In each issue of Children's Ministry Magazine we offer exclusive extra content, ideas, and downloadables found only at childrensministry.com as a benefit to our readers. Use these...
Henry Zonio
In a random fourth-grade class not too long ago, the teacher recited that week's verse with the kids. But only a few were repeating the verse along with him. Finally, one boy raised...
Dear Preschool Parents, Leaving your children in the care of other adults, even at church, can be difficult. Most children adjust quickly, and although they may be upset when you...
Ingredients: Chocolate pudding, small paper cups, chocolate cookies, resealable plastic bags, plastic spoons, and gummy animals or animal crackers. Have kids each fill a small paper...
Ingredients: Large and miniature marshmallows, white frosting, red licorice whips, Red Hots candies, plastic knives, and paper plates. Give each child two large marshmallows for the...
Ingredients: Blue Jell-O gelatin, boiling water, cool water, gummy sharks, clear plastic cups, a mixing bowl, and a mixing spoon. Combine the gelatin and boiling water in the mixing...
Every child wants to be valued. So try these awesome affirmation ideas with your kids: *Look children in the eye. Talk to children on their level. Get on the floor if necessary....
Tidy Sunday school rooms with these simple tips: *Rub dirty stuffed toys with cornmeal, and brush. *Sort small toys into plastic baskets on shelves where children can reach them....
Having a hard time holding children's attention for Bible stories? Try these ideas: *Give children paper and colored pencils. As you tell Bible stories, have kids draw simple...
Jennifer Hooks
We want kids to pray and trust God for answers, but when it comes to the really big prayers -- the ones that need a miracle -- how do we pray with kids? Whether quiet whispers in...
Everyone lies. But the way young children lie is different from the way adults lie. Three- and 4-year-olds "live by a simple rule: Good people do good things," says Lawrence Kutner,...
Help kids understand that God wants us to hold Jesus in our hearts with these easy-to-make Valentine's Day cupcakes. You'll need: A prepared cake mix and strawberry preserves. Spoon...
Stuff you'll need: Pan of unsliced, baked cookie bars; wire cutters, 20 gauge X 18-inch green floral stem wire; scissors; 1/4-inch-wide red satin ribbon; plastic wrap; stainless...
Kristine Wendt
Imagine yourself in a crowded, chaotic room. Now imagine that this crowded room is 6-inches shorter than you are and your clothing contains itchy wool fabric that's pricking your...
Nick Diliberto
I took a step but couldn't move. I looked down to find a preteen lying on the floor locking my feet together with his arms. He seemed to want my attention, so I cracked a few jokes...
Our preteen ministry challenges kids to invite friends who aren't connected to a church to an all-day event hosted during a day when school's on a teacher break day (which happens...
Encourage your church to give the children in your ministry a Prayer Valentine. Around the first of February, write each child's name and age on a red cut-out heart. On the back,...
Kids will enjoy parting their own Red Sea before enjoying this tasty snack. For each child you'll need a clear 9-ounce plastic cup filled with blue gelatin. You'll also need whipped...
A fun Valentine's Day snack that kids will love to make! Make soft pretzels and have kids shape them into hearts. Prepare the dough ahead of time and let the dough rise before you...
Objective: Kids will learn that God protects them. Stuff you'll need: Dinner-roll dough, Hershey's Kisses, cinnamon-sugar mixture in a bowl, melted margarine in a bowl, a large...
Kids will enjoy cooking up this fun Bible cake--and they'll learn how to find different books in the Bible more effectively while they're at it. Photocopy this recipe, gather the...
Here''s an easy way to prevent spills while children enjoy painting. You'll need one baby food jar for each color, one inexpensive water color brush for each jar, a thin sponge...
Idea: You need an 8oz. clear plastic cup,1 quart of vanilla ice cream and 1 quart of strawberry ice cream and peppermint extract. Mix the extract in the vanilla ice cream. Then make...
Snack: You'll need: Plain sugar cookies cut in a variety of Christmas shapes, ready-to-spread icing, decorator sprinkles, and blunt knives. Directions: Let children frost and...
Theme: Celebrating Jesus' birth Verses to Devour: Matthew 2:10-11 Supplies: five gingersnap cookies, a resealable plastic sandwich bag, a teaspoon, corn syrup, creamy peanut butter,...
One toddler behavior that causes consternation in the nursery is biting! First, there's trauma to the child who feels the instant pain and indignation, then there's her parent who...
1. A Bird's Eye View -(Supplies: paper and markers.) Send children to tables with paper and markers. Say : Pretend that you were a bird at Jesus' birth. Draw what you would've seen....
Our preschoolers love to draw with markers but so often lose or forget to replace the caps. We created a simple marker caddy which has worked well for us. Using a block of wood at...
Jody Capehart
HOW CHILDREN SOLVE PROBLEMS Older children consider peers more important than family at this age. They'll watch how their peers solve problems. At about 11 years old, most children...
Jody Capehart
HOW CHILDREN SOLVE PROBLEMS Children at this age are losing their ability to be multisensory. Somewhere between ages 6 and 8, kids begin to learn in specific ways. And their...
Jody Capehart
HOW CHILDREN SOLVE PROBLEMS Children at this age are still highly multisensory. They learn and solve problems when they touch and do. Three-year-olds may not be as assertive as...
Give each child an apple. Help children core the apple. Then have them mix together peanut butter and honey. Kids can fill their apple with the peanut butter mixture, leaving a...
