Children are always learning. Before they can read a book, understand a lesson, or fully explain their thoughts, children are watching, listening, and absorbing the world around them. They are learning from the words we speak, the actions we demonstrate, the choices we make, and the environments we create.

Before children can fully engage in learning, they need to feel safe, connected, and understood. They need opportunities to practice how to be a friend, how to communicate their needs, and how to solve the everyday problems that naturally happen when children learn and play together. That is why HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals was created. Introducing the first digital unit in the HeartSkills series:

I've come to realize this simple truth: Children reveal our teaching strategies. Jesus reveals our hearts.

As I prayed about returning to the blog, I didn't want to jump into something completely different. Instead, I wanted to continue the conversation because I believe the Lord is still teaching me—and perhaps teaching you—that our children's everyday words and actions give us opportunities to disciple their hearts.

Reel Theme: Moxie shares she still mistakes and I do too. Together we bring awareness that as a disciple of Jesus we are always learning and that God is teaching us everyday to become more like Jesus.

Family engagement is much more than attending special events or volunteering in the classroom. It is creating meaningful partnerships that help children develop the social, emotional, and character skills they need to build healthy relationships throughout their lives.

One small Heart Skills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals each week can become the beginning of stronger friendships, more peaceful classrooms, and children who are learning to treat others with kindness—not because someone tells them to, but because they are practicing it together.

Before children arrive, educators can take a moment to ask: Am I prepared to repeat this lesson without becoming irritated? How will I respond when a child needs more time? What will I do when the activity does not work as planned? Am I expecting developmental perfection from children who are still learning? Are my words demonstrating the same kindness I am teaching? Have I asked the Holy Spirit to guide my reactions today?

“Who should I listen to when people say things that I know are wrong and do not go along with what Jesus is teaching me?”

Love is revealed by what we say. Love is something children experience through our actions.

As believers, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to help us respond with wisdom and grace. He reminds us that every child is created in God's image and worthy of dignity, compassion, and care.

One way children can stand strong is by remembering God's commandment to love others as Jesus loves us. Sometimes that means refusing to join in when others are being unkind. Other times it means telling the truth when it would be easier to lie.

Self-Control Is Learned Through Practice Children are not born with self-control. They are born with needs, wants, emotions, and impulses. Learning to pause, think, and make wise choices takes time. Just as children learn to hold a pencil through practice, they learn self-control through repeated opportunities to make better choices.

What did children experience in our classrooms? Did they experience patience when learning something difficult? Did they experience kindness after making a mistake? Did they experience grace when they struggled to meet expectations? Did they experience love? As Christian educators, we have the privilege of teaching far more than academic skills. Every day, we have opportunities to reflect the heart of Christ through our interactions with children.

This week, God showed me that my relationship with Him comes before ministry, business, platforms, opportunities, and the opinions of others. Before the work, there is worship. Before the assignment, there is intimacy with the Father. And His love never fails.

Sometimes doing the right thing can feel difficult, especially when others around us are making different choices. In today’s read-aloud, Daniel and the Very Hungry Lions, children will learn about Daniel’s courage, obedience, prayer life, and trust in God even when others opposed him.

Classroom Reflection Activity Take a few quiet moments this week to reflect on the following questions: What moments this week required flexibility? How did a child’s emotional need become the real lesson? What would change if we viewed interruptions as opportunities? Consider journaling your reflections or discussing them with another educator. Sometimes the greatest growth happens when we pause long enough to recognize how God is already working within the cla

At The Learning Boutique, we believe that children thrive when families and early childhood educators work together with consistency, transparency, and mutual respect. One of the ways we support child care family homes and group homes through our classroom helper service is by providing tools that help programs create strong foundations for communication and daily operations.

This week the Lord has been opening my eyes wider to the importance of truly sharing the Gospel. Not just speaking about Jesus casually, but helping people understand who He really is. I have been realizing that many people know about Jesus because of what someone else has told them, but they do not actually have a personal relationship with Him. Many have never truly opened the Bible for themselves to seek Him and know His heart.

Children are always learning how to understand what they think, feel, and choose—and one of the most powerful skills we can help them build early is discernment: learning the difference between thoughts that lead them toward truth, kindness, and honesty… and thoughts that lead them away from it.