Categories: Blog

Teaching Advent Through Song: Helping Kids Experience Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love

Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and I love finding new and creative ways to teach kids about Advent. That's why I'm so excited for this week's guest blog post from Dylan Arms, a worship leader and kids worship music artist (find kids worship videos from Dylan here). Dylan shares practical ways we can use music and song to help kids engage with the Advent season in deeper ways... Christmas is one of the most exciting seasons of the year in children’s ministry. There are decorations to hang, Christmas programs to prepare, lessons to plan, and plenty of energy in the room. But in the middle of all the excitement, Advent gives us an opportunity to help kids slow down and understand something much bigger: Jesus came. God kept His promise. And because of Jesus, we have hope, peace, joy, and love. One of the best tools we...
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Advent Family Faith Playlist

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] One of the best tools we have for helping those truths stick is music. Kids may not remember every point from a lesson months later, but they will often remember the songs they sang. A melody has a way of carrying truth with us long after Sunday is over. So as you plan for Advent this year, here are a few ways you can use worship music to help kids experience the story of Christmas in a deeper way, and share this Advent Kids Worship Playlist Printable with the families in your church this Advent season! It's got a QR code that links to a curated mix of fun, Advent-centered songs that are fun, engaging, and full of truth. It’s designed for the car ride, the kitchen, bedtime routines—anywhere life happens. It’s a small tool that helps turn daily moments into lasting spiritual ones. Just print the printable,...
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The Best Bible to Hand Kids (And When)

Handing kids a Bible is a big milestone. Some ministries hand out baby Bibles for child dedications; some give them to kindergarteners. Others give them out in 2nd or 3rd grade when reading skills have developed more, and others give out Bibles to preteens as they head to the youth group. No matter when you're putting a Bible in a child's hand, the type of Bible you give matters, and it varies depending on the ages and needs of the season kids are in. So rather than asking "What's the best Bible or Bible translation to give to kids?" (a question I receive often), I'd encourage you to ask: "What's the most engaging Bible for this kid/age group, right now, that will help them connect with and explore God's Word at the phase and season they're in?" A kid who's just learning to read needs a different Bible than the preteen who's headed to the youth...
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Bible Journal Pages For Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Print off these pages and share them with kids to give them a fun PB&J (Prayer, Bible, and Journal) page for them to use during their personal Bible study or while at church![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F09%2FDKM-Bible-Journal-Pages-For-Kids-Freebie.pdf"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_single_image onclick="custom_link" image="{``172230``:{``url``:``https://deeperkidmin.com/product/pbj-every-day-quiet-time-prayer-journal-for-kids/``,``title``:````,``target``:``_blank``,``rel``:````}}" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]These pages are included in the PB&J Every Day Quiet Time Journal for Kids! Teach kids how to spend time...
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5 Tips for Behavior Management at Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While behavior modification is NOT the goal of children’s ministry, behavior management is still a very real challenge we face as kidmin leaders. So to help you wrangle in the madness and create an environment your kids and volunteers will love, use these 5 tips for behavior management at church. Set expectations. You can’t expect particular behavior if you don’t communicate those expectations to the kids. Make sure the kids know what you expect of them each time they walk through your doors! Want to see the expectations I set for my ministry? Check out a full overview of SLLRP (pronounced "slurp") here! Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. If kids are going to know what you expect, you have to remind them. That means mentioning your expectations every week. Whether it’s up front and explicit (remember our...
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9 Children’s Ministry Lessons I’ve Learned in 9 Years of Deeper KidMin

Nine years ago, I stepped out of a full-time children's pastor role at our church, and I knew that if I could no longer be a children's pastor, I wanted to support children's pastors. Thus Deeper KidMin was born, and while I had a vision for what I wanted it to be, I couldn't have imagined how God would grow and use it. So 9 years in, I want to pause and celebrate all that God has done in and through Deeper KidMin over the last 9 years, the ministries we've had the opportunity to be part of, and the lessons I've learned along the way. (P.S. One of the ways we're celebrating is with a sale! Get 29% off the entire site this week only - October 19-23, 2026! Shop for Fall, Christmas, or just see what's new. Get started in the DKM Marketplace here.) Throughout the Old Testament, God's people took time to pause and remember and celebrate what God has...
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10 Fall Fest Games

