When I started our Kid of the Week Program, I had no idea how much my kids would love it. I didn’t realize that two years later, I’d still be rewarding kids who follow the Golden Rule with the title, “The Kid of the Week.” However, these TNT Kids Church kids wouldn’t let this program die and I’m so glad. The Kid of the Week is a reward program I use that recognizes kids who follow and
NBC’s Minute to Win It Game is a huge hit for fun-loving families. Watching this show has inspired us to offer you some (more) kid-friendly, minute to win it games. These fast paced games are ideal for pre-church activities, schedule fillers or mid lesson breaks. Customize them to suit your needs. Lights Out: For this games you need six push lights, like the ones you find at a dollar store. You also need six bean bags and
This cartoon illustration of “Jonah and the Whale” could be used as a teaching illustration for your Bible Lesson about the prophet Jonah. In this graphic, the large purple whale/fish is swallowing the stubborn prophet. It’s important to remember this was God’s way of saving the man from the worse fate of drowning in the open ocean! You can download the print friendly PDF version or PNG image of the full colored picture. We’ve also created a
No matter how good you are at planning your children’s church schedule sometimes things do not go as planned. A teaching went quicker than you realized, the service in the main sanctuary is taking longer than usual. You’ve got a crowd of kids who look bored and may end up in mischief. It’s always a good idea to keep some schedule fillers handy. Schedule fillers are short activities that you can use to take up time, entertain
My youngest son is learning to recognize his letters and letter sounds. Letters, by themselves, had no meaning to him and he kept wanting me to help him write words. I wanted his zeal for learning words to continue, so I decided to teach him the letters and letter sounds in conjunction with word families. Word families are words that rhyme. For example: at words are cat, hat, rat, sat, etc. My mom found us these books
My youngest son is learning to recognize his letters and letter sounds. Letters, by themselves, had no meaning to him and he kept wanting me to help him write words. I wanted his zeal for learning words to continue, so I decided to teach him the letters and letter sounds in conjunction with word families. Word families are words that rhyme. For example: at words are cat, hat, rat, sat, etc. My mom found us these books
My youngest son is learning to recognize his letters and letter sounds. Letters, by themselves, had no meaning to him and he kept wanting me to help him write words. I wanted his zeal for learning words to continue, so I decided to teach him the letters and letter sounds in conjunction with word families. Word families are words that rhyme. For example: at words are cat, hat, rat, sat, etc. My mom found us these books
My youngest son is learning to recognize his letters and letter sounds. Letters, by themselves, had no meaning to him and he kept wanting me to help him write words. I wanted his zeal for learning words to continue, so I decided to teach him the letters and letter sounds in conjunction with word families. Word families are words that rhyme. For example: at words are cat, hat, rat, sat, etc. My mom found us these books
My youngest son is learning to recognize his letters and letter sounds. Letters, by themselves, had no meaning to him and he kept wanting me to help him write words. I wanted his zeal for learning words to continue, so I decided to teach him the letters and letter sounds in conjunction with word families. Word families are words that rhyme. For example: at words are cat, hat, rat, sat, etc. My mom found us these books
This free Bible lesson is part 3 of 10 in our Lord’s Prayer study. Children will learn that God listens carefully to their prayers because he loves them like a perfect father. For more lessons in this series, click here. We love to hear reader ideas and tips to improve these materials, simply leave a comment below. Main idea: Since we are children of God, we can talk to God like we talk to our Daddy: anytime,
This printable Bible bingo game reviews the names of the twelve disciples. There are twelve names on each card but only three in a row are required to win, so this is bingo with a twist. It is recommended for grade 2 and up. Download: game boards and calling cards Print the bingo cards and the bingo calling cards on card stock or heavy paper, and cut apart the calling cards (20 bingo cards and 12 calling
This Bible teaching skit gives the children a feel for the challenges and opportunities experienced by Paul and Barnabas during their visits to Cyprus (Acts 13) and Lystra (Acts 14). It is designed to be read during Sunday School or children’s church to review the story and may be repeated to give all the children a chance to participate. Click here to download in print friendly format. The two acts may be used together or separately. Costumes
This cartoon illustration of “Moses and the Burning Bush” could be used as a teaching illustration for your Bible Lesson about this passage from Exodus 3. In this graphic, there are two speech bubbles for teachers or students to write in the dialog from the Bible story. You can download the print friendly PDF version or PNG image of the full colored picture. We’ve also created a free coloring page based on this same file, pictured below.
