I’m in Evansville, IN at the KidzMatter Conference this week, hosting the Deeper KidMin booth in the resource center and teaching 3 breakouts! One of my breakouts is all about how we can best serve young families in our church. My breakout session walks through a S-E-R-V-E acronym, with each letter highlighting a specific action leaders must prioritize with young families. While I’m saving the full details for those who attend my breakout at the conference, here’s a little nugget from that session to help you serve the young families in your church…
Families with littles are in one of the most demanding, exhausting, and spiritually significant seasons of their lives. When it comes to ministering to families with young children, one of the best things we can do as leaders is to SERVE them well. What does that look like practically? Here are 20 quick-win ideas:
S – Safeguard (Prioritize Safety)
- Keep classrooms clean, welcoming, and organized. Parents notice the details.
- Post your safety policies where parents can see them, and review them regularly with volunteers.
- Use clear, consistent communication about how you’ll contact parents during service.
- Celebrate visible safety measures (background checks, secure check-in, volunteer training) as signs of care, not inconvenience.
E – Engage (Build Connection & Community)
- Greet parents by name at drop-off and pick-up, not just their kids.
- Create low-pressure connection spaces like popsicles after service, coffee for parents, or bubble play in the parking lot.
- Host simple preschool playdates or storytime events to build community.
- Invite seasoned parents or grandparents to intentionally connect with young families.
R – Resource (Equip Parents with SIMPLE, Practical Tools)
- Share a one-page family devo, bedtime prayer, or Bible verse card that takes 2 minutes or less.
- Curate a Spotify playlist of preschool worship songs and email or text it to families.
- Provide a list of vetted babysitters (like youth group students) for parents to use.
- Launch a meal train or deliver diapers when a new baby arrives.
V – Value (Show Families They Belong)
- Verbalize that families are welcome in service by saying things like: “We’re so glad our little ones are part of worship too!”
- Train greeters and ushers to give parents an extra smile, high-five kids, hold doors open for strollers, and help with strollers or diaper bags.
- Share specific wins from kids’ ministry at pick-up (“She prayed before snack today!”).
- Normalize noise in your service. Crying and wiggles mean families are present.
E – Encourage (Speak Life into Parents’ Journeys + Remind Them What They Do Matters)
- Text a parent midweek with a Scripture, a prayer just for them, or just to say “You’re doing a great job!”
- Share stories of how their child engaged in worship or prayer.
- Celebrate small wins, like simply making it to church, as huge victories.
- Create a prayer calendar for families and let them know you’re covering them in prayer.
Find a printable version of this list here!
Tip: Start with 2–3 ideas you can implement immediately. Small, consistent actions build trust and lasting impact with families.
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