You'll need: A slice of poundcake for each child, yellow frosting, Gummi Savers candies, thin licorice ropes, and blunt knives. Directions: Have children spread frosting on...
Are babies and toddlers too young to learn about God and grow spiritually? Should children's ministry include children this young? According to the Bible, we are never too young to...
Patrick Snow
Preteens. They're silly, goofy, and obnoxious. They can't sit still and seldom pay attention. They love screaming and doing anything that involves getting messy. And that's just...
Jody Capehart
Helpful disciplinary tips for teachers that'll help increase joy and effectiveness in the classroom . You love God and children . You feel called to teach and be enthusiastic about...
Jody Capehart
Essential strategies for postive, proactive classroom management. You love God and children. You feel called to teach and be enthusiastic about the year ahead. But now you find...
Sue Kahawaii, Adam Walsh, and Courtney Walsh
9 ideas to make this your most amazing fall for families, children, and your entire church. Colorful leaves, football, hayrides, apple cider, a return to school, and fuller Sunday...
Natalie Eggum
Your preschool ministry offers an opportunity to infuse little ones with faith at one of the most important moments in their lives. If you work with preschoolers, it's likely you're...
Ali Thompson
"Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples' " ( Luke 11:1 )....
Here are recommendations on books so kids can learn more about Heather Whitestone, a Christian and the first physically challenged woman to win the crown of Miss America. Heather...
Ideas for families to discover the Good News of Easter--from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. Palm Sunday Discovery Easter Tree of Promises - Take a family walk and pick up a...
I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood near Chicago in the 1940s and 50s where I lived with my parents and brother. By the time I was a preteen, I already had plans for college...
Jennifer Hooks
Here's how to keep today's techno kids from "powering down" the minute they walk into your room... Recently I casually observed a mixed-age ministry program in a small church I...
Deb Vos and Todd Hair
Got time on your hands and a room full of kids-but you've used up all your lesson? Here's your indispensable guide for turning unexpected time into unexpected joy. You've just...
From frogs to bunblebees, these fun and creative cupcake decorating ideas are sure to be a hit with your Sunday school class at snack time. Use this list of cupcake decorating ideas...
Help kids learn that with God we can overcome problems and fears with the help of this Bible activity. I Can't Jar I have an "I can't" jar in my classroom. When kids say they can't...
Christine Yount Jones
Cue the eerie music... "It's the middle ground between light and shadow...between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge...Enter, if you will, The Preteen Zone."...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Create a tasty celebration of God's creation that will be a hit at snack time. For this simple recipe you will need: Stuff: Bugles corn snacks, vanilla frosting, fruit-flavored rice...
Children's Ministry Magazine
A sweet and tasty snack that packs a great lesson-Jesus pours out his sweet love over us. Stuff: Diced apples, caramel sauce, plastic forks, and plastic bowls. Give each child a...
Scott Kinner
How would you feel if you broke your arm and the emergency room doctor handed you a bottle of aspirin and said, "Take two of these and go home and rest"? And as you pondered this...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Use these preteen spiritual gift inventories with kids to help them discover their God-given gifts and talents. Spiritual Gifts Inventory for Children Spiritual Gifts Inventories...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Minimize negativity and create a positive atmosphere with these tips... A negative child often seeks love and craves attention. A negative attitude, though, can disrupt your...
Donald Welch
You don't have to be a mental health professional to help troubled children -- you only need a deep commitment to Jesus and kids, and a whole lot of empathy... Imagine your Sunday...
Gordon West
Fifth and sixth graders don't want to be treated like little children. They want to feel important! Here's how to pull off a training program that'll inspire kids this age......
Carmen Kamrath
Faster than a prayer on wings, more powerful than dynamite, able to leap over any problem. Introduce Jesus as the real hero kids can look up to. But first, understand what qualities...
Children's Ministry Magazine
This small stuffed teddy bear came with a card of instructions around his neck and a cross necklace. The children took turns taking the bear home for one week. The card around the...
Greg Baird
The discipline tools you already have -- you just don't know it yet... You were gung-ho to instruct children in the things of God! Chances are, though, after a few classes your...
Kurt Johnston
About six months ago, I had heart surgery. It happened suddenly, I didn't see it coming, and I haven't discussed it much. But I think it's time to go public. "Bree," an...
Mix preteens, adults, and a whole bunch of questions about Jesus, and what do you get? Chuckles, ah-has, and insights -- about kids, their faith, and your ministry. In the fun...
Adam Day
Whether you're a pushover, a control freak, a scaredy-cat, or just plain clueless about discipline -- you can become a better classroom manager. One recent Sunday I was on my usual...
Come and see how God's people are shining his light into the broken places of children's lives. "God is good." For some children, they're not so sure that's true -- when their lives...
Give yourself a new perspective on nursery safety by positioning yourself in all the places babies "hang out." Kneel down at baby's eye-level in the swings, infant seats, cribs, and...
Scott Kinner
Looking back at your last lesson, what did your kids learn? It's not such a simple question. Here are ways to make your lesson learner-based and maximize each child's potential....
Jennifer Hooks
Maximize your ministry to children at risk for social, educational, and spiritual challenges... Recently a friend took a small group of preschoolers and volunteers to a local indoor...
Children's Ministry Magazine
To welcome visitors to your room, lead preschoolers in singing this song to the tune of "Happy Birthday"... Happy welcome to you. Happy welcome to you. Happy welcome; God bless you....
