2018

VBS Prayer Countdown Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]VBS season is in full swing, and for us, Monday, May 21 marks the 2-week final countdown before VBS begins on June 4 (cue excited yet terrified feeling)! One of the most important parts of preparing for VBS that I willingly admit I am bad at staying on top of is prayer. Reading Priscilla Shirer's Fervent completely revolutionized my prayer life. Fervent taught me that using Scripture and writing down my prayers can help my times of prayer be more purposeful, so I'm applying those strategies to VBS this year. This week's free download is a Countdown to VBS Prayer printable. I'll be printing it this weekend, then putting it with my Bible. Starting Monday, I'll have written, specific prayers for every day until VBS (and through the week of VBS too). I invite you to join me in prayer and use this printable to...
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Thirsty for God Object Lesson (Psalm 42:1-2)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Earlier in the week, I shared a great resource for Old Testament Object Lessons from Future Flying Saucers, so today I thought I’d share one of my favorite object lessons! More than just knowing the Bible, I want kids to WANT to know the Bible. To long for time spent in the Word and to foster a desire to spend time with God. But if this is something we want to develop, we have to teach it! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title="Download the Printable Version" align="center" link="url:/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DKM-Thirsty-for-God-Object-Lesson.pdf"][/vc_column][/vc_row] Every kid has been thirsty, and every kid drinks water throughout their week. I like to use water, straws, and Psalm 42:1-2 (NIrV) to teach kids about being thirsty for God’s Word. The best...
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What God is Doing: OT Object Lessons for Kids Book Review

As a children’s pastor, you can never have too many object lessons. Object lessons are so important for reaching kids on their level and connecting Biblical truths to everyday things. What God is Doing by Anne Marie Gosnell of Future Flying Saucers is an excellent resource for finding and implementing object lessons that will stick with your kids. The book contains 25 different object lessons for Old Testament stories, with each lesson including 25-30 minutes worth of activities including the object lesson itself, the Bible lesson, a life application (so important), and finally a comment box for you to evaluate how the activity went so you can improve in the future. It even comes with additional resources like coloring pages, access to digital posters, tips on being a good Bible teacher, and more. Use this book sporadically or use the...
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Mother’s Day Hershey Wrap Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Give the moms in your ministry what they really want this Mother's Day: chocolate! What You Need: 1.55 oz Hershey's Chocolate Bars, one per child (the size you'd find in the checkout aisle at your local grocery store) white paper DKM Mother's Day Hershey's Wrap Printable  tape or glue sticks scissors kids What to Do: Print enough wraps so each child has one. Print both colors to give kids a choice or print just one color for everyone. Invite children to customize their Hershey's Wrap by writing or drawing what they love most about their mom in the space provided. Or use the colorable versions (last 2 pages) and let the kids' creativity really run wild! Help kids cut their wrap, then tape or glue the wrap around a 1.55 oz Hershey's Chocolate bar. Enjoy the smiles as moms...
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Orange Conference 2018 Notes & Thoughts

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I’m kind of a conference junkie, so when I had the chance to attend Orange Conference 2018 with our church, I couldn’t say no! Orange Conference 2018 focused on how we can do more together. I’m not very familiar with Orange’s curriculum, but I’m a big fan of their theory of ministry that encourages and equips parents through each phase of a child’s life. All of the breakouts and main speakers were great, and I took PAGES of notes, but my biggest takeaway from the conference was the connections I made with other kidmin leaders and bloggers. I am an introvert, so the idea of small talk and meeting new people usually makes me want to hide. But I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to be intentional about meeting people, and I am so happy I did! Special shout out to Dana, Jae, Tessa, and Katy for...
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KidMin Job Descriptions (For You and Your Team)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Whether you’re growing your team by recruiting volunteers or paid staff, you won’t get far without job descriptions for each role. Job descriptions not only help you communicate the needs of your ministry, but they also help ensure the people who fill those roles are the right fit! This week for Admin April, I’m sharing the job descriptions I’ve used for both paid and volunteer positions. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Job Descriptions as Part of the Admin April Bundle Now" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fkidmin-admin-bundle%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]The download includes 8+ job descriptions for positions like the Children's Ministry Director, an Assistant Children's Ministry Director, a Nursery/Preschool Coordinator, a High School or...
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Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Lit Lowdown)

