Deb Vos and Todd Hair
Got time on your hands and a
room full of kids-but you've used up all your lesson? Here's your
indispensable guide for turning unexpected time into
unexpected joy.
You'v...
Ideas for families
to discover the Good News of Easter--from Palm Sunday to
Resurrection Sunday.
Palm Sunday Discovery
Easter Tree of
Promises...
I grew up in a middle-class
neighborhood near Chicago in the 1940s and 50s where I
lived with my parents and brother. By the time I was a preteen, I
already had plans for c...
Jennifer Hooks
Here's how to keep today's techno kids from
"powering down" the minute they walk into your
room...
Recently I casually observed a mixed-age ministry program in a
s...
Here are recommendations on books so kids can learn more
about Heather Whitestone, a Christian and the first physically
challenged woman to win the crown of Miss America.
...
Ali Thompson
"Once Jesus was in a certain place praying.
As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, 'Lord,
teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples' " (Luk...
Patrick Snow
Preteens. They're silly, goofy, and obnoxious. They can't sit
still and seldom pay attention. They love screaming and doing
anything that involves getting messy. And that's ...
Jody Capehart
HOW CHILDREN SOLVE PROBLEMS
Older children consider peers more important than family at this
age. They'll watch how their peers solve problems. At about 11
years old, mos...
1. A Bird's Eye View-(Supplies: paper and
markers.) Send children to tables with paper and markers.
Say: Pretend that you were a bird at Jesus' birth. Draw
what you w...
Bob Singleton
We were in the studio working on our new album when my music
assistant and I began to rehearse the kids chorus. It's my favorite
time in the studio, working with a group of ...
Every ministry has them --
quirky corners, pesky problems, and messy mishaps. Here are simple
solutions you can use to make sense of common
conundrums.
WHAT A SIGHT
...
Tracy Carpenter
There's no shortage of
news--that is, good news about kids doing great things! Check out
these amazing boys--and what their selfless acts can mean for your
ministry.
Ev...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Be
sure to make each of your preteens feel extra special on their
birthday this year with these 16 creative birthday greeting
ideas.
First Greeting-Find out from the c...
Peter Christian Olsen
What kids really know--and think--about the
Bible
"The first book of the Bible is called guinessis. God created
the world. When he got tired, he took the Sabbath day ...
William Chad Newsom
I know Jesus said he had all the power, but is that the same
power that Pokemon and Digimon characters have?"
"Moses parted the Red Sea, but have you seen what Harry Potte...
Lisa Cowman
Use these 14 playful ideas to reinforce your lessons
about the Word of God.
It's been a long week, and Saturday night has you scrambling
through your lesson plan. Quickly...
Gordon West
Spend time with children's ministry leaders these days
and one of the topics of conversation is sure to be ministry to
sixth-graders. What works with this unique age group?
...
Gordon West
Stopping at a fast-food restaurant with a bus full of kids can
take way too much time and create a headache for the restaurant
staff and customers. That may not be the publi...
Jennifer Hooks
Transforming your Sunday school classroom into an
exciting learning environment for kids can be tough on a budget.
Here are 19 ideas that'll cost you next to nothing...
U...
Children's Ministry Magazine
The 16 A+ ideas in this special section will keep your
kids from playing hooky from church!
Yellow school buses. Crisp backpacks. The smell of new school
supplies. The so...
Scott Kinner
Looking back at your last lesson, what did your kids
learn? It's not such a simple question. Here are ways to make your
lesson learner-based and maximize each child's
poten...
Carmen Kamrath
Faster than a prayer on wings, more powerful than
dynamite, able to leap over any problem. Introduce Jesus as the
real hero kids can look up to. But first, understand what q...
Gordon West
Fifth and sixth graders don't want to be treated like
little children. They want to feel important! Here's how to pull
off a training program that'll inspire kids this
age....
Kurt Johnston
About six months ago, I had heart surgery.
It happened suddenly, I didn't see it coming, and I haven't
discussed it much. But I think it's time to go public.
"Bree," an ...
Mix preteens, adults, and a whole bunch of
questions about Jesus, and what do you get? Chuckles, ah-has, and
insights -- about kids, their faith, and your ministry.
