How to Teach Preschoolers to Memorize the Ten Commandments

Children need to learn the Ten Commandments. Itknow the well-known children's counting song "Ten
says in Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teachLittle Indians," put the music to the words of the
them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk ofTen Commandments. Using this in combination
them."with the flash cards, the preschoolers will
Preschoolers are very visual. They learn better bymemorize the Ten Commandments in no time.
seeing things as well as being told. If you wantAn example of a verse would be: Hon-or your
them to memorize the Ten Commandments justfath-er and your moth-er, Hon-or your fath-er
saying them over and over is not going to do itand your moth-er, Hon-or your fath-er and your
effectively. You will need to create visualmoth-er, This is com-mand-ment five.
representations for them to remember themMemorizing the Ten Commandments does not
easier.have to be tedious and difficult. Make it fun for
Flash Cards Help Teach the Ten Commandmentsthe preschoolers and they will memorize them
Create some flash cards for your preschoolers.without even knowing it.
On one side put one of the Ten Commandments.Make Learning the Ten Commandments Fun Print
On the other side put a picture representation.out some coloring pages of the Ten
Teach the preschoolers the picture representationCommandments and have the preschoolers color
and say the commandment that goes with it.them. The time they spend coloring the picture will
put that picture in their heads with the
1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Godcommandment attached to it. It may seem
should be Number One. Draw a 1st place ribbon.simple, but works very well with this age group.
2. You shall not make yourself any graven image.Perhaps that is why there are so many places to
Do not bow down to anything or any one butprint free coloring pages on the web, eh?
God. Draw a person kneeling before a statue.Another method uses the child's fingers:
3. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your#1 - Have no other gods (God is #1, hold up one
God in vain. Do not use your lips to dishonor God.finger)
Draw some goofy looking lips.#2 Do not worship idols (two fingers "bow down")
4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.#3 Do not misuse God's name (three fingers over
Do not neglect the things of God. Draw a Bible.your mouth), etc.
5. Honor your Father and your Mother. Dads andUse your imagination. Preschoolers love finger
moms are special people that God put in chargegames. This is a good way for them to memorize
of you for teaching and to care for your physicalthe Ten Commandments and in numerical order.
and spiritual needs. Draw a picture of a mom andIt is also important for preschoolers to learn the
dad.Ten Commandments and what they mean, not
6. You shall not kill. This is wrong. Draw ajust memorizing them. You can put each
cartoony bomb.commandment into an easy to understand
7. You shall not commit adultery. Adultery leavesformat for a preschooler to understand. Have
a heart broken. Draw a heart ripped in two.them repeat the meaning back to you. Making this
8. You shall not steal. Stealing is wrong. Draw ainto a rhyme works great, and easy for
cartoon robber.preschoolers to remember.
9. You shall not lie. Telling lies can lead to a veryGod gave us the Ten Commandments so we
bad habit. Draw a "lying" number nine.would live our lives growing closer to Him. They
10. You shall not covet. Do not long for whatare an important part of knowing right from
others have, and forget the blessings that youwrong. Preschoolers are at the perfect age to
have. Draw a fancy ring with a man reaching forlearn and practice right from wrong. With your
it.role as a Sunday school teacher, you can
Singing Helps Teach the Ten Commandmentsaccomplish this in a memorable and imaginative
Another way to teach preschoolers to memorizeway.
the Ten Commandments is to sing them. If you