Categories: Blog

Wondering to Jerusalem: New Lent Devotion Book for Kids!

Developing a child’s biblical imagination is a key element of their spiritual development, which is why I am STOKED for the newest Lent Devotional for Kids from one of my favorite authors: Wondering to Jerusalem: A Wonder-filled Lent Devotional For Kids.  In Wondering to Jerusalem, author Vanessa Myers invites kids to dive into their wonder and imagination as they journey with Jesus and His disciples to Jerusalem and the cross! Starting on Ash Wednesday and going through Good Friday, kids explore the events of Holy Week through a daily short Scripture reading, devotional explanation, and prayer prompt. Each daily devotional also includes wondering questions that prompt kids to put themselves in the Scripture passage and think more deeply about its events. Plus the extras like the Wondering Journal, Wondering Snapshot, souvenirs section, and...
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5 Priorities for Hosting an Impactful Easter Event

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Holy Week and Easter are like the Super Bowl Sunday of ministry life and one of the busiest seasons of the year. A lot of work (and time and energy and prayer) goes into planning the events for Easter and the surrounding days, and sometimes you may wonder if everything you're doing is worth it. Spoiler alert: it is. Your ministry efforts are never wasted, but there may be things that could be better utilized or prioritized when it comes to planning and hosting your Easter events to increase their lasting influence on the discipleship of kids and families. If you want to see greater impact, deeper connections, and more discipleship from your Easter events, you need to prioritize these 5 things: Decide the Experience Before the Activities - Before you plan the schedule, get clear on how you want...
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Easter Flashlight Scavenger Hunt

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Play this flashlight scavenger hunt game to invite kids and families to hunt for symbols from the Bible and the Easter story! Use it on Sunday mornings, as a small group activity, or as part of a family Easter event! Supplies: Scavenger Hunt Sheet (1 per child/family) writing or coloring utensil flashlight (1 per child/family) Clue Cards “hidden” around your space so they can be found with a flashlight (for larger groups, hide multiple sets of Clue Cards) Dim lights to create a nighttime effect. Soft music playing in the background to set a quiet mood. Details: Each child/family will work together, searching with their flashlight for the hidden clue cards hung up in your ministry space. The clue cards will give them the words they need to fill in the blanks on the Scavenger...
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8 Ways to Encourage Families To Celebrate Lent (No Matter Their Background)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lent is the Christian season, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending with Holy Week, that encourages believers to pray, fast, and serve as a way to prepare their hearts for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The ultimate goal of Lent is to draw closer to God. Much like Advent prepares our hearts for Christmas, Lent prepares our hearts for Easter. Not all Christian traditions place the same emphasis on Lent. I never observed Lent growing up, and 99% of what I know about Lent, I've learned as an adult. I have friends who take the season very seriously with daily devotions and family-wide fasting, and I have other friends who don't really pay much attention until Holy Week. At our current church, we host an Ash Wednesday service, our pastor leads us through a Lenten series each Sunday leading up...
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Fasting Plan for Kids Activity Page

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use this fasting plan activity page to help kids think about something they might give up for Lent (or anytime you’re learning about fasting). Use the script below or come up with your own. Dive deeper into the discussion about whether or not kids should/can fast here. Supplies: Coloring utensils, activity printable from download 1) Say: “Today, we’re all going to choose something to give up. It could be TV, it could be YouTube, it could be playing iPad games - really anything that would be hard to give up. And then, you’re going to choose how long you’ll fast that thing - it could be a day, a week, a month, or more! Most people give up that thing until Easter. Finally, you’re going to choose what you’ll do instead of that thing you’re fasting from. Make sure it’s something that will...
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5 Interactive Valentine’s Day Activities for KidMin

