I just wanted to let our parents of preschoolers (birth-four) know how our curriculum is handling the Easter Story. Here is a quote from First Look....
A Special Note About Easter
Easter is a special time in churches. It’s a time of celebration and thankfulness. But because of the graphic nature of the Easter story and the crucifixion specifically, we need to be careful as we choose what we tell preschoolers about Easter.
In order to be sensitive to the physical, intellectual, and emotional development of preschoolers, First Look has chosen not to include the Easter story in our curriculum. Instead, we are focusing on the Last Supper, when Jesus shared a meal and spent time with the people He loved. We have made this choice because the crucifixion is simply too violent for preschoolers. And if we were to skip the crucifixion and go straight to the resurrection, then preschoolers would be confused. Additionally, preschoolers, as concrete thinkers, are simply unable to truly grasp what it means to die and then be raised again through the power of God.
We know that God wants all people to come to know Him and accept His gift of salvation. We believe that, by waiting until children are in elementary school to tell them the marvelous story of Easter, they will be better able to understand it and accept God’s offer of salvation. We’re using these formative preschool years to build a foundation for that eventual decision by focusing on God’s love and telling preschoolers that “Jesus wants to be my friend forever.”
Carrie
I'm a bit perplexed by the desire to sheild young children from the glorius foundation of our Christian doctrine. I, as an early childhood educator, do understand the need to be sensitive to their development, but I am confident that there is a way to share the news of our Lord's resurrection on their "level."
After a few days of thinking about this comment from the curriculum publishers I wonder how they tell many "classic" Bible stories without tripping over unsightly and confusing stories. Noah; Abraham and Isaac; David and Goliath; Daniel and the Lions; Samson; Jonah...
God's Word is often difficult to "grasp," even for those of us well over 6 or 7. He does, however, offer salvation to us all. May we all celebrate the Risen Lord!
I can understand being careful about how one describes the crucifixion of Christ to a preschooler, but to avoid the story altogether is unconscionable.
I am so thankful that from my earliest memories I was taught and have taught my own preschool age children that "Christ died for my sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." It's one of the first passages of Scripture my preschool sons memorized. These truths are essential to understanding that Jesus loves us enough to die for us, that Jesus is stronger than sin or death, and that everything the Bible says about Jesus is true. And yes, preschoolers can grasp these truths.
Without the cross, without the shedding of blood, without the empty tomb, we're just another group of religious people playing church...and even worse, we're still dead in our trespasses and sins (1 Cor 1:17-18, Romans 1:16, 3:25, 5:9, Heb 9:22, Col 1:14, 20, etc).
Without the Easter Story, we might as well be reading our kids exciting tales from Greek Mythology or Mother Goose or the Pearl of Great Price.
I agree 100% with the above comments.