“If we approach the Bible with a stained-glass voice and emotional tremors that make the book seem “religious,” in the most frightening sense of that word, chances are our children will escape at the first opportunity. Our prayers, too, must reflect that we are speaking with Someone who is real, not that we are making a speech.“

All children want to be loved, to be accepted, to have friends, to confide in someone, to be treated like a VIP, and to have fun. All children need the security of a loving and consistent authority, to hear the good news of God’s salvation presented clearly for their understanding, and to see how they fit into God’s eternal plan beginning today. A simple rule for the attention span of young children is one minute for every year of their age.

Juniors today are facing issues that used to wait until high school or junior high. There is talk of dating, fashion, and music. They often know about drugs, gangs, and sex, although are not usually tempted by them. We cannot afford to be naïve to the world’s push on them. Male role models are especially important for children this age. Boys are beginning to define what masculinity means and may display resistance to female guidance.

As we look at the short account in Scripture about the youth of Jesus, we see the parts of life that we must address with children. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

• Increased in wisdom—children must grow in their ability to apply knowledge. It is understood that knowledge must increase. It is declared that the ability to apply that knowledge must increase. We must provide programs that teach truth in many areas and make applications.
• Increased in stature—children must grow physically. There will be growth. We must provide programs that allow children to try new things physically and teach them that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost.
• Increased in favor with God—children must know Who God is and what He wants in order to be able to grow in favor with God. We must provide programs that teach children how to please God.
• Increased in favor with man—children need to understand how to grow in favor with other people. We must provide programs that teach social skills and responsibility to community.

Campers in grades three through six have unique characteristics, and our programs need to be age-specific.

Characteristics of Juniors

Physically

In the new Jerusalem, children will play in the streets (Zechariah
8:3–5).

• Enjoy learning new skills.
• 3rd–4th graders—good large and small muscle coordination. Girls are still ahead of boys. Can work diligently for longer periods of time but are impatient with delays or their own imperfect abilities.
• 5th–6th graders—have mastered most basic physical skills; are active, curious, and seek a variety of new experiences; rapid growth can cause some eleven-year-olds to tire easily.

Mentally

When I was a child I spoke, thought, and reasoned as a child (1 Corinthians 13:11); children can be gullible (Ephesians 4:14); foolishness is bound in the heart of a child (Proverbs 22:15).

• Like facts more than ideas for discussion.
• Developing the ability to reason and come to conclusions; not abstract in thinking.
• Need to develop good study habits.
• Enjoy true-to-life stories.
• 3rd–4th graders—children are beginning to realize that there may be valid opinions besides their own. They are becoming able to evaluate alternatives and are less likely than before to
• fasten onto one viewpoint as the only one possible. They are beginning to think in terms of “the whole” and to think more conceptually and with a high level of creativity. Many have become self-conscious about their creative efforts as their understanding has grown to exceed their abilities in some areas. They are interested in historical information and other cultures.
• 5th–6th graders—very verbal! Making ethical decisions becomes a challenging task. They are able to express ideas and feelings in a creative way. By age eleven, children have begun to reason abstractly and begin to think of themselves as adults, at the same time questioning adult concepts. Hero worship is especially strong. They are beginning to relate biblical truth to themselves without help and are able to establish Bible reading habits.

Socially

Children have a certain innocence in relationships (1 Corinthians 14:20).

• Are indifferent or antagonistic to the opposite sex while also becoming aware of them on a new level—girls are “silly” or “stupid” while boys are “show offs” or “pests.”
• Enjoy being part of the group—boys display a loyalty to the group while girls have a hard time getting along in groups—best friends one moment and fighting the next.
• Often feel inferior and insecure—don’t need self-confidence but acceptance.
• Boys especially dislike public displays of affection, although they need affection.
• 3rd–4th graders—the desire for status within the peer group becomes more intense. Most children remain shy with strangers and exhibit strong preferences for being with a few close friends. Some children still lack essential social skills needed to make and retain friendships. They need the challenge to cooperate and to be objective about self.
• 5th–6th graders—friendships and activities with their peers flourish. Children draw together and away from adults in the desire for independence. They want to be a part of a same sex group and usually do not want to stand alone in competition. Girls are obsessed with talking about boys but shy and giggly in the presence of them.

Emotionally

Children are known by their choices (Proverbs 20:11).

• 3rd–4th graders—this is the age of teasing, nicknames, criticism, and increased verbal skills to vent anger. At age eight they have developed a sense of fair play and a value system of right and wrong. At age nine they are searching for identity beyond membership in the family unit.
• 5th–6th graders—usually cooperative, easy-going, content, friendly, and agreeable. Most adults enjoy working with this age group. Even though both girls and boys begin to think about their future as adults, their interests tend to differ significantly. Be aware of behavioral changes that result from the eleven-year-old’s emotional growth. Children are experiencing unsteady emotions and often shift from one mood to another. They need help in dealing with emotional reactions and in judging right from wrong.

Spiritually

Can choose between good and evil (Romans 9:11); need to learn to fear the Lord (Psalm 34:11).

• Are genuine in their decision to trust Christ as Savior—statistics suggest more people accept Christ during this period than any other age group.
• 3rd–4th graders—they are open to sensing the need for God’s continuous help and guidance. Children can recognize the need for a personal Savior. They need careful guidance without pressure to make a real decision for salvation. They are drawn to becoming a member of God’s family and are able to understand personal sin.
• 5th–6th graders—they have deep feelings of love for God. They are able to share the gospel with a friend, to be involved in evangelism and service projects, and to seek guidance from God to make everyday and long-range decisions. There will be wide gaps in understanding between unchurched and churched children.

We must work persistently because childhood spans a number of years; we must work patiently because development is slow; and we must work holistically because children need to learn how to make application. Children represent a wide range of spiritual conditions. Children’s ministry requires thoughtful, creative, and focused preparation.

Our Program for Junior Camp

As we have explored the root problems of juniors, we have found that self-centered living is a key. We have determined to set others-centered living as the focus of our program for juniors. This must not exclude the gospel presented clearly to juniors. Application of others-centered living will be made in the areas of family, church, community (local as well as national), world, and God. This will incorporate increasing knowledge, wisdom, physical skills, and the ability to please God and man. These applications will be designed with the characteristics of juniors in mind. An emphasis on missions will be an outgrowth of others-centered living and a challenge to put God first in their lives. As we make God the center of our lives, we will seek to bring Him glory in our homes, churches, communities, and world.