Some parents may find some of the Ten Commandments such as, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife" to be challenging to explain to small children. Instead, explain the concept of the Ten Commandments in a simple form. Simply stating that God has rules that we all must live by in order to get into Heaven one day may be sufficient for young children. Choose commandments like "Thou shall not steal" and "honor thy father and thy mother" as examples.
Playing games with preschoolers is an effective way to teach them the commandments. Provide a description of each commandment and ask that your preschooler identify which commandment you are referencing. Once they have correctly identified the commandment, give them a sticker or candy to reward them. You may also ask your students true or false questions like "There is a commandment that teaches us to respect our parents" to test their knowledge of the commandments.
Picture books are a good way to display the concept of each of the Ten Commandments. Often times, they will paraphrase each commandment so that it is age-appropriate and easy to understand. Explain examples of each commandment in everyday life as you read the book to reinforce concepts learned. Have your pre-schooler describe each illustration as well in order to ensure that they understand each concept. After reading, ask the child what they remember about each commandment and how they will live by them.
Performing the Ten Commandments is a way to entertain a preschooler while teaching the lesson. Have older students or other adults act out each commandment and explain each one in detail. A play may also incorporate ways that go against the teachings of the commandments. If a play is not feasible, however, using songs to demonstrate the Ten Commandments is another way of teaching them to children.