Categories: Blog

Candy Memory Match Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What kid doesn’t love candy? Use this candy-themed printable for a quick and easy memory match game. Kids will eat it up! Play at church, or share with families to play at home! [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Prep: 1) Print the candy pages on cardstock. Print in color or black and white. Pro Tip: Print one copy on white cardstock and another copy on another color to create multiple sets! 2) Cut out the 3.33 x 4 inch squares 3) Laminate the squares for longevity (we re-used these each fall), or leave as is for one-time use! Play: 1) Lay all of the cards face down. 2) Players take turns turning over 2 cards at a time. If the two cards they turn over are a match, they keep the cards and go again. If they aren't a match, turn the cards back over and it's the next player's turn. 3) The winner is the one...
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KidMin Nation Mega-Con 2018 Notes

Last week I attended KidMin Nation Mega-Con 2018 in Nashville, TN, and while I did use my conference reflection worksheet to help me process the week, here are my notes from the general sessions! Ryan Frank - “State of the Nation” Talked about the 4 major ingredients of success, according to Norman Winarsky (creator of Siri - make a joke about how my phone picked it up throughout the talk?) Address a pain point Use differentiated technology Build a team Create value proposition So what does that look like for us as kidmin leaders? Address a pain point - what problem are we solving? We solve a spiritual problem, and there is eternal value in our job. Our job = evangelizing and discipling kids We also solve other problems that kids and parents face Differentiated technology - what do we do about...
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Post-Conference Reflection Worksheet

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Attending conferences is great (I’m a conference junkie myself), but sometimes they can feel like trying to drink from a fire hose. [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="6087" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]There are just so many new ideas, new people, new resources, new everything! And as an introvert, just being around that many people 3 days in a row is exhausting. So I use the process below after every conference I attend to help me reflect on the week and focus on what it means for me as I head home.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Printable Version Here" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fpost-conference-reflection-worksheet%2F||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Pray. Thank God for the...
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Do It Again: A Testimony of God’s Faithfulness

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As I head to MegaCon 2018 this week, I’ve been reflecting on the past year, and all that has happened since MegaCon 2017. I attended last year during my final weeks as a full-time children’s pastor in a season of struggle. I’m attending this year from a place of joy and awe at God’s faithfulness... 2017 was a tough year. My husband and I had decided that it was time for us to move on from the church where we were both working full-time (me as the children’s pastor, him as the youth pastor). Nothing had gone wrong. There was no drama. Things were going great, in fact. But we’d been with this community and under the same leadership since middle school and felt like it was time for us to “move out of the house” if we wanted to continue to grow. So my husband stepped down in May and started...
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Sweet Verses Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kids eat (and love) candy. So why not use candy to help them learn about God? Pack some sweet goody bags for the kids in your ministry this fall, then attach this easy printable to relate the treats with the Bible! Give them out at your Fall Event, as part of your fall fest take-home kit, or as part of the Not So Spooky Lesson![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Supplies: Fun size M&M’s Fun size Starbursts Fun size Laffy Taffy Fun size Almond Joy Blow Pops Fun Size Milky Way Ziploc bag or fall-themed goody bag This printable! [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="6054" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]Put one piece of each candy in the bag. Print the pages double-sided and cut the sheet into quarters so each quarter sheet has the sweet verses on one side and...
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Pumpkin Patch Memory Verse Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier in the week, I shared some musings about how we as adults can rest in the truth of God's eternal and yet intimate presence, so I figured why not help kids remember that God is always with them too? This week's free download is a festive, fall activity to help kids learn Isaiah 41:10 (NIrV) and remind them that they are never alone.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Pumpkin Patch Memory Verse Printable!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FDKM-Pumpkin-Patch-Memory-Verse-Activity.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Prep: Print the following pages and cut out the pumpkins. Play: Scramble the pumpkins, then encourage children to set up the pumpkin patch by placing the words in the right order so they say Isaiah 41:10 (NIrV): So do not...
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Eternal & Intimate

