The "But Why?" Guide: Answering Life's Big Questions
Because Sometimes Snack Time Becomes Theology Time!
Posted by: CDFWarrington on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 9:11AM
Sacred Snapshot:
Welcome to your guide for those moments when craft time suddenly becomes contemplation time! Whether you're explaining why God doesn't need a nap (even though teachers definitely do) or helping little hearts understand big love, we've got you covered with age-appropriate answers that keep the theology sound and the glue sticks moving. 💝
What's Inside:
- Quick responses for common theological questions
- Age-appropriate explanations for complex concepts
- Activity suggestions to reinforce understanding
- Redirection strategies for when the questions get... interesting
🆘 Need an Answer Now?
Jump to our most common questions:
🎯 Quick Tips
- Validate the question first
- Keep answers simple and concrete
- Use familiar examples
- Remember: sometimes "Let's pray about that together" is the perfect answer!
Questions About God
"Why can't we see God?"
Simple Answer: "We can't see God like we see toys, but we can feel His love in our hearts and see it in how people treat each other - like when mommy gives you a hug or when friends share their snacks!"
Follow-up Activity: Have children name ways they've seen love today.
Teaching Moment: Use this to reinforce how God's love works through people's actions.
Simple Answer: "We can't see God like we see toys, but we can feel His love in our hearts and see it in how people treat each other - like when mommy gives you a hug or when friends share their snacks!"
Follow-up Activity: Have children name ways they've seen love today.
Teaching Moment: Use this to reinforce how God's love works through people's actions.
"Is God's heart really big?"
Simple Answer: "God's heart is so big it can love everyone in the whole world at the same time! That's why we use big hearts to talk about God's love - to remind us how much love God has for all of us."
Connection Point: Reference the class "God's Love" display.
Bonus Tip: This is a perfect moment to count how many friends are in class and remind them God loves each one!
Simple Answer: "God's heart is so big it can love everyone in the whole world at the same time! That's why we use big hearts to talk about God's love - to remind us how much love God has for all of us."
Connection Point: Reference the class "God's Love" display.
Bonus Tip: This is a perfect moment to count how many friends are in class and remind them God loves each one!
"Does God love mean people too?"
Simple Answer: "Yes! God loves everyone, even when they're not being nice. That's why we pray for people and try to help them make better choices."
Teaching Moment: Discuss how we can show love to someone who isn't being kind.
Redirect Option: "Should we practice being kind right now by sharing our crayons?"
Simple Answer: "Yes! God loves everyone, even when they're not being nice. That's why we pray for people and try to help them make better choices."
Teaching Moment: Discuss how we can show love to someone who isn't being kind.
Redirect Option: "Should we practice being kind right now by sharing our crayons?"
Questions About Love
"How can God love everybody at the same time?"
Simple Answer: "God's love is bigger than anything we can imagine! Like how the sun can shine on everyone at once, God's love reaches everyone at the same time."
Follow-up Activity: Have children stand in a circle and spread their arms wide, showing how their love can reach their friends on both sides at once.
Timing Tip: This makes a perfect circle time activity - especially when everyone needs to wiggle a bit!
Simple Answer: "God's love is bigger than anything we can imagine! Like how the sun can shine on everyone at once, God's love reaches everyone at the same time."
Follow-up Activity: Have children stand in a circle and spread their arms wide, showing how their love can reach their friends on both sides at once.
Timing Tip: This makes a perfect circle time activity - especially when everyone needs to wiggle a bit!
"Do I have to love everyone? Even [that friend who never shares the red crayon]?"
Simple Answer: "God helps us love others even when it's hard. Love doesn't mean we have to be best friends, but it does mean we treat everyone with kindness."
Practical Application: "Let's practice showing love by using kind words and gentle hands!"
Redirection Gold: This is your perfect moment to practice sharing... maybe with multiple crayons! 🖍️
Simple Answer: "God helps us love others even when it's hard. Love doesn't mean we have to be best friends, but it does mean we treat everyone with kindness."
Practical Application: "Let's practice showing love by using kind words and gentle hands!"
Redirection Gold: This is your perfect moment to practice sharing... maybe with multiple crayons! 🖍️
Questions About Prayer
"Can God hear me when I whisper?"
Simple Answer: "God can hear everything - even our quietest whispers and the thoughts in our hearts! God is always listening because God loves us so much."
Fun Practice: Try praying in different voices - whispers, regular voice, singing. God hears them all!
Bonus Use: Perfect for those "everyone's getting a little too excited" moments! 🤫
Simple Answer: "God can hear everything - even our quietest whispers and the thoughts in our hearts! God is always listening because God loves us so much."
Fun Practice: Try praying in different voices - whispers, regular voice, singing. God hears them all!
Bonus Use: Perfect for those "everyone's getting a little too excited" moments! 🤫
"Why do we close our eyes when we pray?"
Simple Answer: "Closing our eyes helps us focus on talking to God without getting distracted by all the interesting things we can see! But God hears us whether our eyes are open or closed."
Important Note: Never force eye closure - some children feel anxious about it.
Alternative: "You can also look down at your hands folded in your lap - that helps us focus too!"
Simple Answer: "Closing our eyes helps us focus on talking to God without getting distracted by all the interesting things we can see! But God hears us whether our eyes are open or closed."
Important Note: Never force eye closure - some children feel anxious about it.
Alternative: "You can also look down at your hands folded in your lap - that helps us focus too!"
Questions About Sharing
"What if I don't want to share my heart craft?"
Simple Answer: "Just like God shares love with us, we can practice sharing with others. Would you like to share a different way?"
Alternative Options: Suggest sharing a story, a song, or a kind word instead.
Pro Move: Have extra hearts ready - sometimes sharing is easier when everyone has their own! ❤️
Simple Answer: "Just like God shares love with us, we can practice sharing with others. Would you like to share a different way?"
Alternative Options: Suggest sharing a story, a song, or a kind word instead.
Pro Move: Have extra hearts ready - sometimes sharing is easier when everyone has their own! ❤️
"Does God want me to share ALL my toys?"
Simple Answer: "God loves when we share, but He also understands that some things are special. We can learn to share some toys while keeping some special ones safe - just like God shares His love but keeps us safe too!"
Teaching Tool: Help children identify "sharing toys" versus "special toys."
Wisdom Note: This helps develop healthy boundaries while learning generosity - and might save your sanity during clean-up time! 🧸
Simple Answer: "God loves when we share, but He also understands that some things are special. We can learn to share some toys while keeping some special ones safe - just like God shares His love but keeps us safe too!"
Teaching Tool: Help children identify "sharing toys" versus "special toys."
Wisdom Note: This helps develop healthy boundaries while learning generosity - and might save your sanity during clean-up time! 🧸
When in Doubt, Remember:
- Validate the question ("That's such a thoughtful thing to ask!")
- Keep it simple (think: snack-size theology)
- Use concrete examples they can see
- "Let's pray about that together" is always a perfect answer
- Sometimes the best theology happens between tying shoes 👟