Categories: Blog

3 Correction Strategies That Work (Excerpt From Boundless Hope For Every Child by Kim Botto)

When I talk with children's ministry leaders about a top struggle in their ministry, one of the common answers is engaging kids and redirecting disruptive behavior. More and more leaders are struggling with the classroom management side of leading and teaching kids, and part of that is because kids learn differently now than they have in the past and because we're seeing a rise in neurodivergent kids. Whenever a leader mentions this sort of challenge, I always point them to Kim Botto's new book: Boundless Hope for Every Child. This book is a must-read for anyone passionate about making every child feel seen, understood, and welcomed. With practical and personal insights, this book strikes the perfect balance between heartwarming encouragement and actionable strategies. It's helpful without feeling overwhelming, offering real-world solutions for...
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Filed Under Blog, Book Shelf, For Parents, Leadership

Breathing Techniques Visual Aid Tool

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Helping kids calm down when they’re feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated is a key part of meeting the needs of every child in your ministry, especially those with special needs or neurodivergent kids. Use these breathing techniques suggested in Kim Botto’s book Boundless Hope for Every Child to train your volunteer team to help kids calm down. Share these techniques with your volunteer team, and consider printing off a copy of the visual aid to keep in each room or small group. Want to learn more about Boundless Hope For Every Child? Find it on Amazon here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Breathing Techniques Visual Aid Here!" align="center" css=""...
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Easter Encouragement for the KidMin Leader

Hey KidMin Leader, You’re almost there! The final countdown to Easter Sunday is on, and I know what that means for you. It means extra crafts to prep, last-minute program changes, and either finalizing plans for your upcoming Easter event or reviewing the one that already happened. It means organizing lesson plans, confirming volunteers, and double-checking that every detail is ready for the biggest Sunday of the year. It’s exciting. It’s exhausting. It’s Easter. But before you dive into one more to-do list, can I remind you of something? You are doing holy work. Every plastic egg you stuff, every craft you cut out, every game you organize, and every Bible story you tell is a seed planted in a child’s heart. A seed that could grow into a lifelong faith in Jesus. This Sunday isn’t just another Sunday. It’s the day we celebrate...
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Easter Coloring Pages

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these Easter coloring pages as part of your Easter services or special events![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Easter Coloring Pages Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F02%2FDKM-Easter-Coloring-Pages-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="122406" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css="" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/easter-coloring-bundle/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=""]And if you want more coloring pages, activity pages, and Easter printables like these, check out the full Easter Coloring Bundle that these pages came from! Find the full bundle...
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Easter Story Snack Mix Recipe

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]This fun Easter Story Snack Mix is a great activity to send home with families on Easter Sunday or at a special Easter event! You could even make up some Easter snack mix as goody bags or treats for volunteers. Whether you invite families to make the mix on their own or make it for them, share this printable with them to help them connect their snack to the Easter story![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the recipe here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F02%2FDKM-Easter-Story-Snack-Mix.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="120687" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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10 Non-Candy Easter Prizes/Gifts

Easter season brings gifts, prizes, egg hunts, and more fun! But if you've worked with kids long, you know giving a room full of kids a bunch of sugar can lead to complete chaos. So I've been researching, and here are my 10 favorite non-candy Easter gifts/prizes/egg-stuffers for kids along with some links to the printables when possible! (Trust me, the parents in your ministry will appreciate the non-sugary gift!) Easter Slap Bracelets (These fit inside eggs perfectly when they're rolled up!) These rubber poppers + this fun rubber popper family activity that remind kids Jesus is alive! Cross Pop Its (Kids are still so obsessed with pop its and fidget toys!) Bible Verse Rubber Bracelets (Kids can wear these year-round, and it helps them learn scripture!) Easter Cards (To put in the goody bags or folded up into eggs with a little...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership

Palm Sunday Activity Pages Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these activity pages as an early-arriver, time-filler, or small group activity in your children’s ministry to help kids learn and think about Palm Sunday![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Palm Sunday Printables here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F02%2FDKM-Palm-Sunday-Activity-Pages-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="123032" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css="" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/palm-sunday-kids-activity-packet/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=""]These are two of the 10 activity pages available in our Palm Sunday Activity Packets, and you can find...
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5 Tips for Sharing the Gospel With Children This Easter

Easter will soon be here, and as you're celebrating the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, you're probably also sharing the gospel story (or at least some element of it) with the kids and families who walk through your doors. Easter Sunday often brings new families and visitors who may have never heard the gospel before, so it's vital we share it with intentionality and purpose. That's why I'm excited to share this guest blog post from Jaden Howard, a DKM Vendor, on 5 tips for sharing the gospel with children! These tips come from and helped create her Magnetic Gospel Easter Object Lesson. So as you're thinking through your Easter morning lessons, keep these 5 tips in mind:  Don’t Forget the Good Stuff: When I (Jaden) first started evangelizing to children, I would put so much emphasis on Jesus’ death on the cross, that I...
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7 Ways to Prepare for Guests this Easter So They Want to Come Back

