The average retention of Spoken or Written Communication is 5-10%, Media is 25%, Role Play is 40-60% and Direct Experience is 80-90%. The more involved people are, the more they learn!

1. Understanding Child Learning
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 shows that as they live together, godly parents explain their actions by pointing out the Words of God which guide their responses. This learning is not formal, structured, compartmentalised classroom learning, but informal, spontaneous, irregular, and situation-specific learning.

A. Children Learn Best In Situations
Children do not learn by taking abstract concepts like forgiveness and applying them to various situations. They do it the other way around. They come to understand the meaning of forgiveness by seeing forgiveness demonstrated in concrete situations. This is called intuitive learning. The secret to teaching children is to link Biblical principles to concrete situations that guide their responses.

B. Children Learn Best With Emotions
Children learn best in the joys and calamities of everyday living. When God's truth is spoken into the life of children the emotional components of the experience is immediately associated with the concept. We must beware of classroom teaching that divorces concepts from emotions. Leaders should share their feelings with the children to stimulate the learning process.

C. Children Learn Best Through Modelling
Young children are not capable of moral reasoning, so they trust the judgement of adults who point out to them what is right. We need frequent, long term contact with children, where they can observe how we act in different situations and in the situation provide an explanation of the concept being learnt. Biblical truth must be modelled so children can understand and apply it to their lives.

A. Preparation
Preparation of the talk takes hard work. The passage of scripture must be read a few times. Become familiar with what is happening in the story. Decide what God wants to tell the children through the story. The story can be told in the third person, "Benjamin saw the thousands of people dying of hunger, so he decided to give his lunch to Jesus." Or it can be told in the first person as if you were actually there, "I approached Jesus and he accepted my fish and rolls. It was great!" The talk needs a good structure:

(1) An Introduction with something interesting to grab their attention

(2) A Body full of actions, vivid words, feeling and exciting speech

(3) A Climax where the main point of the story is made absolutely clear

(4) A Conclusion to tie up the ends and reinforce the message

B. Delivery
Delivery style is crucial. Make sure the children are comfortable, and that you can see the eyes of each child. Grab their attention with excitement, or an object and keep eye contact with them. Vary your facial expressions according to what you are saying. You are a visual aid, just as much as your teaching aids. Make use of your hands to emphasise shape or size to complement the talk. By varying the tone, pitch and speed of your voice the story will come across more dramatic. Keep the action of the story zippy and build up suspense to a climax. The younger your audience the more you need to repeat key words and phrases. Children have a shorter attention span that adults so keep the talk between 6-10 minutes long. They can concentrate one minute for each year of their life.

You must get to the point where you can tell the story and not read it. The sooner you dispense with notes when it comes to speaking to children the better the results will be. Keep their attention by using visual aids and pictures. Even if they are simple, they will help to keep their attention. Visual aids are helpful to reinforce the message and keep the attention of the children during the talk. Use pictures, drawings, overhead transparencies, and signs. Hold the object or picture in such a way that all the children are able to see it clearly. Get the children involved in the talk by asking questions about the object and how it relates to the message.

C. Application
Apply the message to the children's lives so that that do not go away having heard a story that has no relevance to their lives. Remember the "So what" question. You need to tell children how they can do what you are suggesting.

3. Leading Group Discussion
It is best to divide children into small groups after the message to help them explore truth and see how it applies to their lives. A leader should be assigned to each group with a set of questions about the story, passage or topic. The questions should be on the same theme as the message.

A. Keep The Groups Small
The ideal size for effective group work is between 7 and 10 children. A larger group will be harder to control and less children will have an opportunity to participate.

B. Involve All The Children In The Discussion
Try to draw the quiet and shy children into the discussion. Don't allow the more outspoken children to dominate the discussion. Ask quieter children to contribute with a direct question aimed at them.

C. Ask Questions On The Children's Level
Use language that the children can understand. Remember that children are thinking concretely at this stage and need to be shown how the message relates to their lives in a very practical way.

D. Ask Feeling And Decision Questions
Avoid questions that children are able to answer with a "Yes" or "No." Ask, for example, "How do you think David felt after he sinned with Bathsheba?" "How?", "Why?", and "What do you think?" questions are the most effective.

E. Be Aware Of Children Ready For Commitment
Watch children who are showing a readiness to make a first time or deeper commitment and follow them up after the time of discussion.

F. Keep The Discussion On The Topic
Children have a shorter attention span, so they drift easily from the topic, so keep pulling them back onto track without giving them the impression that what they are talking about is irrelevant.

G. Be Prepared For Unexpected Answers
Children may give wrong or misleading answers. Gently correct and guide them to the truth.

H. Get The Children To Supply The Answers
Don't ask a question and then give the answer yourself. This shows a lack of interest in the replies. Let them come up with the answers by gently guiding the discussion in the right direction.

Techniques for Starting a Discussion:
(1) Direct questions at the group (What do you think...?)
(2) Direct questions at individuals (Jenny, what do you think...?)
(3) Summarise subject on paper and ask for agreement and comment
(4) Divide into small groups with questions to explore and ask for report back
(5) Statements by the group leader (I think that...!)
(6) Use practical examples for abstract concepts (Suppose Joe here...)
(7) Let silence continue for some time, don't cover it up with talk
(8) Divide the group into sides to make arguments even if they disagree with them
(9) Hand out pens and have children write out answers to a question or comment

The Role of the Leader During the Discussion:
(1) Make sure that everyone understands the topic
(2) Bring out opposing points of view
(3) Make sure each point is understood and restated if necessary
(4) Keep the discussion on track
(5) Give less talkative members the chance to speak
(6) Give information when the group lacks facts
(7) Summarise the groups thinking and state conclusions reached
(8) Facilitate the group coming to some conclusion

Ten Ways to Kill a discussion:
(1) Seat at least twenty people in straight rows
(2) Make them sit on uncomfortable chairs
(3) Lecture the group for 20 minutes before the discussion starts
(4) Ridicule anyone who disagrees with you
(5) Let the most opinionated person dominate the group
(6) Be entirely theological and philosophical - never practical
(7) Frequently quote obscure Scripture without using a Bible
(8) Never let anyone express any real feelings
(9) Never allow humour
(10) Let the discussion drag on forever