Website Summary Assignment
Melodie Penland
CHMN 301: Foundations of NextGen Ministry
Elementary aged children are fascinated with the world around them. Elementary aged
children are attending school, making friends and gaining interest in extracurricular activities.
Introduction
The website JustaPhase.com offers guides for each phase in a child’s life. The website
explains that parents will “understand, expect and prepare for what’s next in your kid’s life.”
Most parents want to lead their children to faith in God but the tasks of everyday life easily gets
in the way. When you are a new parent you may spend most of your time feeding and changing
your baby. It is easy to stay busy with required tasks and miss out on moments of connecting and
taking advantage of being in the moment of whatever phase a parent is in. According to the
website and Phase Guides, “Parents have approximately 936 weeks from the time a child is born
until they graduate from high school.” The phase guides offer information at every stage and
provides a guide on how to better lead and understand your child.
Summary
Beginning with the Preschool tab, a parent would see blog articles for toddlers, three and
four year olds. Some articles are very specific to gender, certain issues or concerns, where other
articles are more of a broad and general informational article. The articles are full of applicable
information to meet the physical, mental and emotionally needs of a preschooler. The articles
also give examples of behabior and personality of children in this age range. What to expect from
children in this age. The best way to raise a preschool is to be a safe, secure place for your child.
So many things change in a child in their first years as they grow“ In preschool, kids need you to
show up so they know you.”
Personal Response
I did not know about this resource before but I would like to use it for myself and for my work. I
have two boys ages 11 and 8. Even though I see some similarities in them, my boys are vsastly
different. How I parent each child is dependent on their personality and individual needs.
I could also use this resource at my church. I am the Children’s Ministry Director and I am over
birth through 5th grade. While I primarily work with children, I also partner with their parents in
discipling them. These books would be a valuable insight when parents come to me with
questions and concerns. Although I have experience in raising my own children and I have
opinons, I am not an expert in any other this.
Conclusion
It can be a challenge to relate to children at every age level but the blogs and Phase
Guides provide relevant information broken down by each age and grade. This website offers
information about why children behave certain ways and how they are developing and how
parents and ministry leaders can be prepared to lead their children well. “Kids at every phase
need adults who will show up predictably and consistently, over time.”
In elementary age children, “In elementary years, kids need you to show up so they know
you know them.” Elementary aged children grow quickly and things change in their life fast so it
can be hard to keep up. The website and guided help parents to focus on what is currently going
on with their child. For example in kindergarten an overview is given of children that age and
what is going on with them physically, socially, mentally and emotionally. In order to best parent
your child, you need to be aware of what is going on in their life and especially what they may
be keeping inside or not be able to put into words.
Bibliography
