5 Ways to Connect with the Heart of Preschoolers
Preschoolers live in a world of big feelings, endless curiosity, and constant discovery. Their hearts are tender, their emotions are raw, and every interaction shapes how they see love, trust, and God and the world around them. Preschoolers (like all of us) yearn for connection. This is where you come in. When you intentionally connect with preschoolers, you show them that there’s a God out there who not only cares about them, but longs to connect with them.
True connection opens doors for preschoolers to experience God’s love in a tangible, unforgettable way. Here are five practical ways to meet preschoolers at their level and help them feel seen, known, and loved.
1. Get on Their Level — Literally
When you crouch, sit, or kneel to a preschooler’s eye level, you’re sending a clear message: You matter. I see you. By showing them physical presence, you communicate respect, care, and attention in a way that words alone cannot. And isn’t that the essence of the gospel? Jesus didn’t remain distant or lofty; He came down to our level, taking on human flesh, experiencing our weaknesses, and entering our world so that we could truly know His love. When we stoop down to a child, we are reflecting in a small way the very posture of Christ — showing that being present, humble, and attentive is how love is made tangible. Just as Jesus met us where we are, we meet them where they are.
Try this: Next time a child comes to you upset or excited, pause, bend down, smile, and say their name. Notice how quickly their demeanor changes when they feel truly seen.
2. Use Your Face to Show God’s Delight
Preschoolers process emotions faster than words. Before they hear what you’re saying, they feel your attitude. Your facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language communicate whether they’re safe.
Joy, patience, and warmth are all powerful tools of the gospel. When you greet a preschooler with genuine delight (eyes wide, smile big, voice light), you give them a picture of God’s joy over them. Even small moments, like celebrating a block tower or laughing at a funny story, show them what God’s delight looks like in real life.
Tip: Exaggerate and elevate your joy a little! Preschoolers respond to energy and emotion in ways adults sometimes forget.
3. Enter Their Play
Play is how preschoolers make sense of the world and communicate their feelings. By joining them in this play, instead of simply directing or observing, we show them that we value their world.
Join a pretend kitchen, build a tower of blocks, or take a turn with a toy train. By entering their world, you’re showing them that they’re worthy of attention and care. This kind of connection communicates the heart of Jesus: He is always willing to meet us where we are.
Remember: The goal isn’t to control play but to be present within it. Your presence alone speaks volumes.
4. Listen Beneath the Words
Preschoolers often struggle to articulate their emotions. A meltdown might actually be about hunger, fatigue, frustration, or sadness. They just can’t always say it out loud.
Instead of correcting or redirecting first, try connecting first. Use simple statements to acknowledge their feelings:
“I see you’re feeling sad right now.”
“You really wanted that toy.”
“It’s hard to wait when you’re excited.”
When you validate their feelings, you communicate love and understanding. Preschoolers who feel understood learn that God cares about what they feel, not just what they do.
5. Keep Pointing Back to Jesus’ Heart
Every interaction, from snack time to story time, from playtime to cleanup, is a unique opportunity to display and declare God’s love. When you model patience, forgiveness, kindness, and joy, you are showing them what God is actually like.
Talk about Jesus in ways they can understand. For example:
“Jesus loves it when we share, just like He loves you.”
“God is happy when we help our friends, just like you helped your friend today.”
Consistency matters. Preschoolers may not remember every story or lesson, but they will remember how it felt to be known, loved, and accepted. These early experiences are building blocks that lay the foundation for a lifetime understanding of God’s heart.
A Heart That Connects is a Heart That Points to Jesus
Connecting with preschoolers is all about shaping the way that preschoolers understand love, care, and the heart of God. Delight in them, and show them a God who delights in them. Lean in when they talk to you, and show them a God who cares about what they have to say. Play with them, and show them a God who wants to enter into their world. See their hard feelings, and show them a God who revealed Himself to be the Empathetic High Priest.
Connect, and show them Jesus.