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="4697" img_size="medium" onclick="custom_link" link="https://amzn.to/2G4UEQF"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text 0=""] Raising Passionate Jesus Followers: The Power of Intentional Parenting By Phil & Diane Comer My rating: 4/5 stars - I really liked it     Read: April 2018[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]This book is for you if... you want to raise passionate Jesus followers, you lead children, youth, or families in developing their faith, you want both theoretical and practical advice for raising children in the Christian faith My Thoughts: I do not yet have children, so my responses and thoughts to this book can only be hypothetical at this point, but serving as a children’s pastor includes...
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Stay in Your Lane

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I swam competitively all through middle school and high school, and one of my least favorite strokes was backstroke. It took almost 3 years of swimming before I could even do backstroke in a straight line! Too often, I was trying to see where the wall was and where other people were in the race. I would focus on how they were kicking their legs or holding their head and try to mimic their stroke. I was so focused on what they were doing, I completely messed myself up and ended up swimming in zig zags and coming in last.   But backstroke and swimming taught me an important lesson that I later applied to ministry: stay in your lane. When you compare yourself to other leaders or try to do it all yourself, you end up moving slower and much less gracefully. So do you, keep to your strengths, and let...
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KidMin Budget Tracker

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier this week we talked about budgeting our time - and now it’s time to talk about budgeting our money. (Ugh). This is probably my least favorite thing about kidmin (yes even worse than no-show volunteers in my book) BUT it’s an important administrative task we can’t ignore. There is no such thing as a budget fairy to keep track of it all for me (but how awesome would that be?!), so Excel was the next best option. I created yearly and monthly spreadsheets with designated expense categories to help me stay on top of my ministry budget, and this week I'm sharing that tracker with you! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Start tracking your budget now!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fkidmin-budget-tracker%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]How it Works: Take a...
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Budgeting Your Time

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As much as I wish it were endless, time is limited. And your time as a kidmin leader is limited too. So how can you make the most of it? Plan your time So much time is wasted from not having a plan for your time. Even if it’s just a short list on a sticky note, at the end of each day, make a list of what you want to get done tomorrow. That way, you don’t spend a lot of time up front just figuring out what you need to do. You can jump right in, and it helps your brain focus on what needs to get done instead of where to start. (Psst - I really like using Asana as my digital to-do list, and lots of my friends enjoy using Trello).   Track your time If you want to use your time more wisely, you have to know where your time goes. Your church may ask you to track your time or hours anyway. Mine...
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New Kid Forms & Med Forms – Collecting the Information You Need

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When new families walk into your church for the first time (after they've probably checked out your website), the last thing they want to do is fill out a really long medical and media release form that seems like they’re signing their lives away. But forms like these are important for protecting you, your team, and the children you serve. So use a separate visitor information form that covers the basics, and if they decide to come back for a special event, then you can ask them to complete the full medical and media release form that all of the families in your ministry fill out. This week for Admin April, I’m sharing both my New Kid Information Form for visiting families and my full Medical and Media Release Form (in both print and digital formats) that all participating families complete every...
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4 Questions to Evaluate the First First Impression: Your Website