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Fall season is here, which means Fall Fest season is here too. Here are 10 Fall Fest games/activities kids love! Happy Fall, Y'all! Pumpkin Ring Toss - Write points on 3-5 large pumpkins, set them up, then invite kids to toss a hula hoop around the pumpkins, earning the most points possible! Donut Tree - What kid doesn't love eating donuts? In this game, hang donuts from string in a tree, and see how fast kids can eat a donut without using their hands! Leaf Rubbings - Collect and dry some large fall leaves. Provide paper and crayons for kids to create rubbings with the leaves for a cool fall craft! Lay the paper on top of the leaf, then using the side of the crayon, gently rub the paper until the imprint of the leaf shows through. Pro tip: lay the leaf upside down so the veins are facing up...
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7 Faith-Based Pumpkin Activities for Children’s Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do anyone else's kids love pumpkins as much as mine do, or is that just at our house? Pumpkins are a fun fall item kids love, so let's use pumpkins this fall to point kids to the gospel! Try one of these faith-based pumpkin activities at church or to send home with families! Pumpkin Crafts - If you're looking for a quick craft that still points kids to the gospel, you've got lots of options! The Gospel Pumpkin Craft is a simple, budget-friendly craft that can be used during the fall to teach the good news of salvation. It comes with instructions and a printable template, so it's easy to prep and easy to use. The Pumpkin Gospel (Shine Your Light) Craft has kids cut out an oval with a cross on it and glue it to a pumpkin to create a flap. When they lift the flap, they reveal the Shine Your Light Candle...
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Shine Your Light Pumpkin Coloring Page Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Fall is here, which means it’s pumpkin season! Use this faith-based coloring page in your ministry this fall! It’s perfect for an early-arriver activity, a take-home sheet, or even at a fall event. Find even more pumpkin-related resources here, and explore all our fall resources here![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F07%2Fdkm-shine-your-light-pumpkin-coloring-page-freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="162185" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css="" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/pumpkin-gospel-shine-your-light-craft/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text...
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8 Things October You Can Do for December You

It may seem like October feels early to think about Christmas. You've barely caught your breath from fall kickoff, and here I am telling you to think about a program that's ten weeks away. But your December self doesn't care that it feels early. She cares whether the curriculum is ordered, whether the volunteers know what they're doing (whether there are actually volunteers in place), and whether you get to enjoy the Christmas Eve service. Luke 14:28 talks about counting the cost before you build the tower, sitting down first and figuring out if you have what you need to finish it. And while it's a warning against starting something you can't complete, it's also permission to plan ahead on purpose, instead of treating every busy season like it snuck up on you. So here's what October You can do for December You:  Decide what you're doing....
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Christmas Planning Checklist

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use this Christmas planning checklist to get on top of your December ministry plans early! Find more details about October’s list here. And if you want to walk through this list together and really map out your December ministry season, don’t forget to join our Plan Your KidMin Christmas Online Workshop! Save your spot here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the list here! " align="center"...
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Sunday Morning Audit Checklist

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use this checklist from our friends at Kidddo to walk through your ministry space once a month with the eyes of a first-time guest! Identify areas of weakness and make plans to improve them. Find more Sunday morning bottlenecks (and how to fix them) here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2FDKM-and-Kidddo-Sunday-Morning-Walkthrough-PDF.pdf"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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5 Sunday Morning Bottlenecks That Stress Out New Families (And How to Fix Them)

