The “rule of thumb” for a child’s attention span is one minute per year of age. A group time for 5-year-olds, for example, may take 15-20 minutes, but during that time they are doing more than just sitting and listening. You may tell the Bible story, then sing a song with the children, then play a simple review game, then have them open in the Bible to a marked verse. This variety of activities will not only hold their attention, but will teach the biblical concepts in ways that appeal to children of different learning styles. This rule of thumb holds true for school-age children as well as preschoolers.