Mother’s Day Messaging: How to Make All Kids Feel Included on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, but Mother’s Day for kids without moms can be challenging. Many children’s ministry directors are looking for ideas to celebrate the hardworking mothers who care for the kids in their churches, while also trying to balance sensitivity.
It’s wonderful to celebrate mothers, and to help kids do so. But at the same time, Mother’s Day can be a sensitive holiday for many people. For women in your church, many may long to be mothers but haven’t had that dream filled. Or they’ve struggled with infertility or loss of children. For many people of all genders and ages, Mother’s Day can be hard due to loss of a mother, a separated relationship from their mother, or simply having a mother who doesn’t provide adequate care.
So how can your church celebrate mothers while also being sensitive to those for whom Mother’s Day is a hard day? We’ll give you five ideas that will help you celebrate Mother’s Day in a way that makes all kids feel included.
#1: Remember Nontraditional Families
As you talk about Mother’s Day in your ministry, watch the language you use. Don’t assume all kids have living, loving mothers in their lives. In 2026 in the United States, 2.3 million grandparents are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. Over 400,000 children in the U.S. are currently in foster care. And 7% of households are run by single fathers, a number that has jumped from 4.6% in 2000.
In other words, the kids in your ministry likely have a variety of familial backgrounds. They won’t all fit the “mom, dad, and two kids” mold.
Simply by using terms like “let’s celebrate moms and people who love us like moms,” we can help kids feel seen. Recognize that on Mother’s Day, kids may be celebrating a grandmother who is their primary caregiver, a foster mom who they only just met and don’t really know how to celebrate, an aunt or mentor who has taken the child under her wing, or even a father who is stepping in to fill the role of both parents. Your language should be inclusive of these variables.
#2: Show God’s Maternal Side
It can feel more natural to show God’s paternal side on Father’s Day, since the Bible directly calls God our Father in numerous places. But don’t neglect the opportunity to point out God’s maternal qualities, on Mother’s Day.
God made both men and women in his image. And that means we can turn to him to see what a loving parent of either gender looks like. So for kids who’ve felt abandoned or let down by mothers who haven’t shown God’s love well, point to the love and care they can always find from God.
You could have kids use stuffed animals including birds to show how animal mothers care for their young, then read the related passages to explore how God nurtures and cares for us in a similar way. This can help kids of all backgrounds recognize that there’s someone who always loves and cares for them.
#3: Make Mother’s Day a Part of the Lesson
You can celebrate mothers and mother figures without planning your entire lesson around it. Stick with your regular curriculum plan for the main lesson, and add an intro or closing that helps kids celebrate maternal influences in an inclusive way.
By following this advice, you make sure that even if Mother’s Day is a hard day for some of your kids, they’ll walk away with something relevant to them about whatever topic your lesson was on that week. It offers a focal point to make sure there’s something for everyone.
#4: Make Mother’s Day Celebrations Optional
One great way to celebrate mothers is having kids make crafts they can give as Mother’s Day gifts. Instead of having just one craft option that focuses on mothers, offer two or three craft options and let kids choose which station to go to. That way kids who want to make a gift for their moms can do so, but kids who are struggling with the day can make a craft that fits with your lesson’s theme, or perhaps a springtime craft to celebrate warmer weather.
#5: Be Ready to Talk
No matter how careful you are with your words, Mother’s Day is just going to be hard for some. There’s no way around that. Some women avoid going to church altogether on Mother’s Day knowing it will be emotionally taxing, but kids don’t get to make that choice.
So look for the kids who appear like they may be struggling today. If you know some family situations where kids have lost their moms or have been taken away from or abandoned by their moms, keep an eye on those kids. Ask them, “How are you feeling today?” or “Is there anything you’d like to do here today?”
Perhaps getting out a favorite toy, getting picked to be “It” in a game of Tag, or getting to be the Line Leader can help kids have something positive to remember about the day.
Reassure these kids that if they ever need anything or just need someone to talk to, you’re there. Make sure you’ve got other volunteers lined up to take the lead so you can really give your full time and attention to kids who want to share, rather than making them feel like a quick aside. This download can help you be prepared to address a variety of tough topics that may arise in children’s ministry.
Need more help planning for Mother’s Day? Use our checklist to make sure you’re ready to go! Or check out this idea to help moms connect all year round!
