I 'stole' this phrase from Hannah's kindergarten where the kids took turns to play 'little teachers' in class, kind of what the monitors do, the name suggests it. And she had been privileged to be the little teacher a couple of times, and now, she's my little teacher in my 3 yr old class at Sunday School.
I started serving when she turned 3 years old. When she was was 5, I started bringing her to my 3 yrs old class. I remember because I see her in my class photo that yr, looking like one of the 3 yrs old because she was quite small when seated, and very cute. Initially, she was a participant. She enjoyed Bible stories and craft, and didn't mind attending an extra class, especially with mummy in the class. She got used to me carrying crying babies and pouring care over other little ones, and she was just a by-stander.
Now that she's 8, she continues to join my 3 yrs old class, we're into our 4th yr now. I have given her more tasks, such as helping me put things up on the board, distributing craft materials, collecting name tags and some quiet activities. So far, she hasn't tried 'teaching' with me, but I am looking forward to the day she would be willing. She's learning to take care of a few girls, and she's got her own favourite ones. She strokes their faces and heads and smiles sweetly at them. I have no idea what goes in the minds of those 3 years old kids with her around, but they look comfortable enough to be with her.
Week by week, I'm trying to involve her more. I want her to feel needed, that she is surely helping me in my class, rather than she has no other place to go because daddy is in the other class teaching too and she can't be left alone. Nathan sits by himself in the canteen catching up with school work, and some days, she actually wants to join him very much than sits with me in class. For now, I'm insisting that she comes with me and I don't know how long that will last, but I'm praying that she will find great joy as much as me, and enjoy being a little teacher in the 3 year old class.