Once kids leave your facility, it’s up to Mom and Dad, grandparents or guardians to make prayer time special at home. Like most things, most kids need to be nudged to pray but it is not difficult to make it a part of their daily routine. If you want to help the “home team” introduce their children to prayer, why not include some suggestions in the next newsletter or offer a series of prompts on your ministry’s
Being a cheerful giver is an important part of a believer’s life. Remember this verse? “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Not only are we encouraged to give of our finances but also our time. It can be challenging to teach kids the heart of this message of giving but you can do it!
It’s fall and with our focus on prayer, I was looking for a way to combine the two. I found it. I have to admit this is not an original idea but I did tweak it a bit to make it my own. This cool craft excited my volunteers who like working on interesting projects. We actually ended up making two trees, one for the Wednesday class and the Sunday children’s church. Why not place a fall,
Red Ribbon Week is an anti-drug emphasis every year Oct. 23-31 nationally. Many public and private schools use this time to focus kids on better choices. This free activity is for younger children and should start conversations about things that are more fun than drugs. Download: Game boards and calling cards Red Bingo is a fun way to involve elementary-age children. It pictures nine red objects providing healthy alternatives to drugs. 20 bingo cards and 9 calling
I love “minute to win it” games! They keep my early arrivers busy and give me a fun way to interact with kids. It’s important to infuse your lessons with some silliness and these games are the perfect for that. Rotate these five, minute to win it games for fall each week. You may need some extra volunteers for these fall games. Ping pong basketball: You need two short, plastic drink cups and a few ping-pong balls
It’s Hallelujah Festival time! Christian schools and churches around the country hold these Halloween alternatives for kids to have a safe, less spooky celebration, with a focus on goodness and God. However, it is easy to get in a rut during these festivals. The same games, the same activities and since there are so many, you want yours to stand apart. I love these 10 great ideas for jazzing up a Hallelujah Festival. Maybe a few of
It’s just around the corner — it’s fall festival time. Or as we call them in some parts of the country, the Hallelujah festival. Having some Halloween alternatives for families is a great idea but waiting to the last minute to plan them can put you behind, big time. Don’t stress this year! You can make fall festival planning easier by preparing a few things in advance. Start with a theme. Okay, so basically fall is the
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” is my favorite Halloween movie and every year, I love using the characters from this show in my ministry. It’s a sweet story about a boy named Linus who mistakenly puts his faith in a disappointing Great Pumpkin. Unlike the Linus, who delivers his eloquent speech at the Charlie Brown Christmas program, this little guy is thoroughly confused about what or who to put his faith in. What a wonderful way
In a recent months, I’ve relied on photo booth backgrounds to help me pull off some fun themes in kids’ ministry. For example, during the “Jesus is My Superhero” crusade, we had a cardboard background painted to look like skyscrapers. Kids got to stand in the booth wearing their superhero costumes and get a photo taken, for free! This Halloween, (or fall festival) have a photo booth ready for parents and kids. What a great way to
This preschool Bible lesson will help younger children see God’s glory in the world we enjoy. We’ve included several age-appropriate learning activities, but we’d always love to hear readers comments and ideas. Share it with toddlers and children age 3-5 years old in your kids church, Sunday School, or preschool ministry. Lesson Title: Fall in Love with God’s CreationBible Reference: Genesis 1:31, Psalm 19:1-3, Psalm 85:12, Genesis 1:28 See more Bible verses about the beauty of nature
Sometimes the only interaction I get with parents is when they drop off or pick up their children from the kids church facility. Even then, many parents are in a rush to get into the worship service or to get to lunch. On my part, I find it challenging too to visit with parents when kids are running amok. Still I do want to minister to the whole family, not just the kids. I do believe that
