Are you looking for ways to revamp your kids' ministry? You have come to the right place. We know that it can be tough to keep your ministry fresh and lively, and engaging the parents of your students is one of the best ways to do this. So, we have compiled a list of the top 10 ways to improve your kids' ministry, with help from both the leaders and parents involved.
1. Celebrate Children
Making sure your ministry environment celebrates children will help them to really feel like they have a second home in the church. From birthdays and baptisms to confirmations and christenings, paying special attention to these valuable moments will assure the children of your ministry that they are loved, important, and appreciated.
You could even use a digital signage solution to display the celebratory events every week.
2. Consistent Church Volunteers
When children have the opportunity to forge a deep and lasting bond with the volunteers at their ministry, the church community built will be much stronger. Consistent volunteers are crucial, and equipped with the right tools, your volunteers will enjoy their participation in kids ministry, and value the leadership opportunities afforded to them.
3. Affirm and Encourage
The power of words cannot be understated, and that’s why we believe in speaking to each child encouragingly and compassionately. It is important to differentiate between school and kids’ ministry, and so we must treat the children that attend accordingly.
As much as we want them to be completely focused every single day, they likely won’t be. But, don’t get caught up with dishing out too many punishments, rather praise when they do good.
4. Be Open and Plan for New Kids
This one might sound strange at first, but it is important to keep in mind how your ministry appears from the outside. Is it welcoming to new students who might want to join? Take a moment to reflect on how a newcomer might assess the environment. Would they know where to go and how to sign up? A welcoming environment is key for new attendees, which also keeps the student base dynamic.
5. Fun!
Ensuring that there are fun activities mixed in with your kids' church lessons is essential. If the kids get bored and associate studying the Bible with a chore, or something they simply don’t want to do, they will stop engaging with it. Instead, give them activities that they will be excited about so that they are eager to attend Sunday school every week.
Integrating technology and church presentation software with your lessons is a great way to capture their attention!
6. Social Events
Planning regular social events is another great way to keep your kids' ministry exciting, and you can raise money at the same time too! By planning bake sales or lemonade stands, the children can actively participate and use their creative energy to help. Also, a brilliant way to get parents involved, social events will strengthen overall community bonds, as well as bringing excitement to kids ministry.
7. Invest in Curriculum
Selecting a kids’ ministry curriculum that is relevant and interesting is a fundamental cornerstone of a successful ministry. When things are disorganized or the lesson plans are random, children are the first ones to realize. Opting for a full children’s ministry curriculum package will not only save you a lot of time, but will keep your young students captivated by the content. Learn more about our top 5 picks for 2021 children's church curriculum.
8. Open Communication
Parents love to know about what’s going on in their child’s ministry, and their participation in their child’s journey to faith is something we want to encourage. The more engaged parents are with their kids' journey of faith, the more likely they will be to encourage worship at home. So, why not create a newsletter to send out to parents and see the positive effects roll in when you 'think orange'.
9. Parent Advisory Board
Arranging a parent advisory board is an incredible way to gain an insight into their opinions on the ministry, while also allowing you to give feedback on their children’s progress.
Simply set a monthly or quarterly date in the calendar and have friendly meetings with the parents of your students, boosting their involvement and interest in what your ministry’s goals are. This also helps to engage parents and family members with the community more generally.
10. Ask God
Turning to the Lord in prayer is always a solution, as He knows how to share His wisdom with us in mysterious ways. Next time you are having a period of stagnation at your Sunday school, why not ask God directly?
Asking what He thinks you should focus on can give you clarity, and help you see what’s missing in your ministry. Have faith in your ministry, and the abilities of your team of workers and volunteers, to keep it current, fun, and engaging.
Following these simple steps will help your ministry to ensure you are making Sunday school fun every week! Kids tend to love a lively and stimulating environment, so why not bring that energy into your Sunday school classes? Whether your budget is big or small, there’s a way for you to fill the time with exciting resources. Just take a look at some of these discounted and free Sunday school curriculum ideas!