Sondra Sanders
Separation anxiety is a normal stage of behavioral growth in toddlers, and it arrives at different ages for all children. Some toddlers may be fine when saying goodbye to their...
Lori Haynes Niles
Use this snack to enhance fishy lessons such as Jonah and the big fish... You'll need vanilla wafers, vanilla pudding, blue food coloring, whipped topping, chocolate wafer cookies,...
Children's Ministry Magazine
The 16 A+ ideas in this special section will keep your kids from playing hooky from church! Yellow school buses. Crisp backpacks. The smell of new school supplies. The sound of...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Is it possible to communicate the gospel on a child's level? Here are two different perspectives... Christianity embodies the eternal story of salvation. God sent his son Jesus...
Jennifer Hooks
Transforming your Sunday school classroom into an exciting learning environment for kids can be tough on a budget. Here are 19 ideas that'll cost you next to nothing... Ugh. The...
Children's Ministry Magazine talked with Dr. Kevin Leman, author of "The Birth Order Book," about how birth order impacts classrooms and what to do about it... Devan is bossy and...
Gordon West
Stopping at a fast-food restaurant with a bus full of kids can take way too much time and create a headache for the restaurant staff and customers. That may not be the publicity you...
Gordon West
Spend time with children's ministry leaders these days and one of the topics of conversation is sure to be ministry to sixth-graders. What works with this unique age group? THE...
Lisa Cowman
Use these 14 playful ideas to reinforce your lessons about the Word of God. It's been a long week, and Saturday night has you scrambling through your lesson plan. Quickly skimming...
Carmen Kamrath
It seems respect for authority has dwindled, attention spans have decreased significantly, and as a result volunteers are weary. Is discpline a thing of the past? Here's help for...
Jennifer Hooks
The nursery was perfect. Matching cribs lined one wall, each with crisp pink and blue checked sheets. Developmentally appropriate toys sat neatly on white shelves just waiting for...
Walter Norvell
What threatens growth in your ministry? Like a summer garden, you need to clear out the "weeds" and "pests" if you want your children's ministry to grow... "Mary, Mary, quite...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Try this creative way to keep each child's crafts cleary identified to avoid end-of-class confusion. Free Children's Ministry Idea: In our Sunday school class, it's hard to find...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Invite mothers, grandmothers, and special female guests to accompany children to this party during your Sunday school or children's church hour. Serve cupcakes and punch. For punch,...
Children's Ministry Magazine
As parents, we don't think twice about praying for God to bestow blessings on our children. But it's often easy to overlook the importance of praying for God's blessings on the...
Gordon West
[Q]: I think we should use a time-out chair at church. Other teachers say, "Never!" What do you think? [A]: Kids need consistency. So whatever you do, your church teachers must come...
William Chad Newsom
I know Jesus said he had all the power, but is that the same power that Pokemon and Digimon characters have?" "Moses parted the Red Sea, but have you seen what Harry Potter's done...
Steven James
The Bible is the greatest love story ever written and the most thrilling adventure ever told. Yet all too often in children's ministry, when it's time for retelling events from...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Though many church nurseries require workers to use gloves for changing diapers, gloves don't substitute for effective hand-washing. Hand-washing is still the best way to prevent...
Lori Haynes Niles
Toward the end of babies' time in the nursery or any time an infant is fussy, try a soothing hand massage. Rub baby lotion on your hands and follow the directions in parentheses as...
Peter Christian Olsen
What kids really know--and think--about the Bible "The first book of the Bible is called guinessis. God created the world. When he got tired, he took the Sabbath day off." "All the...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Creation Mix: A fun and tasty snack that serves as a fun way to tell the Creation story. Day 1 -- God created the light and dark (mini Oreo cookies). Day 2 -- God separated the...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Be sure to make each of your preteens feel extra special on their birthday this year with these 16 creative birthday greeting ideas. First Greeting -Find out from the child's parent...
Bob Singleton
We were in the studio working on our new album when my music assistant and I began to rehearse the kids chorus. It's my favorite time in the studio, working with a group of terrific...
Gordon West
[Q]: We have a child in our ministry who uses foul language. We're wondering if we should tell her she can't come to church if she continues. Help! [A]: No child should be allowed...
Ken McDuff
A Changed Heart is the Key to Better Discipline in Children's Ministries. You have them. The kids who disrupt your class with their antics. The kids who challenge your authority and...
Children's Ministry Magazine
To minister to families with new babies, we developed the Little Lambs Ministry. This provided families an introduction to our nursery so they'd feel comfortable bringing their...
Every ministry has them -- quirky corners, pesky problems, and messy mishaps. Here are simple solutions you can use to make sense of common conundrums. WHAT A SIGHT Dissed Posters...
Tracy Carpenter
There's no shortage of news--that is, good news about kids doing great things! Check out these amazing boys--and what their selfless acts can mean for your ministry. Every day, all...
Nancy Sutton
The class ends, and you plop into a chair to quietly ponder the morning. I started class with prayer. The kids recited the Bible verse. They even knew all the answers to the...
Susan Shadid
Have you ever been in a classroom where you can see or hear another group of kids interacting and having fun -- and you're not? The other teacher and group are lively, but your...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Out With the Old Use this station to give thanks for the blessings of 2008. Provide parchment-style paper for families to write down things they've been thankful for over the past...
