|
|
|
Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/13/2009 1:12:18 PM
Posts: 6,
Visits: 25
|
|
We are finishing up Rome tonight, out of our 30 participants, 15 were preschoolers  All we did differently was to make sure that each shop had an "easy craft" for the little guys if they got overwhelmed with the standard one. The family leaders also encouraged them with their craft choice each night to make sure that not one station got overwhelmed with tots at one time. The animal sacrifice shop was the biggest draw, we had rats, dogs and atoos and the some of the little ones would have spent their whole time there. Add in the snacks and there goes another 15 minutes. Rat on a stick, creamed atoo on pita (hummus), pigs in a toga, grilled cheese pita, raisins, etc all sold well. Paul and the Underground Church drama people had to be a little quick on their feet to keep them engaged, but the tots were all able to tell us what the main point of their time there was. Family time at the end of the evening didn't keep them engaged enough, so we shortened it and spent more time singing (and dancing). We also provided the family leaders with additional activities (foam stickers, scratch art, bubbles) to keep them busier. The mixed ages worked well, as the older kids kept making sure that the tots got the idea.
Angie
St. Petersburg Florida
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/4/2009 2:36:01 PM
Posts: 6,
Visits: 14
|
|
| I've used the HLA for 2 years rotating the materials amongst several churches. What I usually do is adapt the crafts to the age group if the church is spliting the children that way. If weaving baskets is too much for the younger group they weave large strips of paper in the shape of a basket (kind of like a place mat). I keep the activities as close to the orginial but modify them so that the younger children can participate in everything. They go through all the stations just like the other children but their activities are modified for them. I find this works well if I don't have a large staff. This way you don't have to have more people for just one group.
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/14/2009 8:36:16 PM
Posts: 29,
Visits: 267
|
|
Just finished our first night. I have to say it was everything I'd hoped it would be. When "Paul" was speaking, you could hear a pin drop in the room. The children were riveted, even our youngest ones. The cave was also a huge hit. We handed out the little battery candles from our Christmas program so the little ones weren't afraid of the dark. Worked great. We also got a lot of positive feedback from the music. If the rest of the week goes as well, I will be one happy VBS Director!!! I have to say, I have amazing volunteers.
Susan in Arizona
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/14/2009 8:36:16 PM
Posts: 29,
Visits: 267
|
|
Our VBS just finished tonight. We got RAVE reviews from all our parents -- we were told over and over that this was the best VBS they'd ever seen. I would totally recommend the HLA to any church. Our little ones had as much fun as the older ones and the older ones were grateful that things weren't as "baby" as some other VBS. We found that the mixed age groups were a true blessing and allowed our family leaders more time to help the younger ones -- and our older children were great about helping out too. Overall, I can't think of anything I would do differently (except maybe fine tune the registration but that's always a challenge). Based on the reactions of our kids, parents, and volunteers I think HLA is the best way to go! I hope everyone else has the same wonderful experience we did.
Susan in Arizona
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/29/2009 11:12:29 AM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 2
|
|
| Yes, PLEASE add specific pre-school materials. Even if these little ones travel with the family, we need directed interpretations and crafts for them. Parents usually talk directly to these babies to hep them understand what is going on. They need supplements! Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/2/2009 1:51:44 PM
Posts: 45,
Visits: 46
|
|
| We had 43 preschoolers and 65 elementary school kids this year for Rome and didn't have any problems with adapting the curriculum. We did separate the two groups, so that the preschoolers ( 4 families) did the rotations (market, Paul/cave, games) together and at the times opposite from the elementary. That allowed us to tone down the dramas and Brutus, raise the lights in the cave, and offer simpler crafts when the preschoolers were there. I do think it would be a challenge having 4 year-olds through 5th graders in the same "family" though.
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/10/2009 4:55:21 PM
Posts: 5,
Visits: 45
|
|
Just to add my two cents... we had 130 +/- people per evening in ROME... ranging in ages from 7 months to 93 years old... the only modifications we made were to add to various craft options in the marketplace and to be sure that the family groups were as balanced as possible to start with...There was no need to have any further breakdown.. and some of the most wonderful witness of faith came from the littlest ones... the drama in the Marketplace when the thief had stolen the bread ... many of the littlest of the families ran forward offering THEIR denari to pay for what he stole!! This was our very first HolyLand Adventure... but certainly will not be our last!
Here's how much fun we had!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJznawI85LU
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 4:12:53 PM
Posts: 281,
Visits: 965
|
|
| I just watched the promo DVD for Egypt yesterday and it brought back such sweet, warm memories of the field test! It was a great reminder of the power of having the entire family together--babies through adults. Lots of wonderful images of families playing, learning, growing, and praying together. I realize some of you may want to do the program with only kids, and then I'd recommend separating out the preschoolers. But it really does work beautifully with entire families.
|
|
|
|