Why not enhance this by forging a strong relationship between parents and small group leaders? Put relationship-building between parents and small group leaders first. This will help your kids build a deep and meaningful relationship with God and set them on the right life path.
If your church has typically kept kids' ministry distant from the rest of the church, building connections could be challenging. But trust us – it will be worth it. When you bring the family and church together, community bonds strengthen while children’s lives are enriched.
Interested in how building relationships could help your church? Keep reading for some tips to get you started.
Parents provide and care.
From changing their diapers to wiping their noses, parents have been there for their children through it all. You know them better than anyone and provide the caring, nurturing environment they need to flourish. But have you ever noticed what you say goes in one ear and out the other? While the importance of parents in a child’s life is obvious, children need relationships with other adults for healthy development.
Small group leaders develop.
As kids start to spread their wings and discover their independence, they turn away from their parents. By bringing new perspectives and exciting energy into your child’s life, small group leaders boost their learning experiences. Whether you have a toddler who’s just starting Sunday school lessons or a teen who's finding their way through middle school, building relationships with small group leaders can blossom into a beautiful thing.
Why develop relationships between parents and small group leaders?
Building relationships between children and the church workers is necessary for small group settings. But this is only one side of the coin. Cultivating strong relationships between small group leaders and parents is just as, if not more, essential. Bringing parents into their children’s education makes them active participants rather than observers, empowering them to keep a close eye on how their child is developing in class.
Enhance the classes at home.
When regular communication between parents and their child’s small group leader is normalized, you will see the kids' experiences transform. This way, parents can continue to enrich the lessons they learned that day, even when at home. From meaningful and relevant prayers to reading vital passages before bed, bringing church leaders and parents together will also draw everyone closer to God.
Kids need repetition.
Children thrive on routine and repetition. As it helps solidify big ideas and essential Biblical stories in their minds, repeating the same themes several times in the same day or week will take your little one’s knowledge to the next level, deepening their understanding of the Bible. Not only will this strengthen their relationship with God, but it will also make their time at Sunday school more meaningful.
How to build connections.
Caring
Approach the parents of your students in a caring and supportive manner. This way, they will know for certain that you care about their children, and their family. Instead of bringing an air of judgment or critique, try to place yourself in their shoes. We are all doing our best, and parents will sometimes forget to complete a specific activity at home with their kids or pack the right things in their bag. So, be genuine, be yourself, and take some time to get to know the people.
Consistency
Genuine connections have to be built over time and require trust and consistency. So, keeping your small group leaders consistent is crucial when forging bonds between parents and church workers. While this may not always be possible as volunteers may change over time, assigning each class or age grade to a single leader is a great way to ensure consistency and transparency. Parents want to know exactly who to contact when they need to.
Communication
Regular communication is the most important thing when building relationships. Choose whichever communication channel works best for you and stick to it, whether it's a weekly email or a daily text. Just ensure the parents of your students know how to expect updates. Most small group leaders are busy people, so sending a daily text can feel like a chore, so figure out what works best for you. It could be an automated update sent to the parents, or you could use the help of handy church apps.
If you are struggling to strengthen the relationships between parent and small group leaders at your church, why not try a children’s ministry curriculum that reinforces the bonds? Think Orange blends the roles of the church and family, encouraging parents to deepen their faith alongside their children. Not only does it support the children’s development and growth, but it brings the entire community together.
Plus, they have incredible apps to help both parents and small group leaders. Through this online hub, parents can track exactly where their child is in the curriculum, providing a countdown until they move onto the next topic while providing a central location for communication. This way, parents can send in specific prayer requests, and communication channels remain open, enabling effortless communication between parents, and small group leaders.