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's a great opportunity to invite kids to explore God's love! This week, we're sharing some of our favorite ideas from Nathan Hamilton, the creator of Kids Enjoying Jesus, along with some of our own DKM favorites! Use these ready-to-go ideas to help you incorporate play-based learning into your Sunday School class, ministry time, or to share with families this Valentine's Day. (From Nathan and DKM) Share the story of St. Valentine - One of our favorite Valentine’s Day traditions is telling our kids who Valentine really was. St. Valentine lived a couple hundred years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He refused to stop loving Jesus when the emperor of Rome outlawed Christianity and he was subsequently martyred for his faith. If you’re interested in a kid-friendly version of the story of...
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4 Tips for Making VBS More Than Just a Fun Week of the Summer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It might only be January, but it's time to start planning your VBS! I know there are lots of solid VBS curriculum options out there (we even have a few of our own!), and this week's guest blog post comes from the creator of a new VBS curriculum I just learned about! Meet Samantha Kuiper, creator of Diving Deep VBS, and read on to discover 4 tips for making VBS more than just a fun week of your kidmin summer.  It may seem a bit early to be talking about summer, but as the new year begins, we start looking forward to and planning our ministries’ next big events and programs. One summer event that I advocate for every year is Vacation Bible School (VBS). Whether your church holds a traditional VBS or you do summer camps and programs, gathering your kids for some intentional, fun, and engaging time to learn...
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Catch a Fish Craft for KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]This free fish craft goes along with a lesson taught on Matthew 4:18-22 when Jesus calls the disciples to be "fishers of men" in the Diving Deep VBS curriculum. This craft can also accompany a lot of other lessons! You could use it with the story of Jonah and the fish, feeding the 5,000, or Peter finding the coin in the fish. Have fun, get creative, and enjoy this resource!! Find 4 tips on making your VBS impactful here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the craft here!" align="center" css=""...
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3 Ways to Balance the Big Picture and the Small Details of Leading Children’s Ministry

Ministry has a way of tugging us in a hundred directions at once. Some days you’re dreaming big, praying big, and planning big. Other days, you’re digging through the weeds just trying to pull the details, supplies, and volunteers together for Sunday. And most days? You’re doing both at the exact same time. Both the big picture and the details matter. Both are valuable. Both are part of how God wired you to lead. But living in the tension between the two can leave you feeling stretched thin, scattered, or stuck in survival mode. So how can we balance both? Here are 3 steps to start with: Evaluate and rearrange your time. Take a hard look at where your time is actually going each week. Are you spending most of it reacting to urgent tasks, or are you carving out space for the things that matter most in the long run? Shifting your schedule to...
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3 Goals for Using Social Media to Partner With Parents in Children’s Ministry

For better or worse, social media is one of the main places today's parents spend their time. That means it is also one of the biggest opportunities children’s ministry leaders have to support, equip, and partner with families beyond Sunday morning. The goal of kids ministry social media is not to entertain kids or keep up with trends, or even to go viral and grow your reach. It is to come alongside parents and remind them they are not alone in the work of discipling their children. When used intentionally, social media can build trust, offer encouragement, and create meaningful community with the families you serve. So when thinking about your children's ministry social media, keep these 3 goals in mind: 1. Connect: build trust, clarity, and understanding Remember that your audience on social media is the parents in your ministry, not...
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KidMin Social Media Strategy Calendar (Sample + Template)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] When thinking about your social media in children’s ministry, remember to focus on the parents, not the kids, as your main audience. And rather than posting randomly and hoping something sticks, keep 3 goals in mind... Your children’s ministry social media should: Connect Encourage Build Community Learn more about each one here, and use the sample calendar + template calendar freebie to plan out a month of engaging posts at a time! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" css=""...
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5 Year-End Questions for KidMin Leaders

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Take time before the new year begins or the first week of January to plan a quiet time to praise God for the past year and dream with Him for the new year. Print out the following page. Feel free to use your journal to add additional thoughts, ideas, and prayers, or use the back of the page. Create action steps to make what you plan happen. Know that we’re praying for you as you plan and prepare for a new year.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Questions here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2FDKM-5-year-end-questions-for-kidmin-leaders.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="170578" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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Walking the Line: Leading with Both Vision and Action

