Special Needs

Little girl with glasses is putting both her hands behind her head as she looks over her glasses and down at the camera.

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2 mins

5 Signs You Need a Special Needs Ministry

As a busy children’s ministry leader, I often missed a lot that went on at church even when it was happening all around me—especially when it came to needing a…

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A woman volunteer hugs a boy with special needs.

Family Ministry Resources

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3 mins

5 Ways Special Needs Families Enrich Your Church

Often when talking about families living with special needs, we focus on the side of practical disability ministry—programs, needed resources, volunteers. That’s all good and necessary, but it’s only half…

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An elementary aged boy with special learning needs raises his hand.

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3 mins

How to Recognize Kids With Special Learning Needs

If Sunday school teachers don’t know how to recognize kids with special learning needs, they’re at a severe disadvantage. Use this special teacher-training meeting plan with this article. A learning…

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A female children's director smiles kindly as she talks with a group of parents of children with special needs.

Family Ministry Resources

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2 mins

7 Tips on Partnering With Parents in Special Needs Ministry

To make the most of any time you have with children with special needs, it’s important to team up with parents. Here are seven tips on partnering with parents in…

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Three preteen girls sit on a table next to a playground.

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2 mins

Special Needs: What You Need to Know About Playground Safety

All kids love playgrounds! If you minister to children with special needs, here’s what you need to know about keeping your kids safe as they play. Chances are you take…

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A preteen boy with Tourette Syndrome smiles as he participates in a large group activity.

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2 mins

Special Needs Ministry: Assisting a Child With Tourette Syndrome

If you have a child in your classroom who appears to have problems with muscle and vocal control, it may be Tourette syndrome. Here are some strategies to help. Tourette’s…

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A female volunteer talks to a sad looking boy.

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9 mins

Walking Wounded: How to Recognize When Kids Are in Crisis

Traversing a kid’s inner world requires attention, compassion, intuition, and common sense. How do we recognize the signs that a child is covering up a trauma, crisis, or hurt? “Come…

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An elementary-aged girl with a disability runs happily through a field.

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5 mins

How to Develop a Ministry for Kids With Disabilities

Joni Eareckson Tada on how to develop a ministry for kids with disabilities. When a boy’s arms are paralyzed, how does he raise his hand in Sunday school? How does…

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A child is playing outside, but is making a face showing that she has anxiety over the activity.

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3 mins

What Is an Anxiety Disorder and How Can I Help a Child With Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders aren’t just found in adults. Children can face anxiety, too. Here’s what you need to know and how you can help. I parent two children with disabilities, and…

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An adult volunteer holds on to the hands of two boys who were hitting each other.

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3 mins

Discipline Secrets to Resolve Challenging Behavior in Children’s Ministry

Every Sunday school teacher should be equipped with these critical discipline secrets to resolve behavior challenges in their classrooms. Kids are going through a lot these days and their behavior…

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A mom stands in a hallway of a church helping her daughter who is in a wheel chair. Her son is standing next to her, as well.

Special Needs Tips

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3 mins

How to Welcome Families With Children With Special Needs

Being a new family at church can be nerve-wracking, especially if your child has special needs. Here’s how your church can welcome all families. Actively Welcome Families I was in…

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A preschool girl with diabetes smiles as she plays outside.

Leader Resources

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2 mins

Special Needs Ministry: Ministering to Children With Diabetes

Does your church have a plan in place to minister to children with diabetes? Here’s what you need to know to make sure your classroom is prepared. What is diabetes?…

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A female volunteer at a training meeting for ministering to kids with special needs.

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2 mins

Training Meeting for Special Needs Ministry Teachers

Use this teacher training meeting to train your Sunday school teachers for helping children with special needs or learning disabilities. 1. Tough Act Form three groups. Give each teacher in…

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A girl comforts her friend who looks sad.

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1 min

5 Secrets Siblings of Kids With Special Needs Wish You Knew

Ever wonder what the siblings of children with special needs are thinking and feeling? Here are 5 secrets—in their words—they wish you knew. The hit song from the late 1960s…

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A VBS volunteer hugging a boy with special needs.

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2 mins

4 Things to Keep in Mind as You Start a Special Needs Ministry

Thinking about a special needs ministry start-up in your church? Here are four things to keep in mind as you get started. Children’s pastors are often the first members of…

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how to support kids with adhd

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3 mins

How to Support Kids With ADHD

If you have children with ADHD in your classroom, you’re not alone. Some 3 to 5 percent of all kindergarten through 12th grade students have been diagnosed with some form…

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A girl with allergies stares at her small group leader.

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2 mins

Special Needs: How to Serve Children With Allergies

Allergies are likely the most common special needs problem teachers face in the classroom. Here are things you need to know to serve children with allergies in your ministry. Twenty…

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Two girls with blonde hair are sitting on the floor. The older one, who's about 7, is hugging the younger one, who is a preschooler.

Leader Resources

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2 mins

How to Minister to Kids With Developmental Disabilities

“Developmental disability” can cover many issues. Here’s what you need to know about how to minister to a child with a developmental disability. Years ago I had a developmentally disabled…

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An elementary-aged boy is using a plastic cup to scoop out popcorn, which is a gluten free snack.

Bible Activities and Sermons

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1 min

15 Easy Gluten-Free Snack Ideas for Children’s Ministry

If you’re going to offer a snack in your children’s ministry, it’s important to make sure all children can have a snack. That means you may have to provide gluten-free…

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young boy hugging group leader

Family Ministry Resources

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9 mins

Mental Illness and Your Ministry

What you need to know about the mental illness issues families are dealing with today—and why we’re all so reluctant to talk about it. Justin and Brenda are dismayed to…

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Online children's ministry

Leader Resources

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4 mins

Why Online Children’s Ministry Is Important for Children With Special Needs

Here’s why online children’s ministry is a brand-new opportunity to minister to children and families living with special needs. Because of COVID-19, churches have had to adapt and make adjustments…

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