Early childhood educators, don't underestimate your influence. For many young children, the adults in a childcare center or childcare home are among the first consistent relationships they experience outside of their families. That makes our role much bigger than providing care or preparing children academically for kindergarten. We are helping build the foundation for how children experience relationships, learning, communication, and belonging.

School readiness isn't only about knowing letters, numbers, colors, or how to follow a schedule. Children also need to practice listening, sharing, using kind words, solving problems, receiving correction, helping others, and working through disappointment.

"But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." — Matthew 13:23 (NIV)

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.

Jesus wasn't simply teaching about speech. He was teaching that our words reveal what fills our hearts. If our hearts are filled with God's truth, love, and grace, those qualities will begin to overflow in our conversations. If our hearts are filled with fear, anger, jealousy, selfishness, or hurt, those things eventually come out through our words as well.

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.

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?

A child walks into the classroom and sees two friends whispering together. Neither friend looks in the child’s direction, so the child immediately thinks, They are talking about me. They do not want me here.

When I say, “Look at what the Lord has done,” I am praising Him because this transformation did not happen through my own strength.

“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.

Maybe your child learns differently than expected. Maybe their personality is not what you pictured. Maybe their strengths, challenges, or interests are leading them down a different path than the one you planned.

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.

In early childhood education, it’s easy to fall into the habit of giving directions: “Be kind.” “Use gentle hands.” “Wait your turn.” But young children are not primarily verbal learners—they are observers, imitators, and experiencers. They don’t just listen to what we say; they watch what we do. And more often than not, they will follow our actions long before they follow our words. This is where the true power of teaching lies—not in instruction alone, but in dem

There’s a quiet truth shaping your child every single day—long before lessons, rules, or even words fully take root. Your child is watching you. Not just listening… watching. Not just hearing… imitating. And Scripture speaks directly to this:

The Lord has been teaching me something powerful: truth is not just something we hear—it is something we use. Truth is a weapon. When spiritual warfare comes, it is not enough to simply know what is right—we must speak it, stand on it, and believe it. I am learning that truth works hand in hand with praise.

As educators, we have the opportunity to build on that connection in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways. And even more beautifully, we can remind children of a deeper truth: “I have called you by name, you are Mine.” — Isaiah 43:1 Every child who walks into your classroom is already known, already seen, and already loved by God.

As parents, we are our children’s very first teachers—not just in words, but in the way we live, respond, and love. Long before children fully understand rules or consequences, they are watching us.