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the cool things about God is that His character is full of juxtapositions. Of opposite traits that shouldn’t be able to co-exist in one person but do. He is a judge and yet merciful. He (in Jesus) is holy and yet human. And my favorite one is that He is eternal and yet intimate. The same God who created the heavens and the earth - who built universes and exists outside of time - is the same God who wants a personal relationship with me. It makes my heart sing when He pursues me in the midst of His busy schedule. He’s got a lot going on, and yet He still makes time for me every day. He draws near to me just as I draw near to Him, and even when He feels far away, He’s not. I’m reminded of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-13. Elijah goes to stand out on the side of the mountain to wait...
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Preschool Playdate: Brown Bag Fall Hunt

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A Preschool Playdate is a great way to provide a fun event for the little ones while also helping moms connect with each other too. As the fall season rolls around, use this week's free download as a way to host an easy Preschool Playdate.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Brown Bag Fall Hunt Printable" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fpreschool-playdate-brown-bag-fall-hunt%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Here's how it works... Print out copies of both pages. Pick a time and a park to meet at, then add those details to the first page copies. Hand out these "invites" to your preschool families. Even if they can't make it, now they have a fun activity to do with their preschooler at home! For those who can make it, attach the second page to brown bags,...
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My Favorite Feedback Questions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]We've been talking about receiving feedback well and asking the right questions, so this week's download is a list of my favorite questions to ask families and volunteers! These questions help provide insight into my leadership and how I can improve the ministry. As we each work to receive feedback well, I pray these questions provide answers that encourage willing and humble hearts to grow.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] My Favorite Children/Family Questions  Event-Specific: What questions did you have going into the event? How useful was the _______ (podcast, take home sheet, etc.) and what would have made it better? What is one thing you felt your child learned? What was your child’s favorite part of _______ (VBS, baptism Sunday, etc.)? What went well at ____ (VBS, the egg hunt,...
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Asking the Right Questions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Last week we talked about receiving feedback well, but once your heart is in check, how do you ask the questions that will give you the most valuable answers? Start with yourself. Appreciation, coaching, and evaluation shouldn’t only come from others. We have to receive feedback from ourselves too! Plus, if you intentionally evaluate the things you could have done better, it doesn’t sting as much when someone else points them out too. Create a culture of openness and feedback. People want to know their voice matters, and they want to feel heard. Consistently ask for feedback from your key volunteers and parents about your leadership and the week-to-week happenings of your ministry (Use a system like this to make it easy!). Set up a volunteer or parent council that meets at least twice a year for...
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Proverbs 19:20 Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We're in the middle of a short series about receiving feedback well and asking the right questions in KidMin. Earlier in the week, we talked about how receiving feedback well is a more about our heart than our questions. One verse that always helps me check my heart when it comes to feedback is Proverbs 19:20, so I made this printable to help me remember that wisdom comes from listening to counsel and advice. It even comes with 2 options so you can choose which one matches your style best.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Proverbs 19:20 Printable " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FDKM-Proverbs-19.20-printable.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="5675" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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Receiving Feedback Well in KidMin

The beginning of a new school year means new volunteers, new policies, and new procedures. And sometimes that comes with opinions and feedback on how the new changes are going. So for the next couple of weeks, we'll talk about receiving feedback well and asking the right questions. That may seem backward. Shouldn’t asking the right questions happen before we talk about receiving feedback well? From my experiences, no. Receiving feedback well is more about our heart than our questions. We have to be mentally, emotionally, and prayerfully ready to hear feedback and accept it gracefully before we even start asking the questions. Otherwise, the responses to our questions get tangled up in our own emotions and blind spots. As a young leader, I worked so hard to prove myself and gain the trust of parents and families that I often closed...
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Lunch at School Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Visiting kids for lunch at school is something I wish I had done more of as a children's pastor. So when I saw a friend (and former college suitemate - miss you!) post about this on her Facebook page, I knew I had to share it! Thanks Jill for the awesome idea! Earlier in the week we talked about helping local schools win, and one way was to follow their protocols. So when visiting the children in your ministry for lunch at school, use this week's printable to help make it easier on your families and your local schools.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Start Meeting Kids For Lunch at School!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Flunch-at-school-printable%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Here's how it works... 1. Print out one copy for every child in your ministry. 2....
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5 Ways to Help Schools Win