Visiting a church for the first time can be super overwhelming for families, and the way we set up the Sunday-morning experience plays a big role in that. The systems you have in place for check-in and for visitors can make or break the family's experience and decision to return (we talked about this last week here). So this week, we're sharing some tips from a Sunday morning check-in expert: Dan from Kidddo. Kidddo is a check-in and label-printing platform built for children's ministries and childcare programs, and Dan shares some common problem areas to be aware of + easy fixes to help things run smoothly...  Think about the last time you walked into a building you'd never visited. Now add a diaper bag, a toddler on your hip, and the quiet fear of handing your child to strangers. That's Sunday morning for a first-time family. Most...
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Why Families Visit, Why They Come Back, and Why They Stick Around

Leading a children's ministry involves not only ministering to those who already attend your church but also inviting new families into the fold. That journey from first-time-visitor to plugged-in-and-growing includes 3 distinct moments, each with its own make-or-break dynamics. When you understand what's driving families at each stage, you can be more intentional to help them keep moving through the process rather than falling through the cracks. Here's a look at the 3 checkpoints in a family's process of getting involved with your church or ministry and how you can best serve them at each step: They Come the First Time Because They Found You Online Your online presence is now your front door. Families are doing their research before they ever set foot on your campus, including reading your website, scrolling your social media, and...
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First-Time Guest Follow-Up Communication Templates

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use these templates to follow up with first-time families in 3 different ways: via email, text, and mailed postcard! These templates are included in the full First-Time Guest Follow-Up Kit resource in customizable Word document format here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download PDF version here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2FDKM-Follow-Up-Communication-Templates-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image onclick="custom_link" image="{``187532``:{``url``:``https://deeperkidmin.com/product/first-time-guest-follow-up-kit/``,``title``:````,``target``:``_blank``,``rel``:````}}" img_size="full"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Want a simple, repeatable system toolkit to welcome...
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God Chooses Me Pumpkin Object Lesson

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Use pumpkins to help teach kids that God chooses and loves them, just the way they are! It begins with showing kids various pumpkins (or letting them pick out their own pumpkin), then dives into a lesson from 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Use this object lesson at your fall event, as a supplement a Sunday morning lesson, or explore the full series this lesson comes from here! Find even more fall resources for your children’s ministry here! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here! " css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F07%2FDKM-god-chooses-me-pumpkin-object-lesson.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="162101" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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10 Unique Fall Family Events

Are you looking for a unique fall family event to host in your ministry this autumn, but don't want to host another Trunk or Treat or Fall Fest? Check out one of these unique ideas the families in your ministry will love! Escape Room or Mystery Event - Set up a fall escape room or host an adventure challenge/mystery night! We love this mini fall escape room as an add-on element, or you can invite families into the Mystery of the Misplaced Jewel where they'll work together to solve the mystery of Penelope Peabody’s misplaced jewel while also discovering an important Biblical truth: God has a plan. PNO - Host a Parents' Night Out to give the parents in your ministry a break! We've got a fall-themed Pumpkins and PJs PNO, and lots more to choose from, including Nerf Wars and Mad Science! Service Project - Invite families to serve together...
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Grandparents as Co-Disciplers: Leveraging September for Family Ministry

Grandparents Day happens every September (this year it's September 13), but it doesn't have to be one Sunday where you hand out flowers and call it done. If you treat it as just a single moment instead of a doorway, you're leaving the biggest untapped discipleship resource in your church sitting in the pews. Grandparents aren't a nice bonus to family ministry. For a lot of your kids, they're one of the most consistent faith influences outside your ministry. They often have more margin than busy parents. They have decades of stories about God's faithfulness that no curriculum could ever recreate. They babysit, pick kids up from school, come to ball games, spend weekends together, and pray faithfully behind the scenes. Parents are often shaping faith in the everyday rhythms. Grandparents have the unique opportunity to reinforce those rhythms with...
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What Happens When AI Answers Kids’ Questions Before They Even Ask Them (And What That Means for Discipleship)