Laurie Copley
Sarah ran out of the classroom, tears streaming down her face. The sting of the girls' taunts and jeers cut her to the quick. Why were they so cruel? All she longed for was their...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Put kid quotes in your church newsletter from kids in your congregation. For example, print kids' answers to the question: What do you love most about your parents? Kids come up...
Children's Ministry Magazine
With "Vote for Me" signs and posters beginning to pop up everywhere we look, it's no doubt kids know that election season is right around the corner (November 4 this year). Use this...
Rick Chromey
"John, please sit down!" "Tasha, will you stop talking?" "Shhh! Quiet!" "Jeremy! If you hit Pete again, you're out of here." "Becca, come sit down by me." "Okay, who threw that?"...
Jill Nelson
Peer pressure. Say those two powerful words, and they can strike fear in your heart! But add the word "positive" and you have a tool that will help kids learn...to make the best...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Our children's correspondence team is a group of children who've committed to express compassion and encouragement to people in our church by writing notes and letters. Each week...
Jennifer Hooks
Time is money." We've all heard that. But time is a lot more than just money -- it's the most precious, non-recyclable commodity we have. For some teachers, time is something to...
Children's Ministry Magazine
First of all, I help each first-grade girl fill out a get-to-know-you sheet with questions about her address, phone, family, interests, and more. I put all these forms in a...
Children's Ministry Magazine
I held a snack drive for a month at the beginning of the new school year. I invited our congregation to help us "stock our pantry" with snacks for our nursery and preschool...
Lisa Wheeler
I failed him. His drawing made it clear. I'd asked the kids to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. Alex drew an open Bible, and inside he wrote, "Be nice. Be good." Would...
Children's Ministry Magazine
When 3- through 5-year-olds are combined in one class, the older kids may get bored and troublesome. To keep the older kids interested in class activities, I involve them in...
Judi Bailey
How to love the kids you wish wouldn't show up. Oh, Lord please don't let Tommy come today; I need a break. Your prayer ends with heckling guilt. How could you think like that? Yet...
Melissa Smith
A look into the heart of kids' behavior problems. David was precocious and intelligent -- and he loved to test authority. He could derail even the most collaborative, positive...
Children's Ministry Magazine
We've developed a positive prayer time with our class of 2- and 3-year-olds. The children love it when I call them to our prayer circle. We stand, hold hands, and say, "Jesus loves...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Fall is a good time to give Bibles to the children in your program. Many churches make this an annual event and give Bibles to a certain age group each year during a special worship...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Children's ministers share their secrets to success... Are you frustrated with trying to maintain control in your classroom? We asked children's ministers to share their secrets to...
Rick Chromey
The great Bible teachers leave a mark. They masterfully carve God into our lives. They reveal an inconceivable forgiveness. They expose divine opportunities. They detail...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Understand how kids of all ages make friends and how you can nurture friendships Ages 2 to 4 Sharing Young children depend on others to help them develop positive social skills....
Carol Younger
Storytelling tips for the novice and the expert. It can happen in almost any class. Kids are engaged in learning through hands-on experiences, and then it hits. The class forms a...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Helpful tips to guard against a child choking... Keep small objects, such as beads, buttons, and pieces of small toys out of young children's reach. Check toy safety with a toilet...
Nurturing conversations with God and children at every stage. Prayer is as simple as a conversation with a best friend and as powerful as asking a king for help. How can we help...
Larry Shallenberger
How to make it the book for kids! Poll a thousand Sunday school teachers and you'll find a thousand teachers who want to pass on their love of the Bible to children. Each week, all...
Keith Johnson
A humorous look at what to say and do when kids make it clear your classroom is the last place they want to be. Glassy-eyed, restless, squirming kids who'd really rather not listen...
Be sure to check out these informational web sites and books that are designed to help you learn common sign language for use in your nursery program. Sign Language Web sites...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Summertime means vacations, relaxation, special activities, and company -- it also means kids miss church more than usual. Use these ideas to keep in touch with your kids over the...
Danielle Bell
3 tools to gauge kids score spiritually Growing up as an avid soccer player, I was blessed with a high school coach who poured countless hours of drills and skills into my training...
Dale Hudson
Feedback from parents is vital to your ministry's growth, health, and longevity. Here's the ultimate guide on how to ask for it. Parents are our greatest allies in children's...
Maurcia Delean Houck
Prayer habits that last a lifetime are most often formed in childhood. That's why it's so critical to teach young children how to pray. As with most spiritual disciplines, prayer is...
Mary Ellen Drushal
Children usually learn to read by recognizing combinations of letters. Learning to teach is similar. Qualities and skills combine to make the teaching process understandable and...
Children's Ministry Magazine
My mother is so special, she means so much to me. She's patient, understanding, and as gentle as can be. She's lots of fun to be with And she's always there for me. That's why she's...
Christine Yount Jones
Your kids can grasp a lot more than you think When 4-year-old Craig thought about Jesus "coming into his heart"--a common metaphor for salvation-he had a vision of opening his...
Virginia Shunkwiler
Discover five building blocks for teaching toddlers... "No, Mommy! I don't want to!" wailed my 2-year-old. She clung to my neck as though I were sending her off to be inoculated. I...
Children's Ministry Magazine
As a parent, it's never easy to leave your clinging or sobbing child to attend worship service. These transition tips will help your child feel secure while you're away. Stay calm....
Julia Roller
At Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, Texas, these church folks know how to bring up babies right, and they've done it for more than 35 years... It's Sunday morning, and...
