Kids are wiggly and giggly and chatty. And we love them for it! But what do you do when kids just can’t seem to tune in to your teaching? Read on to find out!

You’re teaching. Some kids are listening. Others are fidgeting, whispering to a friend, and preschoolers are wandering off to the Lego table! Oh dear. Getting kids’ attention is one thing. Keeping it? Well, that can be a little tricky sometimes. So when it comes to engaging kids and helping them learn, it’s good to ask experts for some help.

Meet Dr. Virginia Brennan and Dr. Valerie Davidson! These seasoned leaders became friends through a doctorate program. Now, they cohost the KidMin with Dr. Val & Dr. Virginia podcast, are the brains behind kidmindoctor.com, and regularly speak at ministry conferences and events. In fact, they’ve chimed in on other classroom management topics here on childrensministry.com like in “Help! The Kids Won’t Participate!”

In this article, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia give kidmin leaders guidance for when kids don’t seem to be paying attention.

The Doctors Are In!

Here is today’s question:

Dear Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia,

Kids in my group just won’t sit still and listen! They wiggle, giggle, and can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves. What can we do?

First, let’s tackle this topic with preschoolers in mind…

When Preschoolers Aren’t Paying Attention

#1. Move!

Dr. Virginia says with a smile, “Well, get them moving! Don’t try to fight it. Get those preschoolers moving!”

Dr. Val agrees, “We need to remember that kids need to move. If we’re trying to lecture for a long period of time, kids will get the wiggles.”

As a rule of thumb, a child’s attention span mirrors the child’s age. So a 3-year-old has about a 3-minute attention span. And an 8-year-old will tune in for around 8 minutes. After that, kids start to get fidgety.

With that guideline in mind, Dr. Val suggests preschool leaders proactively plan activities in short time blocks that keep kids moving—the way they their little bodies need (and want) to!

Dr. Val explains, “You’re teaching the same lesson, but you’re teaching it in short little bursts of activities all throughout the time they’re in the classroom. That’s going to keep kids more engaged in what you’re saying, and it’s going to help them to process and learn better.” In other words, intentionally adding movement helps young kids channel their wiggles for good.

Dr. Virginia acknowledges that this takes a little more planning and preparation, but it pays off in the long run. So incorporate things like hand motions, marching, repeating rhymes, clapping, songs, and call and responses into your Bible storytelling.

Dr. Virginia also suggests having everyone move to different parts of the room throughout a lesson. You could start at tables, move to the carpet, shift to an open space, then return to tables and chairs. Moving right along won’t lose attention spans—it’ll keep them!

Dr. Val suggests, “Even just pausing for a wiggle break gives kids the motion they need. Then it’s on to your next activity or the next part of the story.”

You’ll find these attention span strategies already baked into a kid-friendly Sunday school curriculum. Check out these great options!  

#2. Remember how preschoolers learn.

Kids of all ages learn in different ways. We learn kinesthetically through movement and touch. Visuals help us process information. We experience auditory learning as we hear books and talk with each other. Music and drawing help us remember and express our discoveries. And of course reading and writing help people learn, too. But too often, teachers for kids of all ages only focus on the reading and writing part. To get and keep kids’ attention, teachers need to help kids access to all these learning methods.

Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia recommend considering the various ways kids learn. Dr. Val mentions specific benefits of kinesthetic learning: “Some kids are kinesthetic learners, which means they learn better when they’re in motion.”

She notes that there are even chemicals in our brains that help us remember things when we’re in motion. The chemicals are released when we move and help with retention.

With this knowledge in mind, we realize it’s not natural for young kids to sit quietly and listen for a long time. God didn’t wire them that way!

Dr. Val says, “As adults, over the years we’ve learned how to listen to lectures, take notes, and sit in class. Many teachers think that’s the best way to teach, and that’s what ‘real’ teachers do. But we adults have learned to learn that way.”

When you teach preschoolers, these young children are still making discoveries naturally—the way God created them to learn. So embrace the wiggles. Embrace the movement. It’s what God created preschoolers to need as they learn.

Interested in learning more about kids and their learning preferences? Consider this Group U course called “How Kids Learn.”

When Elementary and Preteen Kids Aren’t Paying Attention

Now let’s focus on elementary-age kids. Many of the preschool principles apply to them, too. Here are some specific ways to help older kids focus and reengage with you and your teaching.

#1. Play games.

For elementary kids, incorporate games and activities where they get to move and maybe even compete a bit. Preteens especially enjoy a competitive element.

Rather than pitting kids against each other, though, consider having them work together to race the clock or try to top their own record each round. Games that emphasize collaboration and working together will complement, rather than derail your teaching.

Dr. Val suggests helping kids get to know the Bible through games, too. She recalls her time serving in children’s ministry: “I would keep some game ideas and items, like books of the Bible written on Popsicle sticks or on clothespins with strings. They were always available when teachers had extra time, when kids needed to get moving, or when teachers needed to change the flow of the class to regain some focus.”