Easter is usually one of the highest-attended Sundays of the year, with lots of new families and guests visiting your church for the very first time. It’s a wonderful opportunity to welcome them, share the hope of Jesus, and invite them to become part of your church community. But if you want those families to come back after Easter, you need to be intentional about creating a positive and welcoming experience. Here are some practical steps to help ensure your children’s ministry is ready to make a lasting impact: Get your check-in ready. Make sure your check-in process is streamlined and guest-friendly. Offer online pre-registration solutions if possible. Double-check that you have plenty of sticker labels on hand, and pray that the technology works without a hitch. A smooth check-in experience sets the tone for a stress-free...
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Egg-stra Special Easter Volunteer Appreciation Tag

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these 3.8x2.2-inch printable volunteer tags to show your Easter Sunday team how much you appreciate them serving on such an important day! Check out the download via the button below to access gift ideas, printing options, and even a customizable version that allows you to add your own logo! Find even more Easter resources here![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the printable here!" align="center" css=""...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Volunteers

Tell Me You’re Planning an Easter Event Without Telling Me You’re Planning an Easter Event…

Tell me you're planning an Easter Event without telling me you're planning an Easter event. I'll go first. One time I experimented with roasting Peeps instead of regular marshmallows for an Easter-themed s'more snack. 😂 Your turn! I posed that question in some popular children's ministry Facebook groups + on Deeper KidMin's social media and had a BLAST reading through all of the answers! Here are some of my favorites: "I am trying to calculate the total weight of 1,000 filled plastic eggs and trying to decide if I can lift them myself (if they all fit in one container)." "I asked my congregation to donate over 10,000 plastic eggs." "I just bought around $200 worth of chocolate chips and mini eggs." "I took buckets of sand from the playground (so people can walk through a tomb with their bare feet)." "Instead of a ball...
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Special Event Review/Evaluation Template

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Reviewing and evaluating your ministry events can often be just as important as planning them, but sometimes we get so caught up in the event itself that we forget to evaluate! Use this simple and easy special event review template to recap your special events, take notes for next time, and keep a record of your special event details.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Word version here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F06%2FDKM-Special-Event-Review-Template.docx|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Check out some of our favorite events below! [/vc_column_text][products columns="3" orderby="rand" order="ASC" ids="7039, 49656, 16784, 19953, 84335, 81303, 9476, 22133, 14214, 45338, 76761, 48447, 11075"][vc_btn title="Explore Easter Events here!"...
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Jesus Washes Away Sin Activity for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use this simple but dramatic activity to help families talk about sin and forgiveness this Easter![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Jesus Washes Away Sin Activity Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FDKM-Jesus-Washes-Away-Sin-Activity-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Kids scribble on a folded paper towel heart, then set the heart in water. First, the colors look like they seep through, but they are eventually washed away! It's a great reminder that Jesus washes away our sin.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="49713" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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The Best Way to Reach Families this Easter

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Several years ago at the Bible Creative Conference, one of the speakers, Dale Hudson of Building Children's Ministry, talked about one of the best ways to reach the families at our church: give them opportunities for shared, memorable experiences that point to a greater purpose. So this Easter, how can we give our families a chance to create a shared, memorable experience that points to a greater purpose? These ideas might help! Help them throw a family Easter party - Everyone loves celebrations! Even if you host an Easter event, you can provide ideas and supplies for your families to celebrate Easter at home too! Just like an in-person event, think through a special theme, games, family devotion, snacks, and fun for your families! This is a great opportunity to help your families host their own...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

R is for Risen: Easter Book for Preschoolers!

We love books at our house and in our ministry, especially in the nursery and preschool classrooms! And while we've shared about some of our favorite faith-focused Easter books in the past, this week, we're sharing about (and giving away) a brand new Easter book the littles in your ministry will love! I’m always on the lookout for engaging, theologically rich resources that make learning about Jesus fun for kids—and R is for Risen is exactly that! This beautifully illustrated alphabet book walks children through key themes and events of the Easter story using simple yet meaningful rhymes that reinforce biblical truth. Each letter introduces an event or element from the Easter story, making it a perfect tool for families, Sunday school classes, and even preschool ministries. But rather than just randomly talking about faith themes, this book...
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Filed Under Blog, Book Shelf, For Parents

Lent Devotion for KidMin Leaders

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Many of our resources and freebies are geared toward the kids and families in your ministry, but this freebie is for YOU, kidmin leader. Here’s week 1 from a 7-week Lent devotional written specifically with children’s ministry leaders in mind. So block out 15 minutes on your calendar during the first week of Lent, grab your Bible, print the following pages, and spend time with Jesus as you prepare to celebrate Easter. Just like your favorite snacks can be satisfying, these devotionals will satisfy your soul as you spend time with Jesus![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the free Lent devotion here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F02%2FDKM-Lent-Devotion-for-Leaders-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column...
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6 Ways To Honor Lent Without Fasting

