This is my last blog as the Sunday school Network guide, but you’ll still see me posting comments and even writing guest blogs now and then. That’s because I believe in The Network. I believe we are stronger when we share ideas, encourage one another, and look for
It's always fun to visit other churches and see what they do. One pastor I spoke with this week told me about something unique that his church does for 6th grade Sunday school. The group meets after the worship service and spends the whole time discussing the sermon
Though this somber season seems at odds with the boisterous nature of kids, it can be a meaningful time to talk together about the love, forgiveness, and hope we find in Jesus. Here's an article on how to help kids journey with Jesus through Lent.
I have a pair of 9 and 10 year old girls in my group who get on each others nerves quite easily. I'd love some ideas for keeping siblings on track during Sunday school!
After singing the chorus they came to the part that said, “He knows my name”, and the little girl spoke her name loud and clear into the microphone, and passed it on to the next child, who spoke and then passed it to the next. How do you make songs more personal and meaningful to kids?
Do you bring all the kids together or do they sing in their Sunday school rooms? I've seen lots of worship DVDs that include kids singing and song motions. Has anyone used those? Any recommendations?
If your church uses the Young Children and Worship program you may appreciate the wondering approach that Dwell uses to help kids enter imaginatively into God's story.
As Sunday school teachers, we know how critical prayer and preparation are for sharing a great lesson. If you tend to be like me and associate planning with panic and procrastination, try these tips to help you skip the stress.
This activity involves making up a prayer to the tune of a song you know. This is great for kids who are musical or who love to move around, and it works as an individual or a group prayer activity. It also lends itself to a broader conversation about worship and prayer.
How do you use technology in your ministry, and what techi tools work well for you?
I try to bookmark pages that might prove helpful to ministry. Today I found one that I have to recommend!
Kids spend a long time worshipping with the congregation. There are already many ways that they can participate, but many of them choose to sit, talk together, and doodle during times when the could be singing, greeting others, etc.
Sunday morning for me feels like kids, kids, kids. And the energy it takes to serve them well—singing, telling stories, listening to them, helping them get along, praying together, leading activities…can be exhausting. I love my Sunday afternoon nap!
I’d love to hear from other churches that already do worship bags. What do you include in kids’ worship bags? How did introduce the bags and help kids catch the vision for staying engaged in worship?
When a story engages our imaginations, it sticks with us long after the lesson. Here are three things I keep in mind each time I tell a story with kids.
A friend forwarded me this video last week and I couldn't resist posting it for you!How are the kids in your church using their gifts to bless your congregation?
With American Thanksgiving only a few days away, I’m counting my blessings and you’re on the list! Each week you...
Who should you be investing in and preparing to lead the ministry you lead?
This Sunday the song involved twirling, stomping, jumping, clapping, leaning, and praying — all motions that the kids chose for the song.
Togetherville.com is a Facebook-like social network for children. I clicked the link to check it out and was struck by their tagline: “Online Neighborhoods for Kids and Their Grownups.”
A scene from the Prodigal Son story flashed through my mind--the moment when the father is telling the older son, "You are always with me, and all that I have is yours!" On a smaller scale it’s like that with children’s ministry, too.
A six-year-old girl stormed into my class this Sunday with fists clenched. She was angry at a friend — another one of the girls in my class. What do you do in moments like these — when you have a class full of kids and one of them is struggling with real life stuff?
It's bound to happen. An energetic eight year old will test your patience. A sixth grader will start to annoy the other kids in your group... How will you respond?Here are four quick tips to help you keep things under control...
Here are few fun ideas for praying with middle or upper elementary kids ... All you need is construction paper cut into strips, pencils or crayons, and a glue stick, tape, or a kid-sized stapler.
Okay, that advice might be a little extreme, but the first few weeks of Sunday school are critical.