Teach your preteens to use words of affirmation today! In this 10-30 minute, low-prep activity, preteens will discover that respect and words of affirmation can be faith-affirming.

You’ll need:

• Bible
• various cotton pompoms

Pass the Praise and Use Words of Affirmation

Before your class arrives, decide which pompom will be the “special pompom.” Perhaps it’s one of a unique color or size.

Have the kids sit in a circle, and read Philemon 6-7 aloud.

Ask:

• What do these verses tell us about the way we should treat each other?
• Why do you think this is important?

Give each person a pompom.

Say: Now I’d like everyone to hold up a pompom. One is the special pompom. Whoever is holding that pompom must sit in the middle of the circle.

Each person in the group will then say words of affirmation for the person in the middle. Kind, uplifting words. When we use words of affirmation when we speak with each other, we’re not only encouraging and sharing God’s love; we’re also sharing our faith!

• Tell which pompom is the special pompom and then have the person holding that pompom sit in the middle.
• After everyone has offered words of affirmation, invite the person in the middle to rejoin the circle with the special pompom in hand.
• Next, have the kids pass their pompoms to the right. They’ll continue to pass the pompoms until you say “stop.”
• Then instruct everyone to hold up their pompom again. Whoever is holding the special pompom goes to the center of the circle, and the process repeats.
• Continue until everyone has sat in the middle of the circle and heard words of affirmation.

This idea is adapted from Group Builder Games and Activities for Youth Ministry, which is designed to help tear down walls and build community in any group of teenagers. Check it out on group.com!

Looking for more ministry activities for preteens? Check out these ideas!