Lent is a powerful season for reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Traditionally, Lent is associated with fasting—giving something up as a way to focus on Christ. Fasting is a spiritual discipline, and we should teach kids about it, but not everyone in your church or ministry may feel called or equipped to fast, especially children and their families. Or maybe your church doesn't emphasize Lent and fasting at all. The good news? There are plenty of other meaningful ways to honor Lent and lead your ministry through this sacred season. Here are 6 non-fasting ideas to help you guide the kids and families in your ministry as they embrace Lent: Make prayer a daily practice. Help kids and families develop a rhythm of daily prayer during Lent. Provide them with a simple prayer guide, perhaps focusing on themes like...
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Pretzel Playdough Prayer Activity for Lent

Share this fun and simple hands-on prayer activity with your families this Lent season! It shares a brief explanation of Lent, how pretzels are connected, and gives a fun playdough prayer activity families can do together. Or use it as a small group activity or worship response time in your ministry setting. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRETZEL PLAYDOUGH PRAYER ACTIVITY FOR LENT! This activity is one of the bonus activities included in our Pretzel Prayers Lent Family Prayer Resource! Pretzel Prayers is a family resource that thematically uses pretzels to encourage daily habits of prayer and Scripture reading while teaching about the historical connection of pretzels and Lent. Learn more about this resource...
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Developmental Stages Training Tool for Your Team

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]While children may progress through stages of learning at different rates, they tend to follow the same patterns of development from birth to the preteen years, and when we engage kids based on their developmental stage, we can take better aim at the dartboard. Use this week’s download to gain a general overview of a child’s characteristics in each stage and what that means for a practical application to ministry.  Include this information in your volunteer training to really set up your team for success![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the developmental stages printable here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F06%2FDKM-Developmental-Characteristics-KidMin-Leaders-Need-to-Know.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text css=""]If you...
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3 Keys to Teaching Kids, Not Lessons

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]What would you say is the most important aspect of your lesson each week? The "hook"? The gamification elements? The life application? Plot twist! One of the most important aspects of your lesson doesn't even have to do with the lesson itself. It's actually the KIDS you are teaching and how well you know them! Effective and creative Bible teachers place as much value on knowing the children they teach as on the content of the lesson.  Yes, solid content and preparation are important, but if you're not taking a few characteristics about the kids you teach into account, your effectiveness drastically decreases. So here are 3 keys to teaching kids, not just lessons. Know your kids relationally. Kids learn best from people they know and love. Build relationships with your kids - both inside and...
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10 Valentine Crafts That Remind Kids of God’s Love

Valentine's Day is all about love, and there are SO many cute crafts we can offer kids to help celebrate! But what if we were intentional about the crafts we offer? Let's go beyond hearts and valentines and invite kids to make Valentine crafts that remind them of God's love! Here are 10 ideas: Heart Prayer Pockets - Kids decorate paper or felt hearts with a pocket where they can tuck in prayer requests or names of people they want to share God’s love with. Jesus Loves Me Door Hangers - Provide foam sheets or cardstock for kids to design heart-shaped door hangers with phrases like “Jesus Loves Me” or “God’s Love Lives Here.” Heart Paper Airplanes - This is one craft the boys in your ministry will actually WANT to make! Fold a paper airplane so it looks like a heart flying through the air! DKM Subscribers can find...
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Help Kids Experience God’s Love Through Valentine Prayer Stations

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This Valentine’s Day, don’t just talk about God’s love; help kids experience God’s love through prayer stations (aka worship response stations). A prayer station is an activity that allows children to express their responses to God about what they are learning and who He is. Each station looks different and gives the child an opportunity to respond to God in a different way.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Give Me 10 Prayer Station Ideas" color="sky" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FDKM-Prayer-Stations.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="3729" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]Some churches leave these prayer or worship response stations up in their children’s area all the time and use them weekly. As a mobile...
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10 Bible Verses About Love That Kids Should Know

The Bible has a lot to say about love, which tells us love is pretty important to God (it is a big part of His character after all). As we enter a season that focuses a lot on love, let's help the kids and families in our ministry know about the love found in Scripture and in our Heavenly Father. Here are 10 Bible verses about love that kids should know: 1 John 4:7 - "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (NIV) Psalm 136:26 - "Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever." (ESV) 1 Corinthians 13:4,8 - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud... Love never fails." (NIV) (Psst - here's a Valentine lesson to help you teach this verse to kids through prayer stations!) Romans 12:10 -...
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Bible Verse Valentine Scavenger Hunt

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this fun and easy Valentine game with your kids and families to help them discover what the Bible says about God's love![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Bible Verse Valentine Scavenger Hunt Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2FDKM-Bible-Verse-Valentine-Scavenger-Hunt.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Supplies Needed: Bible Verse Scavenger Hunt list, Bible, writing utensil In this game, kids will search the Bible for the verses provided that contain the word "love" then write or draw that verse in the box. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="48323" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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