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]No, that title wasn’t a typo. There’s a new first impression that visitors have of your church, and they see it before they even walk through your doors: your website. New findings have shown that 75%-90% of visitors will look at your church website before deciding to attend. So what kind of first impression is your website (and especially your kidmin section) giving to potential first-time guests? I know that web development and control over the website is probably out of your hands, but you can (and should) still have a voice in making sure your first first impression is a good one. Here are 4 questions to help you evaluate your church website… Is your website updated? If it looks old, has low-quality photos, or includes outdated content, people will assume your church is old,...
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Admin April 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Happy Admin April! All month long, I'll be sharing resources that help you rock the administrative responsibilities of our kidmin role. Think budgets, behavior, and forms, oh my! In case you missed a week, here's what I've shared so far... Week 1 [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="4473" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/5-tips-for-behavior-management-at-church/"][vc_btn title="5 Tips for Behavior Management at Church" align="center" button_block="true" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2F5-tips-for-behavior-management-at-church%2F||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="4477" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link"...
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Behavior Management System (SLLRP)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the past I've shared my 5 Tips for Behavior Management at Church, which discusses the importance of sharing behavior expectations with kids. To help the kids in my ministry understand my expectations for them, I created 5 Rules called the "5 I Can's", that eventually became known by the kids as SLLRP (pronounced "slurp"). They were adaptable for any situation too, so I could remind kids to "SLLRP it up" at VBS, a preschool playdate, or on a Sunday morning, and they'd know exactly what I was talking about. These “I Can” Statements help kids remember how we should behave at church so we can get the best out of our time each Sunday morning and learn all about what God wants to teach us. They allow kids to take ownership of their time at church each week and to empower them to CHOOSE to do the right thing....
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Easter Volunteer Appreciation Printable – Thanks for Being One of My Peeps!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I don't have to tell you how big Easter is in the kidmin world. Egg hunts, family events, Holy Week services, and more, and that doesn't even include preparation for Easter Sunday! You and I both know you can't pull off this busy season without your awesome team of volunteers, so use this quick and easy printable to remind them you're glad they're one of your peeps.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download your Peeps Printable here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fpeeps-easter-volunteer-appreciation-printable-graphics%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]1) Buy Peeps during the Easter season (buy them after Easter for major discounts). 2) Print the following pages on either colored paper or Avery 5164 Shipping Labels (be sure to follow the printing instructions on the...
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Equipping Parents – Ideas from Leaders Just Like You

I had a great response to my giveaway of Home Grown, the new book from the KidMin Nation Library. To be entered to win, KidMin leaders from across the globe had to answer one question: What is one way you equip the parents in your ministry to be spiritual leaders in their homes? And the responses were excellent! Both rookie and veteran leaders shared their thoughts, and their honesty, vulnerability, and creativity blew me away! So I wanted to share some of the answers leaders posted, and I hope they spark ideas and creativity for you too. This is something that's been pulling strong at my heart here lately. I'm a brand new children's ministry director and unfortunately, there's never been a plan of action to equip parents. This is something I would love to implement asap. Thank you so much for the blessed opportunity to win this great...
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Palm Sunday Craft Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since we celebrate Palm Sunday every year, it can be difficult to come up with new crafts each time, but this one has been my favorite "outside of the box" palm craft idea! It's super simple, takes minimal prep work, and makes a pretty palm branch! Supplies: Palm Sunday Craft printable green scrapbook paper or different shades of green paper (cut into 1-inch squares) glue sticks [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Get your hands on the palm Sunday craft now!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2FDKM-Palm-Sunday-Scrapbook-Craft.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Prep: Cut green scrapbook paper or different shades of green paper into 1 inch squares. Do: Give each child a Palm Branch Craft Printable. Spread out the green scrapbook...
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Home Grown Review and Giveaway

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="4365" img_size="medium" onclick="custom_link" link="https://amzn.to/2MCjw3B"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text 0=""] Home Grown: How to Equip Parents for Spiritual Leadership By KidMin Nation (Editor: Tina Houser) My rating: 5/5 stars - It was amazing!     Read: March 2018[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]This book is for you if... you serve in children's ministry, you think parents are an important part of discipleship, you want more practical ideas for equipping parents that you can implement today. My thoughts: As a contributing author to this book (check out chapter 4 for my thoughts on being a parent cheerleader), I am a little bit biased. But there really is so much good stuff in this...
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Wiping Sin Away Prayer Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This is one of my favorite prayer activities to help kids think about their own sin, ask God for forgiveness, and see a visual of how Jesus washes away our sin. Here's how to do this activity with your kids too. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Give me the Prayer Activity" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2FDKM-Wiping-Sin-Away-Activity.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text] Cut and laminate the hearts (included in the download). Give each child a heart, a dry erase marker, and a baby wipe. Encourage kids to think of their sins, write them on their heart, then wipe them away, thanking Jesus for wiping away our sins. [/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2="Want to see how this fits into a Sunday lesson?" h4="Check out the free Squeaky Clean Sunday...
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Talking with Kids about Jesus’ Death

