerful ways to help your child meet with God is by inviting Him into the everyday. Worship doesn’t just happen at church – it happens when we sing songs while washing up, say thank you for a rainbow, or pause to pray when someone’s hurt their knee.
Don’t underestimate the power of simple, spoken prayers like “Thank you, Jesus, for the sunshine,” or “God, help us be kind today.” These small acts build a rhythm of worship that teaches children that God is near and involved in their lives. When seeing the sunrays shine out from behind clouds, my girls would always point this out to me and say “Look Mummy, there’s God.”
Storytelling and Play: Learning About Jesus
Children learn through story and play, so what better way to introduce them to the heart of Jesus, who was himself a great storyteller through imaginative retellings of His life? You don’t need a theology degree – just a children’s Bible, some Lego, or a tea towel or two.
Act out stories like the calming of the storm with boats in the bath, or feed pretend fish and bread to teddy bears while you talk about how Jesus loves to share. As you play, keep asking simple I WONDER questions: I wonder what Jesus was like? I wonder how the people felt? I wonder what I would have done. This helps children connect the story to their own experience.
Creative Prayer for Little Ones
Prayer doesn’t have to be quiet and still. It can be wiggly, giggly, and messy! Try drawing prayers with chalk in the garden, lighting a candle and saying a one-sentence prayer together, or using bubbles to say thank you and watch your praises float up to the sky or playdough to ask for healing or to say Thank you…. For example, you make a grandad figure and touch his leg and ask God to make it better. Made food out of play-dough, and thank God for our food.
Another favourite is “feelings prayer” – where you point to happy, sad, cross or excited faces on a chart and ask God to help with whatever emotion your child chooses. Prayer becomes a language they know, not just something adults do.
Everyday Worship
Worship isn’t just on Sunday mornings
Pop on some worship music during tidy-up time (we like ones with actions!). Say “Wow, God!” when you spot a rainbow or notice a bug. Invite your little one to dance, sing, clap—whatever they love. Worship is a heart response, not a performance.
Remember, it’s not about doing more—it’s about noticing God in what you’re already doing. Your child’s earliest experiences of faith will be shaped not by perfection, but by presence, play, and love.
Let’s raise children who know Jesus not just as a storybook figure, but as a friend they meet every day—in giggles, songs, puddles, and prayers.
Let’s raise little ones who know they are loved by a big God.
The Holy Spirit: Always Present
It’s so important to remember that children don’t get a ‘junior’ version of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, who filled Jesus with power, lives in your child, too.
The Holy Spirit is always present, whispering love, bringing peace, stirring curiosity. You may see it in moments of unexpected kindness, in a question they ask that cuts straight to the heart, or in a quiet moment when they seem caught up in wonder. Encourage them that God is with them always, even when they can’t see or feel Him.
Final Encouragement
There’s no perfect formula – just the invitation to create space. You’re already doing better than you think. God delights in working through snack crumbs, storybooks, muddy wellies, and messy prayers.
Your home can be a place where your child learns that God is safe, kind, strong, and real. And who knows – they might teach you a thing or two along the way.