Categories: Blog

Baby Dedication Gifts From Your Ministry

I'd bet there were a lot of baby dedications this past weekend for Mother's Day. What a perfect day to honor new babies and welcome them into your church family! But did you feel fully equipped to teach the parents what a baby dedication is all about? Because - plot twist - a baby dedication is not about the baby. It's about the parents and their commitment to raise their child in the church. It's about the church's commitment to partner with parents in the discipleship of their child. (Psst - If you want a full resource to help you communicate the significance of a child dedication, check out our baby dedication guide here.) Many leaders and churches also give a special gift to the family for a baby dedication to help them commemorate the day and start them off on their discipleship journey as a family. Here are some of the most popular...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

Types of Learners Digital Volunteer Training Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier this week, we talked about connecting digitally with your volunteers, so now we're sharing a free resource to help you do just that! Use this free download to share information about different types of learners with your volunteers via social media. This free download includes 2 social media graphics for 5 different types of learners + a set of captions to use with them! These can be shared in your private teacher/volunteer Facebook group, on your website, as part of a digital training, and more! Please note: Because this freebie is a zipped folder with multiple files, it cannot be downloaded or viewed on a mobile device.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Digital Volunteer Training Freebie here!"...
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Connecting Digitally With Your Volunteers

We can't talk about ministry - even digital ministry - without talking about volunteers! Whether you use texts, emails, vlogs, blog posts, or social media, take advantage of our digital world to connect with your volunteers, especially in this season of COVID-19. One of the ways I connected digitally with my volunteers (especially since we were a mobile church and had no permanent space) was through a Volunteer Facebook Group. The Volunteer Facebook Group was a secret group, meaning volunteers could request permission to join, but only I (the Children’s Ministry Director) could approve their request. All posts in this group were private and only seen by members of the group. Volunteers could request to join the Facebook Group after training. We used this secret group to ask for subs/switching weeks of service, share news or funny stories...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership, Volunteers

5 Social Media Tips for Your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mark 16:15 says, “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” With over 3.6 billion users worldwide, social media allows us to “go into all the world” in powerful and far-reaching ways. Churches and ministries that use social media well can create new and effective avenues for discipleship and sharing the gospel. But how do we do that? Be safe - We do our best to keep kids and volunteers safe when they walk through our doors, and we have to work to keep them safe online too. Consider creating a social media policy for your children's ministry that addresses how staff and volunteers should interact with and through social media, and do your best to maintain safety and integrity when posting online.  Be where your people are - I have some good news for...
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Double Feature Freebie: Emoji Prayer Activity + God’s Promises Cards

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Confession: I couldn't decide between 2 awesome freebies this week, so we're giving away BOTH![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_custom_heading text="Emoji Prayer Activity" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F04%2FDKM-Emoji-Prayer-Activity-All-the-Feels.pdf"][vc_column_text]Invite kids to pray about their feelings using this Emoji Prayer Activity. Kids choose an emoji that describes their feelings, then color it in and write a prayer to God about their feeling(s) on the back of the paper. (This version is based off the original Back To School Emoji Prayer Activity). This activity comes from our 6-week zoom-based preteen study, All the Feels, that invites preteens to explore...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

5 Tips for Engaging Kids Through Video

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you're returning to in-person services, you may consider continuing your virtual lessons as part of your digital discipleship strategy.  Use the tips below to make it the best possible experience for your kids and families (and you)! Make a plan. Just like you wouldn't walk into a regular Sunday morning without a plan for the day, don't try to do that with a video either! Make sure you and your team know the order and flow of the video, and be sure to set any props off-screen but within reach. You may also want to have links ready to share, like links to a folder on Google Drive of activity worksheets that go with the lesson, links to worship videos, links to a video lesson, and more! (Just make sure your curriculum & worship songs allow sharing the resources in this way). Spend the time prepping for...
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Sample Social Media Policy for KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We can all recognize that the world of technology keeps changing and the digital age is here to stay. Therefore, we should be committed to ensuring that we embrace modern methods of communication and sharing the gospel. But we also understand that some digital methods of communication require regulation so that they can be more effective and so we can ensure the safety and integrity of our teams and our families. This free social media policy template provides guidelines for church staff, volunteers, and leaders when using social media tools on behalf of or in the role of your children's ministry. These policies are set in place to protect the children, families, volunteers, and leaders of your ministry when engaging in digital discipleship.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Social Media Policy...
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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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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

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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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

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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