2021

Safety & Integrity in Digital Discipleship

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Safety and integrity are vital parts of a healthy children's ministry, and that applies to our digital ministry strategy too. So how can we keep our kids, families, and volunteers safe while engaging in digital discipleship?  Update your policies and procedures. We have policies for keeping our kids, volunteers, and staff safe in other areas of ministry, and our online presence shouldn’t be any different. This Friday, we'll share a free children's ministry social media sample policy template you can use to help you get started plus a few examples from other churches. When thinking about writing your digital/social media policies, think about identifying: What is allowed to be shared? (pictures, topics, names, etc.)? Who is allowed to share it? (Can volunteers post pictures from...
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3 Reasons Why Children’s Ministry Leaders Must Embrace Digital Discipleship

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Discipleship in the broader sense is the process of guiding someone into a deeper, more vibrant relationship with Jesus through teaching, encouragement, and personal connection. In her book From Social Media to Social Ministry, Nona Jones emphasizes the importance of relationships in the discipleship process as she defines discipleship as “the product of dialogue about how to apply [Biblical] content to people’s lives in a way that leads to continual transformation.” Discipleship in children’s ministry means partnering with parents in that continual process of growing kids deeper in their relationship with Jesus. We may have more hand motions in our worship songs and there may be glitter in our supply closets, but the goal of discipleship remains the same. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in the...
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Top 10 Screen-Based Games for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Playing games is a key element of children's ministry, but social-distancing can make that difficult sometimes. On Friday, we'll share a free list of social-distanced games for kids, but until then, here are our top 10 on-screen games for kids that leaders like YOU have downloaded over the past year! You can play these games in person or online.[/vc_column_text][products columns="2" orderby="date" order="DESC" ids="31124, 29065, 54017, 54295, 39256, 44703, 32186, 38648, 51502, 40224"][vc_custom_heading text="Find even more screen-based games here!" font_container="tag:h1|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct-category%2Fgames%2Fppt-games%2F|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Simple but Meaningful Holy Week Activities for Families

The families you serve probably know all about the excitement of Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, but do they know what happens in between? How can you help them remember and honor the full story of Jesus' last days on earth? Here are some simple and meaningful Holy Week activities to share with your families or add to your Holy Week events! Palm Sunday - Make a Palm Sunday craft (like this free one) with your kids at church. Or share the printables (and other fun ones like these) with your families to do at home. Encourage families to use their Palm branches to host a parade around their house or down their street, waving their palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" (P.S. It wouldn't be too late to give families an Eggs of Easter Resurrection Eggs Kit either - they can double up on the days!) Holy Monday - Holy Monday is the day that Jesus...
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Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt Family Devotion

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this family devotion with your families as part of an at-home glow in the dark egg hunt! This free download helps families learn about how Jesus is the light as they enjoy an at-home egg hunt in the dark.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt Family Devotion here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F03%2FDKM-Glow-in-the-Dark-Egg-Hunt-Devotional-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Here’s how it works: 1)Provide families with the supplies they need for a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt or encourage them to turn off the lights and hunt for eggs in the dark using flashlights. 2)Encourage families to host their own glow-in-the-dark egg hunt at home, then complete the devotional shared...
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Around-the-Town Easter Egg Hunt

around the town egg hunt
Kim, a kidmin leader in Virginia, recently shared about her team's idea for an around-the-town egg hunt, and I couldn't wait to learn more! Normally, Kim and her team host a big community event with over 2,000 eggs. They usually promote the event on lots of different platforms and hold the event during a community farmers market that is held across the street. That obviously wasn't an option this year as we continue through the global pandemic. Kim said... "We always target the community with our Easter egg hunt, but this year I felt like we needed to focus on our own families and gently leading them back to the building and back into Christian activities." Even as she's focusing on her church families rather than the community, Kim is finding that a lot of them are inviting their friends to the around-the-town egg hunt, so that's a huge...
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I Spy Easter Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In this simple (but harder than you think) activity, kids must count and record the number of each Easter item shown on the page. It's perfect as an early-arriver activity or a take-home sheet, and since there is no reading required, all ages can play![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the I Spy Easter Activity here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F03%2FDKM-I-Spy-Easter-Printable.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="50874" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/resurrection-rock-roll-to-go/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]This activity is from our Resurrection Rock and Roll At-Home Family...
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Easter Activity Printables for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Use these 3 Easter activity printables for your Easter season lessons! They can be used as time-filler activities, early arriver activities, or as sermon notes sheets for a family worship service. Here are the activities included: The Tomb is Empty Coloring Page Gospel Storyboard Cross Color-by-Number [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Easter Activity Printables here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FDKM-Easter-Activity-Printables-for-Kids.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="53047" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/egg-streme-easter-4-week-easter-series/"][/vc_column][vc_column...
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5 Egg-cellent Easter Games