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Ministry leadership is a balancing act. It’s about holding two very different kinds of work at the same time. In one hand, we carry vision: the big picture, the dreaming, the long-term planning, the God-sized thinking. In the other, we carry action: the details, tasks, supply bins, emails, and logistics that make ministry happen week after week. (Sunday is always coming, right?) And most of the time, you’re living in the tension between the two. There’s the pressure to make things happen right now and the responsibility to think about what’s coming 6 weeks and 6 months down the road. The need to meet expectations today and the desire to create something healthy for tomorrow. It feels like a tug-of-war sometimes, but that tension is actually a gift. Think about it like this: A tightrope only...
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Receive Before You Give: A Christmas Week Reminder for KidMin Leaders

Christmas week is one of the most beautiful and busiest times in children’s ministry. You’re juggling final lesson prep, family events, extra services, and all the last-minute details that sneak in when you’re not looking. You’re thinking about the parents who are stressed, the kids who are excited (or overwhelmed), and the volunteers who need encouragement. It’s a lot. But in the middle of pouring out for everyone else, I want to remind you of something simple and important: before you give, receive. Christmas isn’t just something you help others celebrate. It’s a gift meant for you, too. And while you may not have long stretches of quiet this week, you can carve out a few small moments to let God’s peace and presence meet you right where you are. Take five quiet minutes in your car before you walk into the church building. ...
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Christmas KidMin Debrief Questions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these questions to pause, reflect, and learn from your Christmas season before jumping into what’s next. Take a few minutes to celebrate the wins, think through what worked (and what didn’t), and jot down notes that will help you next year. Tip: Save these notes somewhere you will remember to pull them out when planning for next year! You could even schedule an email to yourself for August or September to look back at these notes for next Christmas. Find all of our Christmas resources here, and find more admin/leadership resources here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Questions Here! " align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2FDKM-KidMin-Christmas-debrief.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text css=""] Celebrate the Wins ...
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Praise Packs – Christmas Eve Edition

Anytime we have an intergenerational service where children attend with their families, I like to hand out Praise Packs – a goody bag with activities that help kids engage and participate in the service. These are great ways to help alleviate stress for parents who are worried about their child making it through the whole service, but more importantly, they help teach kids that “big church” is for them too. Praise Packs are more than just coloring sheets to keep kids distracted long enough for the service to be over. They are tools to help invite kids to participate in the whole service, not just the children’s moment designed for them. The key is to pick items that will help the kids listen for certain words or actions going on in the service – but they can’t make noise! No jingling, rattling, or squelching (I made the mistake...
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5 Tips for Volunteer Appreciation

Christmas is the perfect time of year to shower your volunteers with a little extra appreciation and thanks for all they do in your ministry! But it can be tricky to come up with creative ideas year after year and not feel like you're stuck in a gift-giving rut. That’s why I’m excited to share this guest blog post from Jaden Howard, a DKM Vendor, on 5 tips for Volunteer Appreciation! These tips come from and helped create her Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Volunteer Appreciation Event.  What an honor to love and appreciate such an awesome team of volunteers! The goal of volunteer appreciation is to express gratitude and to make your volunteers feel seen and known. Although we all want to be like Oprah and shout out “you get a car…. you get a car” at all of our volunteer gatherings, we understand the limits of a ministry budget and the...
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Last Christmas

🎵 "Last Christmas, we shared these ideas & freebies, but some of you weren’t here. This year, to save you some time, I’m bringing them back in case you missed them." 🎵 Ok, so maybe those aren’t the lyrics, but it’s true! (And you already have my heart anyway, kidmin leader.) Here are our top posts and freebies from Last Christmas! Making Plans: Advent Devotional for KidMin Leaders Many of our resources and freebies are geared toward the kids and families in your ministry, but this one is for YOU, kidmin leader. It’s an overview and preview of a weekly Advent devotion written specifically with children’s ministry leaders in mind.  3 Candy Cane Games for Your KidMin SUBSCRIBER-ONLY ACCESS: Play these fun candy-cane-themed games in your kidmin this Christmas! They’re...
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3 Things to Do Weekly Between Now and the End of the Year

