Teaching Children to Welcome a New Classmate
A new child arrives with a name to learn and a room full of unfamiliar faces. Your child may be able to offer something simple: a greeting, a place in the game, or help finding where to go.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,
(Romans 15:7, NIV, excerpt)
In Romans 15, Paul calls believers to welcome one another because Christ has welcomed them. He points to Jesus’ service and God’s mercy reaching both Jews and Gentiles. The church’s shared welcome is meant to bring praise to God.
Practice a small welcome together
Christian parents can draw from this passage as they teach children to notice newcomers with kindness. Explain that Jesus’ welcome gives His people a reason to make room for others.
Try practicing a few ordinary words: “Hi, I’m ___. What’s your name?” or “Would you like to join us?” Help your child think of one useful detail they could explain, such as where materials belong or how a game works.
Encourage them to listen to the new child’s preferences too. An invitation can be warm and patient, with space for the other person to respond in their own way.
Later, ask what they noticed. Celebrate a specific act of care and pray together for the child settling in. Little moments of welcome can help children learn how love takes shape in the people and places around them.
A prayer
Jesus, help our children notice someone who is new. Give them kind words, patient attention, and courage to offer a welcome. Teach our families to reflect the love we have received from You. Amen.
Read Romans 15:1-13 in the NIV.
Keep reading: Jesus Prays for His People to Be One · Making Room to Listen Before You Advise.
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A small welcome can help a child know there is room for them.
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