Teaching behavior expectations in a church setting can feel challenging, especially with preschoolers who are still learning how to listen, wait, and manage big feelings. This Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management lesson helps young children understand classroom rules in a calm, supportive, and faith based way.
In this post, I walk you through how to use this complete Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management resource step by step, explain what’s included, and share practical ideas for introducing rules without punishment or shame.
Why Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management Matters
Preschoolers thrive when adults give them clear, consistent, and gentle expectations. In Sunday School, rules do more than guide behavior. They also help children learn how to love God and care for others.
This lesson focuses on:
- Teaching children what is expected
- Using visual reminders they can understand
- Supporting self regulation and calm bodies
- Connecting classroom rules to God’s love and guidance
Instead of reacting to behavior after it happens, this approach teaches skills ahead of time and reinforces them daily.
What’s Included in the Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management Lesson
This lesson provides a complete preschool Bible lesson and behavior management system. All of the materials work together to help teachers confidently introduce rules and routines.
This pack includes:
- “Our Rules” cards using positive “I can” statements
- “I Can Listen” whole body listening posters (boy and girl versions)
- Smile, Straight, and Sad Face Behavior Chart
- Editable name cards (PDF) for typing children’s names
- Calm Bottle instructions
- Good and Bad Choice sorting activity
- Optional cut and paste sorting worksheet
- “Our Rules” half-page coloring booklet for classroom use
- “Our Rules” take home booklet for families
- Full teacher script with Bible connections
How to Teach Sunday School Rules Step by Step
This Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management lesson works best when teachers introduce it slowly and intentionally, especially at the beginning of the year.
Step 1: Introduce Rules with Purpose
Start by explaining that rules help keep everyone safe, happy, and ready to learn. Remind children that rules guide and help us live well together.
Step 2: Read and Practice the “Our Rules” Cards
Each rule uses positive language, such as “I can be kind” or “I can listen.” Read each card aloud and model what the rule looks like in real situations.
Step 3: Teach Whole Body Listening
Each rule uses positive language, such as “I can be kind” or “I can listen.” Read each card aloud and model what the rule looks like in real situations.
Step 4: Use the Behavior Chart Gently
Use the “I Can Listen” posters to show children how their eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, and body work together when they listen. Practice together so children experience what listening looks like.
Step 5: Practice with the Choice Sorting Activity
Show children pictures of different classroom behaviors and talk about whether each choice helps or needs to change. This discussion builds understanding without labeling children as “good” or “bad.”
Step 6: Support Calm Bodies with Calm Bottles
Introduce calm bottles as tools that help children regulate their emotions. Explain that calm bottles support self regulation and are not rewards or consequences.
Faith Connection for Preschoolers
This Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management lesson connects classroom rules to faith in a simple, age appropriate way.
Children learn that:
- Rules help keep everyone safe and happy
- Rules help us be kind and care for others
- Learning and trying again are part of growing
Throughout the lesson, teachers use calm language and discussion to guide children toward better choices. This approach emphasizes encouragement, guidance, and growth rather than punishment.
Why This Approach Works in Sunday School
This Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management lesson works especially well because it:
- Uses consistent language and visuals
- Supports emotional regulation
- Encourages positive behavior instead of reacting to mistakes
- Builds a predictable, safe classroom environment
- Helps children understand rules through faith and daily practice
Throughout the lesson, teachers use calm language and discussion to guide children toward better choices. This approach emphasizes encouragement, guidance, and growth rather than punishment.
Who This Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management Lesson Is For
This resource works well for:
- Preschool Sunday School
- Church and ministry programs
- Christian homeschool families
- Kindergarten aged children in faith based settings
This resource works well for:
Final Thoughts
Teaching rules doesn’t have to feel stressful or overwhelming. With the right tools, preschoolers can learn expectations in a way that feels safe, loving, and consistent.
This Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management lesson helps children understand rules, make good choices, and grow in both faith and self control while feeling supported and encouraged.
Happy Teaching! 😊
Purchase the Sunday School Rules & Behavior Management pack
If you’d like to use the materials shown in this lesson, the complete packet is available in my shop.
Other Preschool Bible Lessons
I love all your posts and printables. I want to use this in my in-home preschool. Thank you.
Multumesc frumos si pentru versiunea in limba romana! Dumnezeu sa va binecuvanteze in lucrarea minunata pe care o faceti!
