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...
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,...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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 )....
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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?"...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