easter games for children's ministry
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for some socially-distanced games to play for Easter this year? Here are 5 egg-cellent Easter games that are egg-stremely fun! (And find even more Easter 2021 resources here!) 1. HOT BOILED EGG Supplies: Hard-boiled egg, spoons and/or gloves, music Details: This game is just like hot potato, but with an eggy twist! Children can either sit or stand in a circle. When the music starts, the children pass the "hot boiled egg" around the circle using spoons and/or wearing gloves. When the music stops, the person left holding the egg is out. Play continues until only one person is left, and that person is the winner! 2. EGG-HEAD  Supplies: 3 Hard-boiled and 3 uncooked eggs, egg box, Dice (optional: trash bags and shower caps) Details: Invite 6 leaders to the front and give them all a number....
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Easter 2021 Resources

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Well, here we are again, friends. Almost a full year later, and the global pandemic is still going strong, limiting our Easter plans and celebrations. While I’m lamenting all that we’ve missed over the last year, I’m also grateful for the creativity God has inspired in the church! Let us help you and your families celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, no matter what your Easter looks like. If you'd like a more visual version of this list, find that here.[/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title="New for 2021" custom_font_container="tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%233ac1e1" custom_use_theme_fonts="yes" use_custom_heading="true"]These are our BRAND NEW resources made for 2021! The Eggs of Easter - This 12-Day Family Devotion Kit leads families toward the true meaning of Easter through...
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Lament Activity for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The past year has caused a lot of stress, change, and grief for kids. Use this Lament Activity for Kids to help them express their grief and trust in God through their sadness. (And see this post for a word on lamenting this Lent season.) [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Lament Activity for Kids here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FDKM-Lament-Activity-for-Kids-Freebie-1.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Tip: You may want to show kids an example of a lament Psalm (Psalm 13 is a good place to start) and point out how the psalmist expresses their sadness to God, then remembers God's faithfulness.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="27513" img_size="full" alignment="center"...
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L(am)ent

lent and lament
This week brings Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lent season. I've learned (and am still learning) most of what I know about Lent as an adult. One word I've come to associate with Lent is "lament" because both Lent and lamenting bring into sharp focus the reality of suffering. And this year, lament seems to be a relevant word as we head toward the 1-year "anniversary" of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A full year of lockdowns and quarantines and masks and social-distancing. A full year of canceled plans, virtual church, and sickness. And now we're trying to balance lamenting the pandemic while still living through it. At least for now, the pandemic is still going strong, and we'll probably be having virtual church for Easter again. As we dive headlong into Jesus' journey of suffering to the cross through Lent, let's take time...
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What Do You Prefer? Free Screen-Based Game

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Easily played with social-distancing in place, this game is perfect for getting kids talking! On each slide, there are two options on the screen. Kids respond with which option they prefer by standing, clapping, cheering, or whatever fun action you choose![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the game instructions + files here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FDKM-What-Do-You-Prefer-On-Screen-Game-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]This free download includes 11 .png files you can insert into a PPT or your favorite presentation software. Please note: Because this freebie contains multiple files, it will download as a zipped folder and will not be viewable on a mobile device.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column...
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15 Socially-Distanced Greetings for Sunday Mornings

socially distanced greetings for kids
I know you LOVE seeing your kids walk through your doors on Sunday mornings, and even though masks make it harder for them to see your big smile (and you theirs), here are some fun, safe, socially-distanced ways you can greet your kids each Sunday. Wave - A classic. Double wave - Taking the classic up a notch. Air five - Just like a regular high five, but without actually touching. Can be done from 6 ft apart or even across the lobby. Air fist bump - Just like an air high five, but with a fist bump instead. Air hug - stretch your arms out and around the air in front of you, pretending to hug the child from across the lobby. Elbow bump - OK, so this one requires you getting closer than 6 ft apart, BUT it still helps prevent the spread of germs since your hands don't come in contact! Simply stick out your elbow and (gently) bump...
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Love Printables