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Easter often brings up a tricky subject in the kidmin world: death.  How do you explain Jesus’ death to preschoolers? Or to your sensitive elementary kids? And what about kids who have recently experienced a death? Should we just gloss over that part of the Easter story to spare their feelings? One Easter, one of the 2nd graders asked me a question that reminded me the importance of talking to kids about Jesus’ death. Her mother had passed away suddenly a few months before Easter, and after the lesson, she quietly walked up and asked, “Ms. Brittany, how old was Jesus when he died?” I responded and said “We believe he was around 33 years old.” She said, “Hmm, so he was younger than my mom when she died. I bet Jesus’ family missed him too.” (Give me a minute to stop weeping over...
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Fleeing From Sin Game

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Want a fun, large-group game to help kids learn a healthy reaction to sin? Give this one a try! I used it as an opening game for the Squeaky Clean Sunday lesson, and it helps set the stage for the full 4-week Squeaky Clean Easter unit! Prep: Print several copies of the "Sin Signs" Printable that comes with the download. Give these signs to your volunteer leaders before service starts, and help them coordinate an order to hold up their signs. Play: Play music and invite the children to mingle/move/dance around the room. Cut the music off randomly, and one leader will hold up their sin sign. Children should flee as fast as they can from the leader holding the sin sign. (In the Squeaky Clean version, kids run away from the sin signs and to the rubber ducks!) Continue playing as time...
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Top 5 Easter Worship Songs for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here are my top 5 favorite Easter worship songs for kids! We pull out the top three on this list and sing them every year. Kids know them, love them, and look forward to them each Easter season. All of these songs are available for download on Worship House Kids. Happy Day - Perfectly communicates that Jesus washes our sins away and how exciting that news is! (Fits the Squeaky Clean Easter theme perfectly!)   1, 2, 3 - Helps kids learn about Jesus' resurrection plus how (and why) Jesus rose 3 days later.   Hosanna Rock - Written for preschoolers, but even my elementary kids loved this one! So active, easy, and fun!   Here is Our King - This one comes with motions in the video, so half of your work is already done! Plus, use it to remind kids that God is our...
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Baptism Guide for Parents

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sometimes parents wonder whether their child is ready for baptism or not. Share this guide with them to help parents talk with their children about baptism and discern if their child is ready to take this important step of faith.   Not sure YOU know how to talk with kids about baptism? Read tips for you as the leader here.[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2="Want to teach a full lesson on baptism?" h4="Use this Easter season to do just that! " txt_align="center" color="sky" add_button="bottom" btn_title="Show me the baptism-focused Easter unit! " btn_color="sky" btn_align="center" btn_link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fsqueaky-clean-4-week-easter-unit%2F||target:%20_blank|"]The 4-week Squeaky Clean Easter unit closes with a special lesson on baptism, teaching kids what it is, why it's...
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Talking with Kids About Baptism

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Baptism isn’t just taking a bath at church or playing in Holy Water fountains; it means so much more! When we are baptized, it is an outward sign of an inward change. We know that when Jesus died on the cross, He wiped away our sins and made us clean. Baptism is our way of showing others that we have been wiped clean of our sins. But baptism happens AFTER we have given our lives to follow Jesus. Your heart changes first; then you are baptized to symbolize the change in your heart. Seems simple, right? Then why is baptism often so confusing for kids? Kids are concrete thinkers and have a hard time with abstract ideas, so trying to understand that the baptism symbolizes our death to sin and new life in Christ can be tough! Kids often hear "baptism" and "becoming a Christian" as interchangeable phrases,...
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Small Groups vs. Stations

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Most curriculums offer a large-group, small-group format for Sunday mornings, but as a mobile church with limited time, space, and resources for creating an exciting environment, I had to come up with a way to make our mornings more engaging for kids. So I adapted the big-name curriculum we were using to fit a new format: large-group time, then stations. Kids LOVED it! Stations allow more movement throughout the morning and mean that you need fewer supplies since only one small group will be doing the activity at a time. Since each station lasts 10 minutes, that one kid who HATES crafts knows that a new activity is coming soon, so it helps eliminate disengagement. Kids go through the stations in the same order each week, but start at a different station, leaving enough structure for stability but enough...
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