Age Groups and Classes at LDLA
We have six age groups at LDLA and 7 classes, as follows:
Embers
1-3 years old
These are our precious, littlest lights. We nurture their hearts by helping them feel God’s love for them, and by extension they will feel loved and safe in our co-op. Through play and repetition, we introduce the children to uplifting music, poetry, stories, and art so that they are familiar with them by the end of the year.
Tinders
4-5 years old
Our purpose is to protect and nurture the tender hearts of these little ones by filling their days with beautiful poetry, art, music, and a variety of stories including fairytales, fables and scripture stories. Free play, movement, and crafts will inspire their imaginations and creativity, giving them confidence in their own abilities. Their soft hearts will provide the perfect tinder to catch the sparks that will ignite their love of learning in future years. Creating a book of their favorite artwork, poetry and other meaningful gems they pick up throughout the year will give them a priceless possession they can revisit like an old friend.
Sparks
6-8 years old
Our purpose is to spark wonder and ignite imagination by focusing on God’s creations in nature. By immersing the children in the outdoors and encouraging exploration they will develop questions, make personal discoveries, and grow an appreciation for the beauty and variety of God’s works. In creating their own nature journals they will be able to document their discoveries and train their eyes to see the intricate details of Heavenly Father’s creations. Incorporation of music, art, poetry, and story will further the enrichment of their hearts. Their imaginations will flourish and they will be eager to make their own contributions of beauty to the world.
Flames: Handmaidens and Knights of Light
9-11 years old (boys and girls split into two separate classes)
We seek to fan the flames of testimony and to encourage a strong love of learning through participation in the Heroic Youth clubs (Crowned with Virtue for the girls and Mastering Knighthood for the boys). The mission of HY is as follows: “Heroic Youth is a training ground to prepare youth to be faithful warriors in God’s army. Youth become heroes as they engage in servant leadership, and identify and pursue their God-given individual missions.” By aquatinting the youth with heroes and other Christ-like role models they will begin to recognize positive character traits and have a desire to develop similar attributes in their own lives. Making a record of how they’ve grown those traits within themselves over the year as well as setting goals for future development will prepare them to follow in the footsteps of their heroes and to live a meaningful life.
Helpful Links
Torchbearers: Heroes of Light
12-14 years old
Our focus is to help these youth transition from children who love learning to young adult scholars who are ready to step into their role as Torchbearers for Christ. Building upon the character studies of their Heroic Youth clubs, we aim to nurture their growing sense of personal character, helping them to see who they can become temporally and eternally. We seek first to inspire their hearts with a desire for anything good, true, and beautiful. Only then will the pursuits of the mind lead them to fulfill their missions in life. Using the Children and Youth program as a guide, we encourage them to complete at least one gold in each of the four focus ares: spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual.
Torchbearers: Warriors of Light
15-18 years old
Our focus is to help these emerging young adults embrace their roles as leaders and Torchbearers for Christ, and to use their positive influence to shepherd and mentor their younger peers. We encourage them to build upon their strengths and interests, which will help them to recognize their current and future contributions to the world, and will prepare them to launch into adulthood, missions, higher education, marriages, and families of their own. This class is focused on who the youth are becoming, not on what they know, and should guide them in finding their individual purpose and creating their own personal mission statements by the end of the year.