Games help kids get to know each other and form friendships, too. Factor in time at the beginning of your lesson to play some get-to-know-you-games. Try these “3 No-Fail, Super Fun, Befriending Games for Kids.”

Games build skills and friendships, and they also help kids apply Bible learning to everyday life—right then and there! Games that require the fruit of the Spirit like patience, kindness, self-control, and gentleness serve as a test kitchen of sorts, allowing kids to move and see how a friendship with Jesus matters—even as they play.

Group’s Dig In Curriculum has three activity blocks dedicated to games. One with active games, one with quick overtime games, and one with low-energy games for when there just isn’t space in your classroom to run and play. Try out the free demo lesson builder and create a sample lesson today! 

 #2. Give jobs.

When attention spans are spent and the kids’ behavior becomes a distraction, it helps to give them something to do—like a special job!

Dr. Val says, “For me, I always tend to make [the child not paying attention] my helper. If I notice they were really struggling, they’d be the one I’d ask to hand out the pencils, or to come hold a sign for me.”

Those special “jobs” can help kids reengage. Plus, you’re giving the attention they may crave in a positive and helpful way.

Dr. Val tries not to call out the name of a child who isn’t paying attention. Many times, the child isn’t paying attention because he’s trying to get attention. Dr. Val cautions, “If we give them that negative attention, a lot of times they’re going to continue to do what they’re doing to continue to gain that negative attention. So try really hard not call out a single child.”

Instead, give positive attention! A job, a kind reminder to the whole class about rules, or a fun, impromptu song, game, or dance party helps everyone to reengage.

All Together Sunday School lessons begin by giving everyone a job! It’s a proactive way to engage and empower kids throughout the lesson. Follow this link to find a free lesson sample and see some simple jobs for kids.

#3. Make time for discussion.

Dr. Virginia notes, “Especially for preteens, be sure to include and not skip over discussion questions in your lesson. You might worry that, once they get talking, you won’t be able to get kids quiet. But they want and need to talk to their peers and mentors. It’s super important for their social and emotional development at that age. So give kids time to discuss these biblical ideas and guide their conversation in a productive way.”

In the article “Kids Should Be Seen and Heard: 5 Ways to Make Conversation Part of Your Ministry,” author Jody Brolsma suggests, “It’s not wrong to ask kids to listen, but sprinkle plenty of conversational moments throughout your lesson to give every person a chance to talk. As a result, it’s likely that you’ll see discipline problems vanish, because you’ve given kids the chance to be kids! Plus, a discussion in place of a lecture will take life-application deeper, allowing kids to explore how God’s Word applies to their everyday lives.”

#4. Use an attention-getter.

When kids are having fun, they’ll get loud! The classroom may be a little chaotic, too. But they’re engaged and learning experientially! When it’s time to regain kids’ attention, though, it can be helpful to have an attention getting signal that kids can hear and quickly respond to.

Dr. Val suggests a clapping pattern that kids repeat after you. (It’s much better on your vocal chords than shouting!) For Group VBS programs, we’ve used anything from train whistles to dinner bells to rattles! Just be sure to explain to kids what it is and what to do when they hear the attention getter.

Need more easy attention getting ideas? Check out “1, 2, 3—Eyes on Me! 9 Engaging Ways to Quiet a Chatty Class.”

Give Grace and Space

Dr. Val reminds us, “It’s really hard when you have kids for only an hour a week to have any sort of effective punitive method of changing behavior. You don’t have kids long enough to do that. So in church, finding ways to redirect or engage them in a different way is much more beneficial than giving them a timeout punishment. Remember, we’re wanting kids to love to come to church.”

So sometimes it’s OK if kids aren’t perfectly focused on you and your teaching. As long as they aren’t hurting or distracting others, consider giving up that desire for control. Whisper a prayer of blessing over the distracted child and keep going for a few more minutes. That child just might be ready to reengage when you encourage soon!

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Meet the Experts!

Dr. Virginia Brennan serves as a kids’ ministry director in Florida. She has a passion for equipping adults with the tools to disciple children well. She speaks at conferences and enjoys investing in children’s ministry leaders. Virginia has a M.A. and Ed.D. in Christian education, with a focus on child development and spiritual formation. When Virginia isn’t podcasting and blogging, you can find her at theme parks with her husband and two kids.

 

Dr. Valerie Davidson has served in Christian education and children’s ministry for over 25 years. As a writer, conference leader, and cohost of the KidMin with Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia podcast, Val has a heart to equip leaders to engage deeply with the Word of God, teach, and lead with clarity and purpose. Val is a fan of theme parks, Star Wars, the em dash, and the oxford comma and can usually be found with a London Fog desperately writing in a coffee shop.

 

Check out their website, www.kidmindoctor.com, and find additional resources at https://linktr.ee/kidmindoctor.