Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Godly Play
What is the importance of Godly Play? Godly play is an interactive teaching method that involves the children in the stories that they are learning. As teachers, should we really invest our time and energy into methods such as Godly Play, or should we just teach straight from the Bible? What could be the possible benefits and outcomes that result from involving children with Bible stories, and letting them interact witht these stories?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I definitely think that Godly Play is a legitimate way of teaching a lesson. A lot of times students get distracted from straight lecture or a video series, but a play would help them to involve nearly all their senses. It would keep there attention, but I do believe there is also an importance for discussion sometime afterwards. The kids are more likely to remember something they are a part of as well.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to mix Godly Play with discussion. Kids learn important life lessons from playing, and if we can observe those as we play with them and include those in our discussion times, it can be very memorable. Some of the things I remember the most that my pastor taught us were the things he taught us that were connected to a memorable Godly Play experience.
ReplyDeleteWe all learn differently at different stages in life. For kids, they learn the most when they are engaged in one form or another. Involving children in Godly play allows them to associate a story they learned with the game or activity they did that went along with it. If we are teaching them from the Bible, but presenting it in a way they can understand, I don't think there is anything wrong with Godly play. The flip side or down fall could be that as children get older, they don't want to sit and learn or they may think it is boring b/c they only form of Bible learning they know is to be "playing". However, I think this is a rare case and it's up to teachers to give kids a good balance of play, interaction, discussion and questioning so that as they mature, their ability and desire to learn and read scripture matures as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe that you should take advantage of God play. I am not saying that you are to not teach from the Bible but I think that with God play you are teaching from the Bible. One of the benefits of God play is that it is interactive and it involves the kids in what they are learning. This is a way that they will be able to better recall what they have learned because it is so interactive and it is not a lecture
DeleteI believe Godly play is a great way to help the kids remember the lesson. Godly play involves the kids and helps really teach the lesson. Learning by doing is proven to be one of the most effective ways of learning, and Godly play is a type of learning by doing.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Godly play is an important asset when teaching children. I believe this because Godly play allows children to explore Biblical concepts in a more hands on way, and on a level that fits their learning capacity. The benefits of Godly play is that children learn how to interact with God. Also you can adapt materials to a child who learns differently so that they can better comprehend the word of God.
ReplyDeleteGodly play is a great method. It is a good way to be relevant to children and effectively get a point across to them. God play can defiantly teach the children to interact and let God work in them at their young age and as they mature, they will let the spirit move in them more naturally.
ReplyDeleteGodly play should be used in with discussion. You can integrate the Godly play in with the discussion so that both learning and fun/fellowship occur at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an important thing for kids to have because at a young age children have sponges for brains and learn a lot quickly. If you teach them the word of God at a young age in a way they can understand and ask questions they are more likely to retain that information. Using play makes them more interested in what you have to say because they want to be involved and play as well. Put food or a game in front of a child and they will listen to just about anything you have to say. Children are very trusting and love life and its are job to teach them about God just as much as they teach us to be child like for God.
ReplyDeleteGodly play is HUGE when it comes to children! It lets their imaginations run free and really experience the the Bible is telling us, probably more so than anyone else. Making sure that children in our churches have a firm grasp on scripture can be done creatively and effectively through Godly play.
ReplyDeleteI think it is vital to have a balance of teaching directly from the Bible and engaging in more interactive methods of learning. While the banking system of learning can be beneficial in some cases, it is not always the best way to teach all students. Children more often learn better by doing, which is where Godly Play comes in. It allows the children to involve more senses than just hearing, which helps them retain the information better.
ReplyDeleteGodly play is important to today's culture because of what has become a "norm" for society. To hold attention of children and teens today, part of a lesson almost requires an activity. Now I personally see nothing wrong with that, but there does need to be intentional design behind the game or activity we choose to incorporate. If it is not an intentional learning activity to get the students involved and to hold their attention, then it is more of a negative time waster.
ReplyDeleteAgain, in today's culture, it is good to have a strong way to get the students involved with the lesson because it will help hold their attention and make it more of a personal observation and not just a listening time.
if we did not use Godly play as part of our ministry we would be like the police with no authority to arrest. we can say all that our lungs have the room for but sometimes it will only get skin deep but when you give some kind of physically connection to the lesson it will get much deeper and have much more meaning.
ReplyDeleteGodly play is a great way of teaching a lesson to children and even adults! Lectures often become boring to just about anyone. Godly play keeps everyone involved and everyone interested. It's a great way of teaching a lesson and attaching it with fun activities that people will remember.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on the activity we did with the kids, I can see Godly play as a valuable tool for teaching. If executed correctly, it really does let the Holy Spirit do the teaching. I can see applications for Godly play with adults as well. It could certainly be applied for various retreat ministries. Possibilities for creativity are endless with Godly play which makes it ideal for different personalities and energy levels.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on the activity we did with the kids, I can see Godly play as a valuable tool for teaching. If executed correctly, it really does let the Holy Spirit do the teaching. I can see applications for Godly play with adults as well. It could certainly be applied for various retreat ministries. Possibilities for creativity are endless with Godly play which makes it ideal for different personalities and energy levels.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Godly play is a creative way to get the children or youth you are dealing with into the story in a more productive way than just simply reading it to them. Children have an immense need for ways to use their imagination and if you feed that you can keep their interest more easily. It also helps them retain the knowledge of the story better if Godly play is a part of your lesson.
DeleteI believe that there are many good things about Godly play. The first is that it opens up the conversation to a lot of things that you never knew about, or take it a way that means something to them. they are also very imaginative so they can make connections that you would have never even thought about. plus it gets them thinking about it so that they remember it in years to come.
ReplyDeleteI think that Godly play is a great way to teach children. Instead of just telling them the story and what it means, we are actually letting them teach themselves and each other about the story and its meaning. We as the teacher are there more to guide them in the learning process. In this way I think that the children will be more likely to remember what they learning because they will have the activities to remember.
ReplyDeleteI think when we are ministering to children we need to go back and remember what caught our attention and incorporate that into how we minister to children. Children cant sit for a long period of time and just listen to scripture being read and keep their attention. Adding Godly play kills two birds with one stone by incorporating an attention grabber while also teaching a bible story.
ReplyDeleteWe should Definitely invest in Godly Play! The Bible is very important, but teaching Godly Play is a great way for kids to discover God in their own ways. I love the thought of adding Godly Play into teaching, because God made us to be playful. We are supposed to enjoy the life God has given us and rejoice in him by being playful while learning about him and doing His will. We are meant to put ourselves in the shoes of people of the Bible so Godly Play is a great to see the view of people in the Bible.
ReplyDelete