Cu aprecieri,
Daniela
Hi, I just found your blog through Pinterest & I love your work. So far I’ve only looked at the Sunday School section & I’m hooked already!I downloaded the Take Home booklet in English & just noticed that some of the text is in Romanian, even though it’s all in English in the picture. Is there any way I could get a complete English version, please? Thanks for your great work. I’ll be popping over to look at your TPT site right now!
These are perfect for Sunday School! I will be using these in my class. Thank you so much!!!
just what I needed! Thank you!
Great work! Thank you so much.
Hi, This is pretty amazing! Do you mind if I take it and remake a little to suit our needs? Because if older kids are okay with our schools rules, younger ones have troubles remembering all of it. I specially love the idea of colouring book.
Hi Regina,
I’m glad you like it and can see ways to modify to suit your needs 🙂 Please remember that the resources I create (even edited) cannot be shared via the internet and social media 🙂
Lavinia
Thanks. Good job!
Thank you, Lenka 🙂
Muchas gracias por el aporte. Lo adaptare in Spanish
THANK YOU!!! Im addicted! Was looking for SS “rules”, and yours was the 1st I looked at, got totally distracted with all your other great posts!
I just found your blog via pinterest. You are amazing! Your kids are truly lucky to have you as their teacher. These printables that you have made available for us are incredible. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put in to them. Im in real need of them atm with my daughter trying to teach her to behave. So thanks x x
Thank you so much! These are perfect for my preschool classroom! 🙂
These are fantastic! Thank-you very much for sharing so freely and generously. 🙂
Thank you for your hard work and for sharing!
These look perfect for my first grade students at our small Christian school. I had 5 of your rules as my rules already, and who can resist a rainbow-colored chart? I plan on using your take home with my students on the first day and printing out the rule cards and hanging them on a ribbon that matches our classroom décor. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you Ms Lavinia~ these has been a great help in our K2 class! 😀
How and where can I download these. I am an instructional specialist for an Elementary School in Westlake Vilagge CA. I am also a university professor for National and these will be wonderful to share for my classroom managment class. I absolutely love these. I would love a copy and would love to know how to edit them. Do you just connect one to the next? Are they each 81/2″ x 11″? Thank you so much for your gew
Thank you so much for sharing. This is amazing and I cannot wait to incorporate it with my students. 🙂
Perfect for my class. Thanks for the printable version!
Multumesc mult pentru materialele exceptionale.Sunt educatoare in Romania si ma bucur de tot ceea ce este nou si interesant pentru copii.Nu pot descarca”Eu pot sa ascult”,ma poti ajuta?Multumesc din suflet!
January 1,2017
This is adorable art work and I always try to use pictures, a visual always teaches better than just words. Creativity from the children explodes into great discussions and role playing. Thanks for your creative genius and sharing with those like me who need others help. May you be blessed for your selfless service. Love Laurie
Where did you get the adorable graphics on these?
Pam
My husband is moving down to first grade after about 18 years in fifth grade. These rules are such a help to him. Thanks so much!! <3
I love the simplicity of these rules. I have used them in my Catholic First grade classroom for a couple of years. They are clear and easy for young little minds to understand. The colors are great and the images are perfect! Thank you!
LOVE THIS!! thank you for sharing 🙂
Hi! I am a missionary in Moldova and we also have a very mixed Sunday school class at a new church plant with many English speaking kids who are learning Romanian at a Romanian church. We are all working on learning Romanian. I liked your rules in English so I clicked to see and to my joy you already have them in Romanian! I just wanted to thank you so much for this. I am so glad to have found your website.
I am glad that they have been useful 🙂
Hi I am from the Philippines…Thank you so much for this.. Im very happy to have this resources…I found what I’v been looking for… such a great help for me as a starting pre shool teacher in our church..
Hi, I’m teacher of sunday school from Indonesia….thank you very much…for helping me to teach my students
How can I print this one?
Thank you for this lovely resource.
Thank you so much!!!! really appreciate the resources!!
Really like the way you are doing classroom management.appreciable
The house rules poster is pretty and can get children’s attention. I printed, have enlarged it and donated to the parish where I volunteer on weekends. Thank you for sharing.-
I’m glad you liked it! Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Lavinia,
Multumesc pentru toate ideile tale creative! Felicitari 🙂
Thank you for sharing this! These are simple and clear and just what we need for our preschool church kids class. I love the graphics too!
You’re so welcome, Beth! 💛 I’m so glad to hear these are working well for your preschool class circle time. Thank you for taking the time to share such kind feedback—it really makes my day! 🌟