Rick Chromey
Permit me to reveal the secret to really loving preteens. For if I'm culturally hip to Hannah Montana and am truly smarter than a fifth-grader, but have not love, I'm just irritable...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Preteens are becoming independent thinkers and doers. Guide them during this step toward maturity with these tips. Offer choices. Stop making all the decisions. Let preteens help...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Instead of a card, I mail out these unique birthday wishes to my kids on their special day -- along with a refreshing, sweet treat. I purchase Kool-Aid drink packets and attach this...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Providing a way for older students to connect with their younger buddies is a good way to ease transitions and empower students to help one another. Pair third- and fourth-graders...
Children's Ministry Magazine
If you feel like you're constantly repeating directions or shouting to get kids' attention, try unspoken cues to help kids focus and gently remind them to pay attention. Silent...
Janet Shah
It was my Sunday to serve in the nursery, and nothing in me wanted to go to church that day. It was a difficult time for me. It was the mid-1980s, and my marriage had spiraled out...
Sue Geiman
"Feelings" are more than an old song; they're the key to amazing learning in your classroom! I sit on the bench under the trees, smiling as I see little hand- and footprints in the...
Marty Alan Michelson
The Bible tells us to, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This proverb is as old as Solomon, but as relevant as today's...
Tracy Nerem
Palm Branch Cookies Your kids will enjoy making and eating these cookies. To make the dough, you'll need 1/3 cup shortening, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 3 cups sifted flour, 1/2 teaspoon...
Reader Submitted
To help children understand the meaning of Christ's empty tomb, make this fun and tasty treat. Supplies: 1 can refrigerated breadstick dough Large marshmallows Spray margarine 1/3...
Gordon West
Q: How do I deal with a repeat offender in my classroom, especially when it's clear the disruptive behavior is simply to test authority? A: Children are wired to feel, think, and...
Imagination and discovery-these are elements of learning that are hard to tap in elementary-age children when they're sitting behind a desk. Play is an essential learning tool for...
While pointing may be considered an impolite gesture, for babies it's a critical building block for speech development. Pointing is a nonverbal way to communicate and teaches babies...
Jennifer Hooks
What happens when we focus more on character than on relationship with Jesus? What's the goal of your children's ministry? Is it for Johnny to be "good"? Or is it for Johnny to know...
Children's Ministry Magazine
download a PDF of this Children's Ministry Magazine Extra here All people learn differently -- regardless of age. Whether you look through the lens of Gardner's Multiple...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Use these ideas to help kids who are struggling through stressful times. Kids are under a lot of stress -- at school, in extracurricular activities, and at home. A study by the...
Reader Submitted
A Valentine's Day Bible activity that will show your children's ministry kids the depth of God's love. Theme: Valentine's Day Text: 1 John 4:10-11 Preparation: Give kids each an...
Reader Submitted
February means Valentine's Day -- a great time to help children share God's love with others! Here are fun, fast, and meaningful ways to share God's love in your classroom with fun...
Reader Submitted
Our Sunday school sponsors a Secret Valentine program for our entire church each year. We ask everyone (ages 3 and over) to sign up two weeks after Christmas. We assign each...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Here's a delicious way to send Valentine's Day greetings from your children's ministry kids to visitors. From "Age Level Insights 3 to 5" featured in the January/February 2009 issue...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Insights from experts on how to answer kids' toughest questions You've heard it before: That question from a child that stops you cold and leaves you searching for the right words...
Tracy Carpenter
Kids can access technology anywhere,any time. An online expert looks at the deeper meaning behind this phenomenon-and what it signifies for kids' faith. The kids in your ministry...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Decorate a bucket and lid, and each week send it home with a different child to fill with treats to share the next week. On the lid, secure information including number of kids in...
Research shows that laughter plays an important role in both physical and mental health. Laughter releases endorphins, chemicals in your body that produce an overall feel-good...
Just for Today I've been the Christian preschool director for years, and I remember how hard we worked to make learning unforgettable for that first class of...
Children's Ministry Magazine
One of the first things kids say when parents pick them up from our program is, "I'm hungry!" So we help parents fill kids' tummies to tide them over until lunch by offering healthy...
Gordon West
Q: How do I deal with preteen boys who hit, shove, and kick their friends -- even though they seem to be playing? A: First ask yourself, "Who's this behavior bothering?" If it's...
Rick Chromey
Mean Girls Preteen girls can be mean-really mean. Girls between ages 9 and 11 are breaking away from parental influences and are more influenced by their peers. Mean girl...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Several years ago, we asked over 900 kids to tell us what they liked best about Sunday school. One of their top answers was snacks. So, if you really want to capture kids'...
Ami Shroyer
Tap into the transforming power of music in your ministry! Movies tell a story -- a story most of us can recall for years afterward. But what would movies be like without music? A...
Take a sneak peek at what Christian kids really think about God, faith, church, and their world. How often have you wondered about what's going on in kids' minds? If only you could...
Steve Merritt
Once on a trip, when our car unexpectedly stopped moving forward, a cranky tow truck driver showed up looking like a grizzly bear rudely awakened from his winter hibernation...and...
Kristi Rector
Uh, oh! Those words, spoken by a child, can send a chill of dread down the spine of every teacher -- what catastrophe awaits? Kids seem to naturally attract small disasters...it's a...
Jennifer Hooks
You love kids--that's why you dedicate hours preparing for lessons and teaching them about God's love. You're committed to teaching...but you could do without the discipline...
