4) Children's Church Ideas, Feedback Welcomed
Hello,
My name is Matt from Milestone Church in Keller, TX. I work with the Children's church in the preschool department. I have a few great ideas to for children's church. I would also really enjoy some feedback on this as I am really trying to move into this full time after serving for over 13 years now. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Quick Question Signs - Quick Question signs are signs that are put up in the hallways of the children’s church area in between the classrooms that ask a simple question this month’s theme. It is a question that parents should be able to ask their child and the child is able to answer. This will open the dialogue for further discussion as a family.
Memory Verse Signs – Memory Verse signs work just like Quick Question signs. They should be put up near the doors of the classrooms. Have something like, “Does your child know the memory verse?” on them and then have the memory verse below. If the parent knows the memory verse then the child is more apt to know it as well.
Volunteer Signs – Volunteer signs work a little bit different than Quick Question and Memory Verse signs. Volunteer signs are to try and bring in more parents to help out in classrooms. If a parent volunteers they take an active role in what their child learns in church that week. Even if they are not in the same class, per say, the parent will have a more in depth grasp of the story and activities and so there will be more communication between them and their child. Creative ways to have Volunteer signs is to take some pictures of teachers and children having fun in a class, either during a story or activity and put that on the sign. As a tag line, say something like, “Want to know what is going on? Sign up to be a volunteer today” or “Want to have help children learn about Jesus? Sign up to be a volunteer today.”
Lesson Handouts – Lessons Handouts are just sort summaries of the lesson that was taught that day. It gives parents a chance to see what their child learned. Once again, the more they know about the lessons, the more they will able to dialogue with their child. Most curriculum have some sort of lesson handout that comes along with them, but if not then a simple note card size summary of the story and activities works great.
Devotion Handouts – Devotion Handouts are similar to the Lesson Handouts. They both go over the story and even the activities, but Devotion Handouts has 3-5 questions for parents to ask their children. This will help build a devotion time during the week so that parents and kids can come together and talk about lessons that the kids learned at church.
Classroom Blogs – This one takes a little bit more time to accomplish. As a teacher, you can create a blog and put the story of the week, the memory verse, the activities, and even pictures of the kids on a blog so that parents can stay informed on what is going on. If a teacher does this then be sure to inform all parents on where to go see the blog. Advise them to leave feedback and use it as a place to give testimonies and praise reports on things that their child has stated about the story or lesson during the week.
Memory Verse Cards – Memory Verse cards are a great way to get parents involved with their child learning the memory verse. A Memory Verse card is about the size of a post card and has the memory verse printed at the top along with 3 signature lines on it. If the child tells the memory verse to 3 people (a parent and typically 2 of the parent’s friends) then those adults will sign the card and when the child brings back a signed Memory Verse card then they get a small prize. The prize could be something simple like candy or a small toy. This creates a great little game to help get parents actively involved.
Thanks,
Matt Sides