As we start the new school year, here are 5 ways to help schools win. This blog post was written as a response and summary of Leslie Bosler's breakout session at OC18. Look for a win-win relationship. Too often, churches pursue a relationship with local schools for their own personal gain. But schools can smell that coming from a mile away. So rather than asking how partnering with the local schools can be a win for your church, ask how partnering with the local schools can be a win for the school. And if there’s a benefit only for the school, is that enough? Rather than expecting things from the school, hope things for the school. Action Steps: A school's win is often measured by numbers and metrics, so gain some credibility by doing research on the schools in your area and discover what their "wins" are. Look up their websites, mission...
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Lectio Divina Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lectio Divina is a spiritual discipline that combines prayers with the study of Scripture. As children's ministry leaders who are in God's Word for professional purposes (we have to know it if we're going to teach it, right?), the practice of Lectio Divina is an excellent way to make sure we're in God's Word for personal reasons too. Too often in ministry, I confused my teaching prep time with my personal quiet time, but when we approach the Bible only for the purpose of teaching it to others, we miss out on what it can teach us. Using Lectio Divina helped me shut off the part of my brain that focused on "how can I turn this into an object lesson for the 2nd graders" and sparked the side that quietly waits for that gentle whisper from a Heavenly King. I pray that this resource helps you connect with God's...
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Word Lover

You could say I’m a word lover. As an English major, literary nerd, and book enthusiast, I’ve always had a thing for words. I like reading them, writing them, defining them, stringing them together to convey a message, and my husband would probably include speaking them. All in all, I just like words. They’re impactful. They inspire. They cause change. They evoke emotion. Words have the power to either destroy or to build, and they have the power to give life. I was listening to a Cambodian preacher give a sermon one summer morning while on a mission trip, and he talked about what it means to be a lover of God’s Word. He challenged us to think about if that’s what we were and I thought to myself, “Well yeah, I like reading my Bible.” He continued on to explain what being a lover of God’s Word really looks like, and it began...
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14 Ways to Pray for the Kids You Serve Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As KidMin leaders, we can plan, prep, cut, glue, and email all we want, but our efforts to change kids' hearts are futile unless we ask God to do the real work for us. We have the opportunity to reach kids' hearts when they are most vulnerable to the redeeming story of the gospel, and when we pray for the children in our care by name and with specific prayers, we increase that impact exponentially. Use the 14 ways below to pray for the children in your ministry (psst- that's enough for a specific prayer each day over the next two weeks). Share this download with your volunteers or hand it out at volunteer training so your whole team can join together in covering kids in prayer.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Start Praying" align="center"...
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3 Ministry Tips from the Mouse

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]My sister worked at Disney during the summer of 2018, so we took a trip down to see her and spend some time at the Disney World Parks. While we were park hopping, waving to Belle, and eating Mickey ice cream bars, I noticed a few things about how Disney runs things that can help us do ministry more effectively.   Here are 3 things the Mouse can teach us about ministry. [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="5319" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]1) You can be efficient AND effective. The lines may be long for Space Mountain, but they could be MUCH worse. On nearly every ride, Disney has perfected the most efficient and effective system for getting people off the ride faster so more people can get on the ride faster. On top of that, they've designed interactive queues to keep you engaged...
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Back to School Blessings Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we prepare for the school year, I'm reminded of the importance of using Scripture in our prayers, writing our prayers down, and speaking prayers out loud over our families and loved ones. So as the school year begins, share this printable with the families in your ministry and encourage parents to use these scriptures to speak blessings over their children on their first days and weeks of school. Families can print them out and post the prayers around their house or car, and they're small enough to fit into a purse or wallet.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Back to School Blessings" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fback-to-school-blessings%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text] For the school year: Luke 2:52 - God, help [child's name] grow in wisdom...
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Big Picture Mindset