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]These love-themed printables are perfect for time fillers, early arrivers, or to even send in the mail around Valentine's Day. These printables can also be shared with your families through email or on a secure password-protected website to be used at home.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Love Printables here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2FDKM-Love-Printables.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Here are the 2 printables included in this free download: Tic-Tac-Toe - Make copies, pair kids up, and let them play tic-tac-toe! Love Word Search - Kids must hunt for the word "love" in the word search and find it 20 times! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="27194"...
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Family Fasting Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this printable activity with the families in your ministry to help them be intentional about their fasting this Lent. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Family Fasting Activity Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2FDKM-Family-Fasting-Activity-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]This activity sheet helps them not only choose what each family member wants to fast, but it also helps them identify ways they can make room for God to fill them up![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="49177" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/fast-feast-a-family-guide-for-lent/"][/vc_column][vc_column...
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Helping Kids Understand the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the typical practices during Lent is fasting. Fasting is meant to mirror the practice of Jesus, who fasted 40 days in the desert in preparation for his public ministry. Fasting during Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter) is meant to help us draw closer to Jesus and prepare our hearts and spirits to remember His death and resurrection. And we can help guide the families we serve through this season of fasting and prayer by intentionally teaching them (and their kids) about the spiritual discipline of fasting. I know what you're thinking - should kids fast? Valid question. We would discourage kids and teens from fasting meals - for health reasons, and also because of their maturity. (And we discuss the answer to "should kids fast" in more detail here.) However, people of any age (kids included!)...
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Valentine Resources for Your Children’s Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Valentine's Day happens on a Sunday this year (2021), and we've got some great resources to help your kids celebrate and show God's love that day![/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text="If you're not meeting in person (and even if you are)..." font_container="tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%233ac1e1" use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_column_text] Help your kids know that Jesus loves them! This I Know is a 4-week Valentine’s devotional for kids and families. This resource for families focuses on 4 stories in the New Testament that help them know that Jesus loves them. Download This I Know here.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text="Help kids SHOW God's love with a Service Project!" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%233ac1e1" use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_column_text] Operation Valentine is a...
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First Responder Coloring Page

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use this free "Thank you, First Responders!" coloring page to send a little encouragement to first responders as they continue to keep us safe and healthy.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the coloring page here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2FDKM-Thank-You-First-Responder-Coloring-Page-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Invite kids to color the picture and write a note on the back to hospital workers, firefighters, or police, then deliver or mail the finished pictures & notes to the local first responders in your community! Want to show even more encouragement and support for first responders? Check out our First Responder Appreciation Card Designs or our Hospital Prayer & Support Sign...
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3 Hospital Appreciation Ideas for Children’s Ministries

My church and my neighborhood are located just 2 miles down the road from a major hospital, and several of our church members work at the hospital or in the medical field. After talking with some of these frontline workers about how things are going, here are some of their responses: "Morale is dipping and community support has been lacking." "Support was great at the beginning, but people have gone back to their normal lives, and there's hardly any extra show of support now." "Our employees need encouragement." And here's a recent post in my neighborhood's FB group: "The staff is exhausted... The signs of support from the community will be a big morale booster for the staff." It's obvious our local hospitals need some encouragement as they continue to risk their lives to save and protect ours. And what better place for that...
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Get It Done Post-It Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Does anyone else have a weird obsession with sticky notes? Just me? Well I've discovered a way to help me keep my post-it notes a little more organized... Use this "Get It Done" Post-It To-Do List Printable to help you, well, get things done![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Get It Done Post It Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F12%2FDKM-GET-IT-DONE-POST-IT-PRINTABLE.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Write your thoughts, lists, tasks, and to-dos on a post-it note, then put the post-it in the boxes to help you accomplish them today, tomorrow, sometime this week, or in the near future. You can also laminate the printable and then use an expo marker to write in the boxes instead of using post-it notes. Pro tip: Before leaving the...
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20 Lessons from 2020

2020 was quite a year, and I learned a lot. These lessons may be relevant to you, or they may not, and they vary from personal to ministry-related. Here are 20 lessons I learned from 2020: "Creativity begins at the moment we don't know what we are doing." - Simon Sinek Motherhood is simultaneously the most beautiful and most exhausting thing in the world. We all need each other. My worldview is smaller than I believed, and I still have more to learn. Listening to audiobooks still counts as reading. A little bit of sunshine and fresh air goes a long way. Learning doesn't have to be formal. Change isn't a bad thing. Playing is just as important as working. There is good to be found in every situation because God can be found in every situation. Good lighting makes a big difference. Dreaming is not the same as...
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