Tony P. Lane
7 essentials for developing, enhancing, and growing kids' faith. I started teaching Sunday school when I was 12. That was a while ago. Throughout my years in the classroom, I've...
Delia Halverson
Younger children often have trouble grasping some of our adult thelogical concepts, but they usually have little trouble accepting a God who can do anything. How can we help...
Carmen Kamrath
Inevitably it happens. If you've volunteered in children's ministry, you'll never forget the day you left class feeling as if you had lost control of the situation and failed to...
Dana Wilkerson
Strategies for getting your kids hopelessly hooked on reading the Bible. "Hmmm. What if a customer wanted cheese on his hamburger?" "I wouldn't put it on. I'd be afraid I'd...
Jennifer Hooks
Each new Sunday school year means new faces, new personalities, and new opportunities to create a classroom environment that keeps kids coming back. Great activities, relevant...
Pumpkin Dip Stuff: An 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese, a 15-ounce can of solid pumpkin, 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, ½ teaspoon of ground...
Reader Submitted
Finger Food Prayers Attach the corresponding Finger Food Prayers for toddlers to bags of finger foods that families can take home. O-Shaped Cereal -- O God, you show your love for...
Lynda Freeman
When you think of your nursery and preschool classrooms and the resources you'd like to have, what do you think of? If I had an unlimited budget and the space for the perfect...
Sondra Saunders
Babies are built for learning. Every sensation -- touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound -- electrifies the infant brain and helps it establish sensory connections that'll last a...
Jennifer Hooks
Expectations can be a touchy subject. Christian parents quietly wonder whether their kids are learning anything of value in Sunday school. Children's ministers wonder how parents...
Awesome new ways to use the "same old" recyclables There's no doubt about it -- children's ministers are a resourceful bunch. We're always collecting -- paper towel rolls,...
Christine Yount Jones
At a recent family gathering, Bev glanced out the front window to where the children were playing. What she saw shocked her. An 11-year-old boy ran up to an 11-year-old developing...
Jennifer Hooks
As you enter your fifth-grade classroom, you notice several kids gathered around Kate, a popular student, in the back of the room. As you approach the group, you hear the following...
Stephanie Martin
At ages 10, 11, and 12, preteens are still technically in the children's ministry category-but they consider themselves too old for elementary activities. They want to be treated...
Stephanie Martin
"EVERYBODY is shrinking!" That's what one sixth-grader told Jim Still-Pepper, a psychologist in Ohio. And in a very real sense, it's true. While the rest of the world seems to be...
Christine Yount Jones
"Oh, what a wonderful picture, Alyssa!" the teacher exclaims as he holds the scribbled drawing aloft. Alyssa beams. But he doesn't even notice her next drawing. And Alyssa feels...
Stephanie Martin
"Wild kids are the ones who show up to your class with their own agenda," says Eric Wesley, children's pastor at Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church in Garland, Texas. "They have...
Gordon West
We spend tons of time and energy trying to get kids to behave. Check the shelves in any Christian bookstore and you'll find numerous books on controlling kids, for example Making...
Carmen Kamrath
As I passed by a Sunday morning kindergarten classroom a few weeks ago, I overheard a frustrated volunteer negotiating with a 5-year-old boy to join the rest of the class for the...
Sarah Smith
Recently, the editors of CHILDREN'S MINISTRY Magazine spied on an actual classroom. After seeing several discipline problems, we asked the experts what they would've done with each...
Lori Haynes Niles
They're all laughing at me!" She was 4 and three-quarters; her big, brown eyes filled with unspeakable sadness. I'd been there all along and couldn't see anyone laughing at her,...
Lori Haynes Niles
No two snowflakes are alike. These amazingly complex demonstrations of God's handiwork are absolutely unique, shaped by a complex interchange between temperature, moisture...
Jennifer Hooks
As kids enter elementary school, they also enter a time when friendships become a central element in their lives. Kids this age are still learning how to make friends, and their...
As the teacher of a fifth- and sixth-grade Sunday school class, my husband wanted to set a good example when the lesson called for both the kids and the teacher to write down one...
Children's Ministry Magazine
The questions kids ask about God-and how to respond. "God can change himself into a baby," 4-year-old Nicholas mused. To many children, God is a magical being that may even come...
Amy Nappa
I'm a college graduate with a minor in Bible. Therefore I was quite confident when I sat down to tackle "learning activities" from a variety of Sunday school curricula. I changed...
Terry Vermillion
In this corner, weighing 165 pounds: Brad Fife, Sunday school teacher extraordinaire. In that corner, weighing .10 pounds: the champion, fuddy-duddy Sunday school curriculum. Who'll...
Jacquie Vanatta
Albert Einstein said, "Knowledge is experience-everything else is just information." Nowhere is this more true than with children-and especially children in cradle roll. Creating...
Heather Dawn
Every pew was filled waiting for the pastor to teach when I noticed an elder nod to the mass of moms and dads swaying in rhythm with their babies at the back of the church. "I...
Jennifer Root Wilger
HOW CHILDREN ARE MOTIVATED Children at this age are motivated by approval. They're making exciting advances in their physical abilities, and they look to adults to affirm their new...
Scott Kinner
When your lesson is broken...how to fix it every time. Here's a simple question: Looking back at your last lesson, what did your kids learn? Don't answer that too quickly. It can be...
From Instant Skits for Children's Ministry. Topic: Obeying Parents Scriptures You Might Read: Ephesians 6:1-3 ; Colossians 3:20 The Scene: A living room The Simple Setup: The only...
