Want to learn more about teaching with toys? Want to make the Bible come alive for children? Maybe you’ve heard about the book “Teaching Physics with Toys.” Here is the philosophy behind it:
Science is best understood by providing students with opportunities to make connections between their own world and scientific concepts. What’s more natural than using toys as learning tools to teach science to elementary and middle school students? For teachers and students alike, toys can provide motivational and experiential links between science concepts and everyday experience.
I think this is brilliant. Why? Because this is one of the key methods Jesus used to teach truth. He used familiar objects from people’s everyday world to connect them with truth. Physical objects they saw, touched, used, or interacted with on a regular basis. Jesus used birds, flowers, fish, money, seeds, rocks, salt, trees, and much more.
Teaching with Toys in Sunday School Classrooms
If you want Bible truths to stick in the long-term memory of children, then tie the truths to objects that kids are familiar with. And some of the most familiar objects in a kid’s life are toys.
Remember some of your favorite toys growing up? I remember Stretch Armstrong, Atari 2600, G.I. Joe, Lite-Brite, Silly Putty. (Okay, I’m dating myself.) If those toys had been connected to Biblical truths, I am sure I would not only be thinking about the toys right now, but also about the truths.
Tips for Teaching with Toys
Here’s the process to use in Sunday school:
1. Start with the Biblical truth you want to share.
This is the basis. The toy or object is simply a way to illustrate the truth.
2. Find a familiar toy or object from current kid culture.
This may even mean a trip to the mall. The more children use the item, the more effectively it will connect the truth to their long-term memory.
3. Use the familiar toy or object when you teach the lesson.
Clearly illustrate the Bible truth in age-appropriate language.
4. Remind kids to think about the truth each time they see the toy or object you used.
This builds connections and makes lessons stick.
5. Encourage kids to share the truth they learned with a friend
They can do this when they’re playing or hanging out together and see the familiar toy or object.
6. Partner with parents.
Share with moms and dads the truth and toy or object you used. Then they can do the same at home. Encourage them to also look for ways they can tie truth into toys or objects from their child’s everyday world.
