The Open Arms Curriculum: Introduction & Purpose

In discussions with leaders of Open Arms-related child development ministries, it has become apparent that directors and teachers would welcome a comprehensive, Christian curriculum for use with ages 0 to 5, and also for extended care programs with children ages 6 to 12. On occasion, we have ourselves observed the need for a more Christ-centered learning environment and more creative planning for the growth and development of children.

While all but a very few of the child development programs now in operation in our congregations claim to be Christian, the development of daily and weekly learning activities, learning centers, and ancillary materials is sometimes left to classroom teachers with limited guidance and lack of center-wide coordination. Some of these classroom teachers have minimal training, and they may not be Lutheran. Yet they must rely primarily on their own ingenuity, background, and Christian faith to lead their youngsters to reach the goals envisioned for them.

In the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod alone we have some 1,400 congregations with early childhood programs, and more than 1,000 elementary schools, most of which include a Pre-Kindergarten program. These Pre-Kindergarten programs have tended to be half-day, part-week sessions for ages 3 and 4.

However, across the nation a growing number of the Pre-Kindergarten programs for the 4 yr-olds are switching to five days per week. The State of Florida, for example, underwrites the cost of a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program, even for private or faith-based centers, provided they include 540 hours of instruction per year. This is three hours per day for a typical elementary school year.

Many congregations are also adding full time care for the 3s and 4s, and still more are adding full time programs for ages 0 to 5. Beyond this, extended care before and after school for ages 6-12 is becoming more popular as well.

Concordia Publishing House offers “A Blessing Place,” for guidance in the care of infants and toddlers, and “Voyages” for preschool ages. There are many other curricular materials available for Christian early childhood programs. In addition to Concordia Publishing House, well known publishers such as David C. Cook, Group, Standard, Lifeway and others offer such materials. Numerous secular sources exist as well, and the web is flooded with offerings. Some of the existing materials are well accepted and widely used, but there remains a need for a Lutheran curriculum for the full time programs and for extended care. In addition, the faith-building curriculum for all age ranges should be included in one comprehensive, articulated program to ensure that all established goals and objectives are being met, reinforced, and evaluated over time.

The Open Arms Curriculum will address the void in Lutheran, Bible-based curricula for full-time child development centers and eventually also for extended care. It will begin on a relatively small scale, and grow with use, from the contributions of those who use it. Thus it will be a cooperative effort, built upon the experience and goals of those engaged in Christian early childhood education.

We pray God’s blessings upon the effort, and upon the hearts and minds of teachers and children who participate in this curriculum, as they grow every day in the joy of life with God.

The Purpose of the Open Arms Curriculum

To offer to parents an environment for their child that is: wrapped in divine love; rich in all features that nurture human growth and development according to God's design and purpose; ripe with activities and experiences that lead to a beautiful relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, to a love of learning, and to a life of purpose and joyful service to the Lord and to all mankind, under God's grace.

To enable child development ministries affiliated with the Open Arms Institute to work together in developing and maintaining the uniform quality of their programs for which the name Open Arms is becoming known;

To provide for all Christian child development programs a curriculum that will promote and maintain the highest quality Christian education within a Lutheran understanding of the Scriptures.