Jennifer Hooks
Bully-proof your ministry by stopping put-downs, power-mongers, and peace-breakers. Erik was small for his age. He kept to himself. He wore thick glasses. He came from a poor...
Gary Forslund
Teach wide-eyed, jaw-dropping lessons every time...and stop disruptions before they start. That Sunday morning, I'd just had it! My Kids Church ministry had attracted three...
Mary J. Davis
Bring on the white stuff with an avalanche of 20 free children's ministry activities and ideas for kids, families, and teachers... Whether kids live in the north, south, east, or...
Understanding the Importance of Memorial Day Don't let Memorial Day pass by without helping your kids understand the importance of honoring others. Great ways to observe Memorial...
Pat Verbal
Have each child send a National Day of Prayer care package filled with goodies to a family in the armed forces. Have children list the things they're praying for them, such as for...
Promote the National Day of Prayer with this idea. Last year we held a National Day of Prayer Poster Contest at the beginning of April. We had great participation. We distributed...
Each year at Easter we're swept away by the almost incomprehensible idea of what God's love has done for us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This Bible lesson will help...
Using music to help manage your children's ministry classroom 1. If children are extremely excited or unmanageable, play music with a slow tempo. It will help quell their emotions....
Clowns make children laugh. Smile. Snicker. Clowns can captivate a child without saying a word. And a clown can teach a lesson a child will never forget. Clowning involves more than...
Christine Yount
We just moved into a new house. And for three weeks we were without any television hookup. Then my husband and a friend climbed up into the attic and put in a new antenna. The big...
Say: We're going on a silent prayer walk. We won't talk to each other or to anyone we meet. I'll give hand signals to tell you when to go, stop, or turn. As we walk, we'll see...
Lisa Wheeler
I failed him. His drawing made it clear. I'd asked the kids to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. Alex drew an open Bible, and inside he wrote, "Be nice. Be good." Would...
Lynda Freeman
Easy -- and cheap -- ways to say "I care" all year long. [First-Class] Cards Great times to send cards are birthdays, when children are absent, and when children visit. Kids love to...
A Caring Prayer Gather family members in a circle. Hand your child a baby doll wrapped in a small blanket. Tell each member to gently pass the doll to the person sitting to the...
Susan Sorenson
10 creative ways to encourage kids in your class to pray even more. Prayer is an incredible privilege because it's communication with the living God! Yet we often struggle with new...
Doris Schuchard
18 terrific food creations that are sure to spice up your Bible lessons! From the moment Jesus first broke bread with his disciples to last Sunday when a Sunday school teacher...
Look what happened when we recruited a creative mom to make over a room for the third-graders at this church! When Children's Ministry Magazine asked Kami Gilmour, a mom with a...
Greg Baird
Resolve to do these five things, and you'll open the door to better children's ministry. Resolutions. We've all made them at some point or another. Most likely, though, our...
Brenda Nixon
The top 10 statements of the under-3 set -- and why these traits make teaching toddlers such a joy... and a challenge. Exasperating," "entertaining," and "extraordinary" are among...
Jennifer Hooks
Say goodbye to a blah classroom with these 19 quick and cheap makeover ideas. Ugh. The bleak walls. The boring layout. The stale carpet. The blank bulletin boards. You have a job...
Jennifer Hooks
Use these 8 science activities to plug into kids' curiosity about the way things work-and connect them to God. With the controversy of evolution versus creationism, we Christians...
Lisa Newman
Since it first hit the airwaves in 1969, Sesame Street has successfully wooed preschoolers with its mix of puppets, humor, and simplicity. In fact, many parents and Sunday school...
Dale Hudson
7 amazingly simple but effective ways to reach today's visual generation. A great task lies before you. You're in a room full of children, and you're trying to keep order, but...
Mark Harper
Whether you're a Harry Potter fan or not, J.K. Rowling's amazingly popular books can give you critical insights for children's ministry. I try to think of myself as an open-minded...
15 new ideas to help you start a winning season of ministry to children. Before you know it, school will be kicking back into gear. If you're a children's ministry director, you'll...
The 16 A+ ideas in this special section will keep your kids from playing hooky from church! Yellow school buses. Crisp backpacks. The smell of new school supplies. The sound of...
Larry Crane
The Apostle Paul helped lay the foundations of the Christian church. His missionary zeal and commitment to God's truths are a shining example for all Christians. To help you...
Carmen Kamrath
The alarming trend of young kids on a quest to be thin can rob your children of their very lives. Find out how you can help kids and parents avoid the snare of food-related...
Laurie Copley
Use these new alternatives to avoid common craft pitfalls that can be impractical, overly messy, or downright unsafe for your kids. There are only a few short minutes left before...
God is great, God is good. And we thank him for our food. Amen." Great lives of faith have taken root in simple encounters with God such as this. These initial concrete experiences...
Cathy Gould
The 13 best children's Bibles for use at home or in the classroom. "What Bible should I get for my son?" a mother asked me before class one Sunday. "Umm, well, what grade is he in?"...
Mike and Amy Nappa
Children's ministers' resolutions for the new year -- and none of them are about dieting! Find out what's important to your colleagues this year. It's a new year. Time for...
TREAT BAGS Help kids serve others. Send home letters to parents requesting a donation of a Halloween treat, such as individually wrapped lollipops, chewing gum, or candy bars. Sort...