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_id="[email protected]"]I love being married to a youth pastor. It makes our schedule a little crazy and we eat way too much pizza but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. One of my favorite things about it is that I get to see the big picture of spiritual development in a child’s life from preschool to high school graduation. (And it's awesome.)  Since I work primarily with kids in preschool-elementary but then also serve as a volunteer with the youth, I get to see how what we do in preschool affects elementary, which affects middle school, which affects high school and beyond. Just this summer included leading worship at VBS, serving with high schoolers in Chicago, worshiping with students at the beach, and watching middle schoolers experience their first mission trip. In just these 6...
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New Postcard Designs for Crew Cards!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We already know that kids are wired for relationships. One of the best ways to help kids connect with their leaders outside of Sunday mornings is through Crew Cards. (Not sure what I'm talking about? Learn more about Crew Cards here.) As you prepare for the fall, it's time to update the postcards you use for Crew Cards! Update the look of your Crew Card postcards using one (or all) of the 4 images below, then use a site like VistaPrint to print your postcards for the year![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="I want the designs! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F06%2FDKM-New-Designs-for-Crew-Cards.zip||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="5104" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link"...
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Wired for Relationships

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]God wired us with a need for community as a reflection of his triune character, and the same holds true for children. Kids need relationships with their peers and with their leaders. Friendships are especially important in the preteen years. I have found that groups of 6th graders who enter the middle school youth group as friends tend to have an easier time transitioning than a group of students who don’t feel close. Especially as preteens experience “11-year-old atheism” – when children have a difficult time reconciling an unknowable God with their concrete way of thinking – they need leaders they trust and peers they can learn with. Creating a community in which to doubt, play, and grow provides the healthiest environment for engaging children. Learning is a social process in itself, so...
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Bible Story Trivia Video for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We're in the middle of a blog post series that focuses on engaging kids according to how they are wired, and we talked earlier in the week about how kids are wired for technology. In addition to the links and sites I shared in the previous post, today, I'm sharing a simple Bible Story Trivia Video for Kids! It has 12 questions, covers both the Old Testament and the New, and lasts about 6 minutes - perfect for a countdown or parent-pick-up time![/vc_column_text][vc_video link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQGdQ6TtQEs&t=21s" align="center"][vc_column_text] You can download this video to use in your ministry using a site like KeepVid or use it directly from the Deeper KidMin Youtube Channel. [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="4658" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link"...
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Wired For Technology

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Technology often gets a bad rap, but it’s not going anywhere, and if we don’t work to leverage technology for our advancement of the gospel, we will grossly miss our targets. Today’s kids don’t know a world without the existence of technology and the internet, and the Barna Group has found that children spend an average of five hours on an electronic device (tablet, phone, computer, etc.) every day. As ministry leaders, we have to use technology in our ministries to engage kids in what we are teaching and how it can apply to their lives. If you aren’t using technology in your ministry in some way, you’ll lose kids (and their parents) because they’ll subconsciously view the church as outdated and irrelevant. Kids interact with technology on a daily basis anyway, so why not redirect some of...
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Wired for Learning: Developmental Stages KidMin Leaders Need to Know

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We learned earlier in the week how kids are wired uniquely and what we can do to engage them. Today is all about how kids are developmentally wired for learning. The speed at which their little brains absorb and process new information is unlike any other stage of life. This is great news for us! Their minds are already ready for the truths we want to teach them. But that doesn’t mean every child is developmentally ready for every truth. 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...
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