It's the final countdown of the year and the peak of the holiday season! Between Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, it's a busy time of year. To help you stay focused on the reason for the season and stay sane amidst the chaos, here are 3 things to do weekly between now and the end of the year: Rest: What’s one way I can truly rest in the next 7 days? How can I be intentional to take time off and rest in His presence? Release: What’s one burden I need to hand over to God? What's something I can delegate? What feelings of guilt or stress do I need to let go of? Refill: What spiritual practice or activity brings me life? What sparks joy for me in this season, and how can I prioritize it this week? Each week, ask yourself these questions and set aside time to rest, release, and refill. Your heart, family, and ministry will be...
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4 Ways to Help Kids Slow Down this Christmas

The Advent season is all about waiting and preparing. Even if your church doesn’t lean into the traditional Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, this season gives us a powerful opportunity to help kids (and ourselves) slow down and focus on Jesus. But let’s be honest. Slowing down in December feels nearly impossible. Between Christmas programs, family gatherings, school events, and sugar-fueled excitement, kids (and adults) are moving at full speed. That’s why Advent matters. It invites us to pause, breathe, and remember what we’re really celebrating. So how can we help kids embrace that slower rhythm of waiting and preparing their hearts for Jesus? Here are a few simple ways to help them do just that: Talk About Waiting - Kids don’t love waiting (and honestly who does?). But waiting is something God uses to grow...
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What is Advent? Printable for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Share this printable with the kids in your ministry to teach them an overview of Advent! You could even send it home and encourage them to color a candle each week of Advent. Whether your church celebrates Advent in the traditional sense or not, this simple, overview printable is a great resource to share with kids and families to teach them about the Advent season![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the printable here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2FDKM-What-is-Advent-Printable-for-Kids.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="139422" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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20 Creative Ways to Teach the Christmas Story

When you teach the Christmas story every year, it can be hard to find new and engaging ways to teach it. Here are 20 creative and interactive ideas for teaching the Christmas story in your children's ministry this year! Use these ideas during Sunday services, family events, on Christmas Eve, or anytime you want to help kids connect with the story of Jesus’ birth in a fresh way. Find a printable version of this list here.  Interactive Storytelling Ideas Story Stations: Set up simple stations that walk kids through each part of the Christmas story (announcement, journey, birth, angels, shepherds). This event turns the story stations into an "escape room" challenge for kids to decode and discover! Live Nativity Remix: Let kids act out the story using costumes, puppets, or even Lego sets. Christmas Escape Room: Create simple puzzles and clues...
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Fall Gratitude Journal Pages Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these gratitude-focused, faith-filled journal pages in your children’s ministry this fall! They’re perfect for early-arriver activities, a small group activity, or even a worship response time. Or share them with your families to use at home![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the fall gratitude journaling pages here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F10%2FDKM-Fall-Gratitude-Journal-Sample-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="163409" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/my-fantastic-fall-gratitude-journal/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]These pages come from our...
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Gratitude + Generosity = The Full Picture of Thanksgiving

This post is sponsored by one of our favorite mission organizations: Rice Bowls. Rice Bowls offers a simple and effective way to feed hungry kids around the world, and their Rice Bowl campaigns are the perfect service project for kids! Order rice bowl coin banks (Rice Bowls will send them to you for free here). Families fill them with coins and money, then SMASH THE BOWLS (everyone's favorite part), and you return the money to Rice Bowls to use to feed kids around the world! Learn more about getting involved with Rice Bowls and hosting your own Rice Bowl campaign here. As children's ministry leaders, we love helping kids learn to be thankful. November is full of lessons, crafts, and conversations about gratitude, and rightly so. But if we stop there, we miss something important. Thanksgiving isn’t just about gratitude; it’s also about...
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10 Tips for Planning Christmas in Your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 10 Tips for Planning the Christmas Season in Children’s Ministry The Christmas season in children’s ministry is full of opportunity and activity. Between Christmas programs, family events, Advent lessons, and volunteer appreciation, it can feel like there’s always more to do. But what if this Christmas you could lead from a place of peace instead of pressure? Here are some practical tips to help you prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus with your kids and families, and join us on November 13 for an online workshop all about making Christmas manageable and meaningful in your kidmin. 1. Start early. Christmas always comes on the same day every year, but it still somehow manages to sneak up on us. The earlier you start planning, the more freedom you’ll have to stay organized and calm once December...
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