Andrea Moore
6 ways to pray for others when you think there's no time. Prayer refreshes us, replenishes us, and enables us to walk with God. Too much to do and too little time to do it? A phrase...
Amy Beth Larson
"I work with these children because I believe that the impossible not only can happen, I believe that it will." Tony's words broke into mine, "It doesn't work. I pray all the time;...
Lisa Cowman
Use this list of 19 time-fillers to make that extra class time positive learning time. AGES 2 AND 3 -Ring Around the Rosie-Play the usual way but sing, "With kindness, with...
Amy Nappa
Practical approaches to help kids dig deeper into God's Word. You burrow through the Bible, searching for choice gems of truth. When you discover them, you feel such a great sense...
Cindy Kenney
Theme ideas to turn up the heat when your ministry cools off... It's that time of the year. The skies are gray, the air is cold, and kids would rather be home sleeping. How can you...
Dick Gruber
I just received a card from the parents of a boy in my church. The boy's name is Lance. Two and a half years ago when I met Lance, he was the ring leader in a plot to ruin the...
Lois Putnam
MARVELOUS MOM CELEBRATION Invite mothers, grandmothers, and special female guests to accompany children to this party during your Sunday school or children's church hour. Serve...
Mary Davis
You'll love these new ways to capture people's interest. Bulletin boards can inform, encourage, and motivate children and volunteers. Before you jump in to these new bulletin board...
Make these buns the night before Easter to serve to children on Easter morning. Children will enjoy biting into these buns to find that they're empty-just as Jesus' tomb was empty...
Amy Nappa
8 ways to get your creative juices flowing. If, as the author of Ecclesiastes says, there's nothing new under the sun, why do other people seem to come up with so many new and...
Barbara Beach
Megan won't leave Suzie alone, so the teacher separates them. Joey and Travis don't want Jason to play with them, so the teacher makes them all play together. Sarah talks...
Jacquie Vanatta
Helpful tips to get babies and toddlers involved in learning. Albert Einstein said, "Knowledge is experience-everything else is just information." Nowhere is this more true than...
Barbra Beach
Expert tips from Dr. Kevin Leman, author of The Birth Order Book. Devan is bossy and disruptive in Sunday school. Annie is quiet, follows the rules, and wants to please her Sunday...
Carol Younger
It can happen in almost any class. Kids are engaged in learning through hands-on experiences, and then it hits. The class forms a circle for story time and the mood sours. Active...
Les Parrott III, Ph.D.
AGE-LEVEL INSIGHTS AGE Birth to 2 years HOW CHILDREN REBEL Babies know the world only by looking, grasping, and putting things in their mouth. Care-givers may think children "rebel"...
Nursery Teacher Tip: Infants and toddlers need to belong and feel secure. To help children feel less insecure when their parents drop them off, I had parents give me three things: a...
Preschool Teacher Tip When 3- through 5-year-olds are combined in one class, the older kids may get bored and troublesome. To keep the older kids interested in class activities, I...
Debbie Trafton O'Neal
Are some Bible stories off-limits for preschoolers? "Don't teach preschoolers about sin. And don't teach them that Jesus died for them until they're much older," the instructor told...
Are you looking for ways to save money? Who isn't in these economic times? We asked readers to send in their homemade concoctions to share with you penny pinchers. You can save time...
Christine Yount Jones
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance" ( Matthew...
Give your kids a positive shot in the arm with these ideas. If there's one thing kids need today, it's an immunity to low self-esteem. Many children are so infected by poor...
Jody Capehart
HOW CHILDREN SOLVE PROBLEMS Children this age are very sensory-oriented. They solve problems by interacting with all of their senses simultaneously. They also learn by imitating....
We've had a variety of events on New Year's Day. Use our ideas to ring in the new year at your church. Have a Bigger and Better scavenger hunt. Form groups of six children and one...
Paul White, Ph.D.
From: September/October 1992 Children's Ministry Magazine Keywords: News Insights AGE 2 to 4 years HOW CHILDREN REACT TO THE NEWS When preschoolers overhear stories or see TV news...
Chuck Bakinderchuck
Kids love to laugh. They need to laugh. In fact, I would go so far as to say that without humor, children never really live. God has given people the capacity to laugh. This ability...
Brent Van Elswyk
How children learn Bible stories--and ways to teach them. AGE 2 to 5 years HOW CHILDREN LEARN Young children like to be read to with age-appropriate books. They like pictures,...
Ellen Javernick
Just as Lucy screams "dog germs" when licked by Snoopy, third- and fourth-grade boys scream "girl germs" when they have to hold hands with girls. And girls scream "boy germs" just...
Sheila Halasz
How to Keep Your Subs From Sinking: Create a survival kit to help substitute teacher succeed. My phone rang early Sunday morning. I dreaded answering it. I knew who was calling-a...
Joyce Platek
Want to know how to conquer kids' learning obstacles? If after every lesson your kids can say, "We came, we saw, we heard, we touched," they'll also be able to say, "We conquered!"...
Vince Isner
A friend was telling the story of Jesus walking on the water as a children's sermon. "As I explained to them how Peter got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus," he said, "a...
Glenn Q. Bannerman
Kids love creative movement. And early childhood specialists stress that movement is crucial to children's development and good health. Creative movement can help children explore...
Barbara Bolton
Why children swear and how to properly respond. 1-2 years As children learn to communicate verbally, they pass through the following stages: (1.) they imitate sounds; (2.) they...
