Wondering which kids ministry curriculum would best suit your Sunday school? Look no further than our carefully selected top 5 list for 2024! You can embrace the changing times by selecting a curriculum that offers both online and in-person learning for little ones. Whether or not your congregation can make it to the church, they do not have to compromise on faith and worship come Sunday morning. Above all, a great Sunday school curriculum for kids can make church lessons informative, engaging and fun!
With the shift to online learning in today’s schools, we know that the technologies and curriculum used in the church need to evolve and modernize too. Ditch loading up the USB sticks and struggling with old software – with Playlister or ProPresenter, you can send resources simply and reliably to classrooms in church, or to families at home. But which kids' ministry curriculum should you choose? Choosing the ‘best’ children’s ministry curriculum can be tough, as there are a wide variety of options out there. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide, to make your choice that little bit easier!
When making your selection, it’s important to think about your specific goals, the age of the children you teach, and what works best for you. Whether you are wanting to shift towards online-only classes, focus on in-person gospel, or streamline your Sunday school operations with smart software, you can find the right curriculum here for you and your church.
When selecting your children’s church curriculum, it’s important to think about your specific goals, the age of the children you teach, and what works best for you. Whether you are wanting to shift toward online-only classes, focus on in-person gospel, or streamline your Sunday school operations with smart software, you can find the right children’s church curriculum here for you and the kids in your ministry.
Top Five Children’s Church Curriculum
1) First Look
2) HyFi (new)
3) The Gospel Project (Lifeway)
4) 252 Kids
5) Grow
1. First Look Preschool Curriculum
The First Look Preschool program run by Think Orange focuses on laying a foundation of faith in your little one’s mind. Combining developmental biblical learning with intentional love and safety will help your preschooler embrace the fact thatGod made and loves them. As an all-around curriculum, it will connect you with a ministry specialist for support, more consistent volunteers, and customizable programming that considers the needs of every child.
Pricing for First Look Preschool Curriculum
Try completely for free on their website to see if it’s a good fit for you and the kids. Simply complete a form and you’ll be ready to go! Once your free trial is over, the price depends on the size of your Sunday school. With a ‘starter’ option available for smaller groups under 15, you can pay just $525 for the whole year for access to the curriculum.
However, this option does have some elements of the curriculum missing, so be sure to check what you are getting. If you want the family experience feature included, or the stage production for little ones, then stretching to the premium package is worth it! Access to the premium package costs $626 for a group of under 15 total.
Interested in combining it with a media package too? The Orange curriculum has got you covered. Get everything you need in one handy place at a discounted rate, and secure your media software here too! The additional fee of $318 with the starter package includes songs, choreographed dances, customizable art files, and more, so you can bring the curriculum to life. It even includes access to Playlister’s presentation software, so you can effortlessly import and share the videos at just the touch of a button.
2. HyFi Curriculum
When you think about the core things you'd want any youngster to grasp about Christianity, what comes to mind? Well, HyFi hones in on twelve central biblical truths, and they've got a good reason for it. They’re like the spine of Christian belief, the guiding stars for a youngster's journey in faith.
Picture a young kid, flooded with all sorts of questions about who they are and where they fit in—that’s where these truths come in handy. With truths like God's never-ending love, Jesus' sacrifice, and the special place humans have in this grand cosmic tale, kids begin to see themselves differently. It's like giving them a map where they can pinpoint exactly where they stand in this vast, complex universe.
HyFi is onto something here. They're not just handing out facts and stories; they're giving kids the tools to say, "Hey, I get it. I'm part of something bigger. I matter." And that? Well, that’s a game-changer in helping them figure out their place as part of God’s big family.
Lifeway curriculum takes an innovative approach to teaching biblical truths, pairing each foundational lesson with a corresponding "I am" statement. This method serves a dual purpose: it grounds biblical teachings in personal identity while emphasizing the relevance of these truths in the daily lives of young learners. In essence, Lifeway's method transforms abstract concepts into tangible affirmations, ensuring that kids grasp the profound connection between their personal identities and the timeless teachings of the Bible.
Pricing for HyFi
3. LifeWay Sunday School Curriculum
Lifeway is a Sunday school curriculum for kids that places emphasis on tackling real-life issues alongside practicing faith and worship. Perfect for learning from anywhere and everywhere, this ministry curriculum prioritizes providing the tools to help you continue practicing discipleship from your home. Through focusing on bible study, the story of redemption, and spiritual conversations, your kids’ will dig deep into scripture, and their understanding will transform forever. Lifeway also offers a 2-minute study assessment quiz to help you choose which study is right for you.
Pricing for LifeWay Sunday School Curriculum
More adaptable, with specifics for the number of groups and team leaders at your church, choosing Lifeway could save you some money. While it doesn’t offer the ease and simplicity of simply purchasing a bundle with everything you need, you can decide if certain elements are suited to your kids.
These prices vary based on which specific curriculum you want, as there are numerous different options: Concrete and Cranes, ZIP for Kids, Destination Dig, God’s Brave Girl, and so much more. Prices would add up if any of these are selected together. We prefer more all-inclusive options that save us the worry of working it all out, as browsing through the curriculum options felt somewhat overwhelming here.
