God Made Babies

God continues to create babies every day. They are part of His plan for His world. For believers, babies are a reminder of God's love and His presence in our world.

God creates each baby as a spiritual being with a plan for growth. During these early months of life, each baby develops physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually at a unique rate.

Physical Growth

At birth the ears are well developed, while vision is not fixed until the child is six years old. The body temperature "regulator" is not fully functioning, which causes babies to easily chill. For most babies hunger pangs come every three to four hours. They spend most of their time sleeping, not all at one time.

Even though babies sleep a lot, they are active. When they are awake, they tend to wiggle and will eventually move from one place to another by themselves. Note the capabilities babies will develop at individual rates and the teaching implications:

Parents, have you prepared your home for the time when your baby begins crawling?

Teachers, are you washing your hands and providing a clean room for the babies?

As you consider each baby, note his or her physical abilities. Be sure to date each ability.

Mental Growth

Just like the eyes, the brain is not fully developed at birth. God made human beings with a brain that takes 12 or so years to develop fully. Paul alluded to this fact in 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child."

One way God set the stage for the brain to develop is curiosity. Even young babies start exploring their world because they are curious about everything. They use all five senses as they explore things near them. Their very limited attention span, however, causes them often to shift their curiosity from one thing to the next.

One signal that babies are growing mentally is stranger anxiety. By six to eight months, a strong attachment should be developing in the baby's mind and emotion to his or her parents. Consequently, the tears expressed when separated from parents is a positive sign of growth and should be celebrated by parents and teachers.

Stemming from their curiosity and limited attention spans, infants may show the following mental abilities. (Again, these vary from child to child.)

Parents, observe your baby to see if he or she is progressing and doing these mental activities. If a baby is six or more months old but not exhibiting one or more of these mental abilities, talk with your pediatrician.

Teachers, are you providing ways for babies to use their senses in your room? Are you reading picture books with them? Are you letting them touch the Bible?

As you consider each baby, note the mental skills you observe during a session. Be sure to date it with an illustration.

Social/Emotional Growth

Some babies are more social than others. Some are more emotional than others. That is another way God created each one unique. (By the way, adults are the same way!)

When babies are awake, they usually want to interact with someone. In grace and love God created human beings for fellowship. Since human beings are created in His image, we have the same desires. We want/need to interact with God and with other people.

In regard to social and emotional growth, babies are sensitive. Perhaps through their delicate skin, babies can sense the feelings and/or moods of those people around them. When someone is upset about something, many babies will respond by crying.

Babies are also sensitive to light and color. Bright colors will arouse them, while pastel colors will calm them.

Babies need opportunity to practice these emerging skills. Adults tend to talk with other adults, but both parents and teachers need to remember to interact with their babies, too. The more interaction babies have, the more opportunities they will have to develop socially and emotionally.

This sensitive characteristic is evident in the following social and emotional activities:

Parents, as your baby grows older, are you giving her opportunities to be around other people including children?

Teachers, if you tend to chat with the other teachers while you are giving a bottle to a baby, start interacting with the baby. Sing and talk softly with lots of loving eye contact.

As you consider social and emotional skills, be sure to note how a baby responds when you interact with him.

Spiritual Growth

From the very first moment of life, babies are growing spiritually. As they learn to trust parents and teachers, they are beginning to learn how to trust God. These early experiences prepare them for trusting Jesus Christ with their lives.

Babies think in literal ways. Consequently, babies need to hear the literal names for the Bible, Jesus, and church. By hearing these terms, the babies can develop a strong connection to the Bible, Jesus, and church. For example, instead of pointing to the church building saying, "God's house" say, "church."

As you teach babies, be aware of the following emerging spiritual capabilities:

Parents, as you respond to your baby's needs, realize that God is working through you to help your child learn how to trust God for the rest of his life. As you have your quiet time with God, hold your baby. Let him watch and listen to you pray and read the Bible.

Teachers, use the Bible with babies by showing them pictures in the Bible.

As you consider each child's spiritual growth, observe indicators that she is sensing the importance of God, Jesus, and the Bible.