Is it possible to bring God’s love to babies and toddlers?

“Before our first child was born I heard about the idea that it is possible to bring God’s love to the youngest babies and toddlers. This was very inspiring for me and I was fascinated by the idea,” says Doris Braun who started the movement “Right from the beginning” in Germany. “With other women who also had young children I started a parents-toddlers-group in our church. And we were surprised how many women came with their children. …”

Mothers are creative. After our first child was born I looked for ways how it is possible to bring God’s love to babies and toddlers. In our YWAM community others who had more experience told me what they had found out. So I used songs and  pictures. I found out by myself what our baby son liked and how these intimate methods of communication between mother and child can be intensified and developped.

And of course I shared this experience with other women who also had young children. (Later we formed a team and wrote a book about these methods, the songs and the pictures which can be used.) I started a parents-toddlers-group in our church and found helpers. We were surprised how many women came with their children. Together we developped a basic structure for those parents-toddlers-times and defined several elements of those programs.

“Connecting everyday life of the babies with God” – this was (and is) is the motto of our program and describes what it is all about very well. The program is quite simple and can be done by using very basic and simple biblical statements, combining them with an easy melody to make simple songs. The themes of the songs are about creation, God’s provision, His love for us, and Jesus our friend who is with us always. These songs can be used in everyday situations at home or combined with visual materials as a program for young children in church or in a parent-toddler group.

In studying the development of children in the first years we discovered that developmental psychology supports the idea that children are learning and taking in everything they hear and experience in their first years. In this way, the foundation of their lives is formed. Therefore the program is directed to little children of about 6 months to four years old.

The seminars and the book

Not too long after, we were asked to give seminars for other parents who were interested in this program. Together with others in my team I have given multiple workshops in Germany and other countries such as: Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, and Austria. (There is more information about seminars.)

We wrote a book about the program “Getting to know God Right from the beginning” (in German: “Gott kennen lernen von Anfang an”; ISBN 978-3935703154). The book is being translated to English, but the Russian and the Bulgarian translations were published several years ago. Parts of the book are available in Turkish and Romanian too.

Doris Braun is working with YWAM Hurlach (Germany)

The Russian workbook		France, Switzerland