A kid types "who created the world" into Google. Before they finish the sentence, AI produces a full paragraph. They read it, close the tab, move on. Question answered. Wonder never started. Common Sense Media just rated Google's AI search features as an "unacceptable risk" for children, and 75% of U.S. teens and tweens are already using it. It can't be turned off even with SafeSearch on, and it answers with equal confidence whether it's right or wrong. The content concerns are real. But the discipleship concern underneath them is the one ministry leaders need to sit with. In the four Gospels, Jesus gets asked a question 187 times, and do you know how many he directly answers? Three. In contrast, Jesus is recorded as asking over 300 questions. Jesus didn't just answer questions automatically; instead, He asked questions to engage people's...
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7 Design Tips Every Kids Ministry Leader Should Know

I'm so excited for our Canva Confidence online workshop happening this Thursday, August 20 as we dive into the basic principles of good design, discover time-saving Canva features, and create ministry resources you can actually use right away. (Save your spot for the workshop here). We've partnered with Church Visuals for this workshop, and we're excited to share a guest blog post from them this week... Kids are visual learners, and every visual is communicating something, whether you intended it to or not. As ministry leaders, we have the greatest message ever told. Our job isn't to entertain kids; it's to communicate the Gospel as clearly as possible. Quality visuals help remove distractions so kids can focus on what matters most: Jesus. Whether you're creating graphics in Canva or another design program, I want to give you seven...
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Partnering with Parents Carousel Post Canva Template

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use this Canva template to quickly and easily create 2 carousel social media posts for your children’s ministry that encourage parents in discipling their kids at home! Change the wording, modify the colors, etc. to fit your ministry best. Note: Canva Pro account required to use the templates as-is. You can modify the elements to free elements if you don’t have a Canva Pro account.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download template link in PDF form here!" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F07%2FDKM-Carousel-Post-Template-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="184143" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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Free Back-to-School Graphic from Church Visuals

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Our friends over at Church Visuals are offering a free back-to-school graphic! Create a free account with them to access the graphic here, and find all of our Church Visuals graphics on Deeper KidMin here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download from Church Visuals for free here!" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fchurchvisuals.com%2Fproduct%2Fback-to-school-start-the-year-off-right-ministry-graphics%2F|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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6 People to Celebrate With As a New Semester Begins

A few years ago, my word for the year was celebration, and I confessed that celebration is a spiritual discipline I often skip over in pursuit of the next goal, event, or task. So I've tried to be more intentional about taking time to reflect and celebrate. Want to join me? As we head into back-to-school season, consider celebrating with different groups of people in your ministry: Volunteers - Weave celebration into every interaction or gathering you have with your volunteers (especially your annual volunteer training!). It boosts morale, reminds them of their purpose, and keeps their enthusiasm for serving high! (More on celebrating your volunteers here.) Parents/Grown-ups - Grown-ups love hearing positive stories about the kids in their lives. Share major milestones and even small wins with the grown-ups of the kids in your ministry...
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5 Things Every KidMin Leader Needs to Know About Gen Alpha

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]You can have a solid curriculum, fun games, and the most organized (or at least the fullest) supply closet in the building, but if you're not factoring in who today's kids actually are, the amount of supplies you have and prep you do doesn't matter. Here are five realities shaping how Gen Alpha learns, connects, and grows in faith, and what that actually means for your Sunday: They're digital first - For this generation, screens aren't a tool. They're the environment. Kids are learning through videos, apps, and short-form content from a very young age, and it's shaping how long they can focus, how fast they expect an answer, and how they process anything that isn't moving. Faith formation is now competing with constant stimulation, which means a kid can know the Bible story and still struggle to...
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5 Everyday Moments Families Can Use To Grow Their Faith This School Year

Back-to-school season is full of opportunities to encourage families, but it's also easy to overwhelm them in this busy season. As children's ministry leaders, we should be hyper-aware of the importance of back-to-school season for our families and walk alongside them in all the excitement, nerves, and school supplies. The best way to support families in this season? Give them a resource that already fits into a moment they're living. What if we helped families recognize the everyday moments as they get back into the school day routine, then handed them exactly what fits there? Faith takes root in the ordinary rhythms of everyday life just as much as (if not more than) it does in a Sunday morning program. Here are five simple moments you can equip families to use this school year to help build their faith: Before They Leave the House...
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