In t...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Use these preteen spiritual gift inventories with kids to help
them discover their God-given gifts and talents.
Spiritual Gifts Inventory for Children
Spiritual Gifts...
Christine Yount Jones
Cue the eerie music...
"It's the middle ground between light and shadow...between the
pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge...Enter, if you
will, The Preteen...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Use these ideas to help kids who are struggling through
stressful times.
Kids are under a lot of stress -- at school, in extracurricular
activities, and at home. A study ...
Children's Ministry Magazine
download a PDF of this Children's Ministry Magazine Extra
here
All people learn differently -- regardless of age. Whether you
look through the lens of Gardner's Multipl...
Marty Alan Michelson
The Bible tells us to, "Train up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This proverb is
as old as Solomon, but as relevant as t...
Sue Geiman
"Feelings" are more than an old song; they're the key to amazing
learning in your classroom!
I sit on the bench under the trees, smiling as I see little
hand- and footpri...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Instead of a card, I mail out these unique birthday wishes to my
kids on their special day -- along with a refreshing, sweet treat.
I purchase Kool-Aid drink packets and att...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Preteens are becoming independent thinkers and doers.
Guide them during this step toward maturity with these
tips.
Offer choices. Stop making all the decisions.
Let pr...
Rick Chromey
Permit me to reveal the secret to really loving
preteens.
For if I'm culturally hip to Hannah Montana and am truly smarter
than a fifth-grader, but have not love, I'm jus...
Mary Ellen Drushal
Children usually learn to read by
recognizing combinations of letters. Learning to teach is similar.
Qualities and skills combine to make the teaching process
understan...
Danielle Bell
3 tools to gauge kids score spiritually
Growing up as an avid soccer player, I was blessed with a high
school coach who poured countless hours of drills and skills int...
Dale Hudson
Feedback from parents is vital
to your ministry's growth, health, and longevity. Here's the
ultimate guide on how to ask for it.
Parents are our greatest allies in ch...
Carol Younger
Storytelling tips for the novice and the
expert.
It can happen in almost any class. Kids are engaged in learning
through hands-on experiences, and then it hits. The class...
Nurturing conversations with God
and children at every stage.
Prayer is as simple as a conversation with a best friend and as
powerful as asking a king for help. How can...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Understand how kids of all ages make friends and how you
can nurture friendships
Ages 2 to 4
Sharing
Young children depend on others to
help them develop positive s...
Rick Chromey
The great Bible teachers leave a mark.
They masterfully carve God into our lives. They reveal an
inconceivable forgiveness. They expose divine opportunities. They
detail ...
Jennifer Hooks
Time is money." We've all heard that. But time is a lot
more than just money -- it's the most precious, non-recyclable
commodity we have.
For some teachers, time is somet...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Our children's correspondence team is a group of children who've
committed to express compassion and encouragement to people in our
church by writing notes and letters. Each...
Jill Nelson
Peer pressure. Say those two powerful words, and they can strike
fear in your heart! But add the word "positive" and you have a tool
that will help kids learn...to make ...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Put kid quotes in your church newsletter from kids in your
congregation. For example, print kids' answers to the question:
What do you love most about your parents?
Kids ...
Laurie Copley
Sarah ran out of the classroom, tears streaming down her face.
The sting of the girls' taunts and jeers cut her to the quick. Why
were they so cruel? All she longed for was ...
Susan Shadid
Have you ever been in a classroom where you can see or hear
another group of kids interacting and having fun -- and you're not?
The other teacher and group are lively, but y...
Steve Merritt
Once on a trip, when our car unexpectedly stopped moving
forward, a cranky tow truck driver showed up looking like a grizzly
bear rudely awakened from his winter hibernation...
Kristi Rector
Uh, oh! Those words, spoken by a child, can send a chill of
dread down the spine of every teacher -- what catastrophe awaits?
Kids seem to naturally attract small disast...
Take a sneak peek at what Christian kids really
think about God, faith, church, and their world.
How often have you wondered about what's going on in kids' minds?
If o...
Rick Chromey
Mean Girls
Preteen girls can be mean-really mean. Girls between ages 9 and 11
are breaking away from parental influences and are more influenced
by their peers. Mean girl b...