The Gospel Project Children’s Church Curriculum
Immersing kids and preschoolers in the gospel can be the perfect way to teach them the stories and theological concepts of the Bible. This program seeks to target both hearts and minds, teaching children that the Bible is more than just a collection of stories, but one unified story – that of God. Brought to life through exciting methods, this program spends equal time in the Old and NewTestaments and includes family resources for great dinner-time discussions at home. Your whole family can grow in gospel together!
Pricing for The Gospel Project Children’s Curriculum
Working out pricing is slightly more difficult, as you can choose as many add-ons and volumes as you like! For example, the kids' ministry starter kit, volume 1, costs $94.99 but only covers the opening part of the Bible – Genesis. Adding a leader guide pack costs $7.99 and additional kids activity packs are around $3-5. This is a great option for those who want freedom within the curriculum they choose for their kids, but it doesn't have the ease of an all-in-one pack.
Their website offers a user-friendly way to explore your options, so you can compare the costs against your needs. You can input exactly how many kids you have in each age group of classes, so you won’t have to pay more than you need.
4. 252 Kids Children’s Curriculum
Also brought to you by Think Orange, the 252 Kids Children curriculum has been developed to engage elementary and preteen children. Based upon the importance of making wise choices, nurturing strong relationships, and deepening their faith in an authentic way, 252 Kids weaves worship music, bible scripts, group activities, and video experiences, covering all the bases for kids' church lessons.
Pricing for 252 Basics Children’s Curriculum
With 3 separate options available, starter, basic, and premium, you can find a way to work this curriculum into your budget. The starting price for groups of 15 or less is: Starter – $525, Basic – $663, and Premium – $684.
As it comes without access to large group events and devotional cards, the basic package is not for everyone. Bear in mind that if your group is larger than 15, you will not be eligible for the starter package. While price will change depending on the size of your school, we think the premium package is worth it for full access for the young minds of your church.
Also offering discounted access to a media package, this option is great for simplicity. For small groups, adding the media access to your order costs just $424 for the entire year, and even includes the Playlister church presentation software. Making learning more dynamic, and the lives of the workers much easier, with good presentation software, you will never turn back. Reinforce your students' learning experiences with videos, dances, stories, and more when you upgrade to the full package.
Get your free APPLE TV to present your curriculum
Sign up for Playlister and we'll send a free Apple TV when you enter the promo code: apple at checkout. Get free Apple TV.
5. Grow Curriculum
The Grow curriculum is entirely digital, meaning you can get started straight away without waiting for physical materials to be shipped to you! Not only does this care for the planet by saving on resources, but it also means it can be downloaded anywhere and at any time. Offering a curriculum for kids, students and adults, Grow knows and understands that the quality of kids' church lessons depends on their adult guides too! Their handy feature will help to maximize effectiveness and time, empowering you to invest in your people rather than resources, and build discipleship across every age group.
Pricing for Grow Curriculum
With this curriculum, you definitely don’t need a large church network or a huge pool of volunteers and workers. Grow prioritizes the smaller church, and is built to be accessible to every church, no matter the size. Complete with church management software features like to-do lists, calendars, and meeting kits, Grow is a great option for those who are just starting. Plus, it offers a full 52 weeks of learning, for preschool and elementary students combined. With a set price of $997 a year, or $289 quarterly, this option will have you ready to start learning in seconds.
If you don’t need the organizational aspects, volunteer guides, and email templates, you can save some money by opting for the basic package. Coming in at $597 a year, this option is great for those who are working within a budget. While you would need a separate package for the older students in middle school and high school, the pricing is the same. So, depending on the range of students at your Sunday school, you might be paying just shy of $2,000 annually for everyone to be included.
Picking a Children’s Church Curriculum is hard!
Selecting a new style of kids' church lessons can transform the energy of your Sunday school, preparing the youngsters for a life of easy worship and faith! With diverse methods of learning in a dynamic environment, learning about God can be fun and engaging from a young age.
The video below provides data from 1,000 churches on how curriculum helped their church.
While your decision will depend largely on the size and scope of your church, our favorite choice is Think Orange Curriculum, HyFi, First Look, and 252 Kids. When engaging younger church members, the adaptation for different stages of learning is unmatched, as the learning style and content are perfectly tailored. Plus, we believe that all-inclusive options with Orange will save you money overall and Orange Curriculum gets you access to free Playlister, as no one wants to miss out on certain aspects of the childrens ministry curriculum perks.
After I pick how can I present my curriculum in the classroom?
There are three ways to present a curriculum:
1. USB Sticks
2. ProPresenter with a computer
3. Playlister with an Apple TV
USB Sticks
PRO = cost-efficient
CON = time consuming and prone to errors with distribution to classrooms
ProPresenter
PRO = powerful presentation capabilities
CON = expensive and prone to errors with volunteers using it
Playlister
PRO = cost-efficient compared to using a computer
CON = if you have fewer than 3 kids rooms. Read more about why NOT to use Playlister.
Playlister uses Apple TVs to present the above kids church curriculum in churches all over the world. Here are the top 5 ways your church should use an Apple TV to present kids ministry curriculum. Apple TVs have hard drives to save up to 32 GB of content allowing you to play your curriculum offline. And an excellent remote which makes training volunteers take less than 15 seconds.
Schedule a time below to see how Playlister can help you teach like a hero. We love talking with church leaders!
Get your free Apple TV to present your curriculum
Sign up for Playlister and we'll send a free Apple TV when you enter the promo code: apple at checkout. Get free Apple TV.