Why It's Crucial to Use Repetition When You Are Teaching Children

Have you noticed that kids love to watch the same show or episode over and over again? Have you noticed they love to hear the same story read again and again? 

There are reasons for this and we need to focus on this.

Repetition obviously has great benefits for children’s learning and well being. 

We know that repetition is a key part of learning.

The Bible confirms this. Look what it says in Deuteronomy 6:7. 

"Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." 

Children are constantly searching for the occurrence of regularities and patterns in their lives. It makes sense that children’s brains search for repetition because it helps them learn.

Repetition helps kids feel competent and in control.

We know that kids are constantly being challenged to grow and learn.  They are always being stretched.  When they are able to master challenges through repetition, it helps them feel competent. They feel a sense of control which is very important for children.

"When children return to watch the same show, what they are doing, whether they know it or not, is driven by a desire to detect and consolidate the patterns in what they are watching, hearing or reading."          

Eric Smalley

Repetition provides children with a source of comfort and security that buffers against the stress and uncertainty of the many messages and challenges coming their way. 

Here's an example. Well-known stimuli, such as that TV episode they’ve already watched many times, can provide a source of comfort and security that buffers against stress and uncertainty. 

Are you using repetition when teaching kids?  

Are you being strategic by intentionally including repetition in your lesson plans?

Do you know the value of repetition?

Did you know that if a child hears something once a month that their retention rate will only be about 10%?  But if a child hears something 6 times in a month that their retention rate goes up to 90%? 

If you want your teaching to make a long-term impact in kids' lives then you need to use repetition.

Think with me about the difference between short-term memory and long-term memory.  Obviously short-term memory teaching doesn't stick with kids for a lifetime.  Long-term memory does.  

John 15:16 says this...

"...but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last."

Repetition is one of the key ways that you can see fruit remain in the lives of children into adulthood and for the rest of their lives.

I know that you want to see your fruit remain.  Truth that is repeated is truth that will remain.  

As I design curriculum, I make sure that repetition is a big factor in it.  The key truth in each teaching series is repeated dozens of times. This helps kids remember the key truths for the rest of their life. 

Here is my guarantee to you.  Try one of my curriculum teaching series. If the kids don't remember the key truth of the series, then I will give you a full refund.  Yes...you read that correctly. I will give you a full refund if the kids can't remember the key truths 6 months from now...a year from now...for the rest of their life. 

I have designed the curriculum with 12 key truths.  12 key truths that are the foundation for a child growing in their faith and sticking with the faith for a lifetime. 

You can see and check out the curriculum at this link.  

Feel free to contact me if you have questions at

dale@buildingchildrensministry.com.

Repeat...repeat...repeat...repeat...repeat. It is crucial.