Research shows that laughter plays an important role in both
physical and mental health. Laughter releases endorphins, chemicals
in your body that produce an overall feel-go...
Tracy Carpenter
Kids can access technology anywhere,any time. An online
expert looks at the deeper meaning behind this phenomenon-and what
it signifies for kids' faith.
The kids in your ...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Insights from experts on how to answer kids' toughest
questions
You've heard it before: That question from a child that stops
you cold and leaves you searching for the ri...
Jennifer Root Wilger
HOW CHILDREN ARE
MOTIVATED
Children at this age are motivated by approval. They're making
exciting advances in their physical abilities, and they look to
adults to affir...
Amy Nappa
I'm a college graduate with a minor in Bible. Therefore I was
quite confident when I sat down to tackle "learning activities"
from a variety of Sunday school curricula. I ch...
Terry Vermillion
In this corner, weighing 165 pounds: Brad Fife, Sunday school
teacher extraordinaire.
In that corner, weighing .10 pounds: the champion, fuddy-duddy
Sunday school curric...
Children's Ministry Magazine
The questions kids ask about God-and how to
respond.
"God can change himself into a baby," 4-year-old Nicholas mused.
To many children, God is a magical being that ma...
As the teacher of a fifth- and sixth-grade Sunday school class,
my husband wanted to set a good example when the lesson called for
both the kids and the teacher to write dow...
Lori Haynes Niles
No two snowflakes are alike. These amazingly complex
demonstrations of God's handiwork are absolutely unique, shaped by
a complex interchange between temperature, moisture c...
Stephanie Martin
At ages 10, 11, and 12, preteens are still technically in the
children's ministry category-but they consider themselves too old
for elementary activities. They want to be tr...
Stephanie Martin
"EVERYBODY is shrinking!"
That's what one sixth-grader told Jim Still-Pepper, a
psychologist in Ohio. And in a very real sense, it's true. While
the rest of the world see...
Christine Yount Jones
At a recent family gathering, Bev glanced out the front window
to where the children were playing. What she saw shocked her. An
11-year-old boy ran up to an 11-year-old ...
Jennifer Hooks
As you enter your fifth-grade classroom, you notice several kids
gathered around Kate, a popular student, in the back of the room.
As you approach the group, you hear the fo...
Jennifer Hooks
Each new Sunday school year means new faces, new personalities,
and new opportunities to create a classroom environment that keeps
kids coming back. Great activities, re...
Dana Wilkerson
Strategies for getting your kids hopelessly hooked
on reading the Bible.
"Hmmm. What if a customer wanted cheese on his hamburger?"
"I wouldn't put it on. I'...
Tony P. Lane
7 essentials for developing, enhancing, and growing
kids' faith.
I started teaching Sunday school when I was 12. That was a while
ago.
Throughout my years in the clas...
Mary J. Davis
Bring on the white stuff with an avalanche of 20
free children's ministry activities and ideas for kids, families,
and teachers...
Whether kids live in the north, south,
...
From Instant Skits for Children's
Ministry.
Topic: Obeying Parents
Scriptures You Might Read: Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20
The Scene: A living room
The Simp...
Scott Kinner
When your lesson is broken...how to fix it every
time.
Here's a simple question: Looking back at your last lesson, what
did your kids learn? Don't answer that too quickly...
Clowns make children laugh. Smile. Snicker. Clowns can captivate
a child without saying a word. And a clown can teach a lesson a
child will never forget.
Clowning involve...
Christine Yount
We just moved into a new house. And for three weeks we were
without any television hookup. Then my husband and a friend climbed
up into the attic and put in a new antenna. T...
Jennifer Hooks
Use these 8 science activities to plug into kids'
curiosity about the way things work-and connect them to
God.
With the controversy of evolution versus creationism, we
...
Jennifer Hooks
Say goodbye to a blah classroom with
these 19 quick and cheap makeover ideas.
Ugh. The bleak walls. The boring layout. The
stale carpet. The blank bulletin boards. You ha...
15 new ideas to help you start a winning season of
ministry to children.
Before you know it, school will be kicking back into gear. If
you're a children's ministry direc...
Dale Hudson
7 amazingly simple but effective ways to reach
today's visual generation.
