What do you do when the pastor’s Christmas message goes long? Try these 3 Christmas-themed overtime activities in your children’s ministry.

More Than Time Fillers: 3 “Overtime” Activities to Try This Christmas

In sports, “overtime” is the extra time needed to figure out who wins the game. In children’s ministry, “overtime” is the extra time you have with kids when the sermon goes long. As in sports, overtime can be chaotic, stressful, and downright tiring.

But never fear! We have three FREE overtime activities for you to try that are perfect for the Christmas season—no supplies needed!

In an article called “Worship Wonders: Teaching Kids to Worship in Children’s Church,” Ali Thompson, the managing editor of DIG IN curriculum explains how to make “overtime” more meaningful. She writes: “[Overtime] activities are designed to run for as long as you need them to—from a couple of minutes to whenever the service finally wraps up. They can even end gradually as some kids leave and other kids wait for their parents.”

She goes on to explain, “Your time with kids is so precious and so limited. If you’ve been given extra time because of a long service, don’t waste it with time fillers! Make every second worshipful by using meaningful overtime activities that take the lesson even deeper.”

Below, you’ll find three simple ideas that keep kids having fun while learning about God’s love for them.

Overtime Activity #1: Someone Special

Kids ask questions to identify a person.

Connect to the Bible

Say: If you knew someone as important as God’s own Son was coming to earth, you might expect God to tell the super-duper important people first. In our world today, that might mean the celebrities, athletes, or successful business people. At least, that’s who our culture thinks is important.

Ask: Why do you think those people are considered more important?

Say: We know that in God’s eyes, we’re all important to God! Jesus came for us even when we feel like nobodies. That makes us somebodies.

Play 20 Questions

Let’s think of people our world might consider important.

• Kids form mixed-age groups of four.
• An older child thinks of a famous person.
• Everyone else asks “yes or no” questions to try to figure out the identity of the person.
• Older kids can help younger ones formulate questions.
• Let the game keep going as long as needed to fill time until parents begin to arrive.
• If a child gets picked up before someone guesses their answer, they can reveal the answer on their way out.

Overtime Activity #2: Snicker-Free Stare-Down

Kids have a staring contest.

Connect to the Bible

Say: We know that God brings us laughter. But right now,  your goal will be not to laugh! and your other goal is to make other people laugh. In fact, that second goal is a great way to bring God’s joy to people all the time!

Have a Staring Contest

• Kids form pairs and engage in a stare-down.
• A partner wins if he or she blinks last or can make the partner laugh by making funny faces—without breaking the stare.
• When each pair has a winner, they can form new pairs and keep playing.
• Let the game keep going as long as needed to fill time until parents begin to arrive.

Overtime Activity #3: Cheer-Full

Kids create cheers and chants to celebrate Jesus.

Connect to the Bible

Say: Have you ever been to a sporting event or maybe seen one on TV? Sometimes the crowd breaks into cheers like “Let’s go, Red Sox!” (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap) or maybe a specific chant for their team, like “Roll tide!” Some teams have a call-and-response cheer, like where one person shouts, “O-H!” and everyone responds, “I-O” to spell Ohio. Sometimes there are even motions or claps to go with the cheer or chant. 

Ask: What’s a sports cheer or chant you’ve heard?

Be a Cheering Crowd

Say: We’re going to be a cheering crowd for Jesus because Jesus appreciates our love. 

• Form mixed-age groups of around four kids.
• Groups work together to make up a cheer or chant.
• Groups all do their cheers at the same time, then take turns so everyone can hear and learn a new cheer.
• Groups take turns leading everyone in their cheer.
• If you still have more time before parents begin to arrive, kids can form new groups and invent more cheers.

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These activities come from Group’s DIG IN Children’s Church curriculum! In DIG IN Children’s Church, kids connect with God through engaging, worship-filled activities. Wonder what’s the difference between Sunday school and Children’s Church? We’ll show you! Check out this article! Looking for more children’s activities? Check out these posts!