A great task lies before you. You're in a room full of children,
and you're trying to keep orde...
Mark Harper
Whether you're a Harry Potter fan or not, J.K.
Rowling's amazingly popular books can give you critical insights
for children's ministry.
I try to think of myself as an o...
Carmen Kamrath
The alarming trend of young kids on a quest to be thin can rob
your children of their very lives. Find out how you can help kids
and parents avoid the snare of food-related ...
Mike and Amy Nappa
Children's ministers' resolutions for the new year
-- and none of them are about dieting! Find out what's important to
your colleagues this year.
It's a new year. Time f...
Cindy Kenney
Theme ideas to turn up the heat when your ministry
cools off...
It's that time of the year. The skies are gray, the air is cold,
and kids would rather be home sleepin...
Amy Nappa
8 ways to get your creative juices
flowing.
If, as the author of Ecclesiastes says, there's nothing new under
the sun, why do other people seem to come up with so many n...
Make these buns the night before Easter to serve to children on
Easter morning. Children will enjoy biting into these buns to find
that they're empty-just as Jesus...
Give your kids a positive shot in the arm with these
ideas.
If there's one thing kids need today, it's an immunity to low
self-esteem. Many children are so infected by p...
Christine Yount Jones
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show
great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the
elect. Behold, I have told you in advance" (M...
Carol Younger
It can happen in almost any class. Kids are engaged in learning
through hands-on experiences, and then it hits. The class forms a
circle for story time and the mood sours. A...
Vince Isner
A friend was telling the story of Jesus walking on the water as
a children's sermon. "As I explained to them how Peter got out of
the boat and walked toward Jesus," he said,...
Sheila Halasz
How to Keep Your Subs From Sinking: Create a survival kit to
help substitute teacher succeed.
My phone rang early Sunday morning. I dreaded answering it. I
knew who was c...
Joyce Platek
Want to know how to conquer kids' learning obstacles? If after
every lesson your kids can say, "We came, we saw, we heard, we
touched," they'll also be able to say, "We conq...
Brent Van Elswyk
How children learn Bible stories--and ways to teach them.
AGE
2 to 5 years
HOW CHILDREN LEARN
Young children like to be read to with age-appropriate books. They
like ...
Julie Shaffer and Heather Ward
Here are 4 ways to help explain how God wants us to make
wise choices for ourselves.
1. FOLLOW ME
When children arrive, lead them in a game of Follow the Leader.
T...
Paul White, Ph.D.
From: September/October 1992 Children's Ministry Magazine
Keywords: News Insights
AGE
2 to 4 years
HOW CHILDREN REACT TO THE NEWS
When preschoolers overhear stor...
Chuck Bakinderchuck
Kids love to laugh. They need to laugh. In fact, I would go so
far as to say that without humor, children never really live.
God has given people the capacity to laugh. T...
We've had a variety of events on New Year's Day. Use our ideas
to ring in the new year at your church.
Have a Bigger and Better scavenger hunt. Form groups of six
chi...
Encourage your church to give the children in your ministry a
Prayer Valentine. Around the first of February, write each child's
name and age on a red cut-out heart. On the ...
Our preteen ministry challenges kids to invite friends who
aren't connected to a church to an all-day event hosted during a
day when school's on a teacher break day (which h...
Nick Diliberto
I took a step but couldn't move. I looked down to find a preteen
lying on the floor locking my feet together with his arms. He
seemed to want my attention, so I cracked a fe...
Stuff you'll need: Pan of unsliced, baked
cookie bars; wire cutters, 20 gauge X 18-inch green floral stem
wire; scissors; 1/4-inch-wide red satin ribbon; plastic wrap;
stai...
Larry Shallenberger
A recent eye-opening experience led me to a
surprising, shocking conclusion: Most of us, when it comes right
down to it, really aren't comfortable having children follow
Je...
Jennifer Hooks
We want kids to pray and trust God for answers, but
when it comes to the really big prayers -- the ones that need a
miracle -- how do we pray with kids?
Whether quiet...
Henry Zonio
In a random fourth-grade class not too long
ago, the teacher recited that week's verse with the kids.
But only a few were repeating the verse along with him. Finally,
one b...
