Categories: Blog

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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Candy Cane Tag Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these candy cane tags in a variety of ways to help kids learn about the significance and symbolism of this special Christmas treat! Attach them to real candy canes as a take-home treat or attach them to candy cane ornaments (purchased or handmade by the kids)! We've even included a simple bead candy cane craft idea with the tags! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2FDKM-Candy-Cane-Poem-Tag-Updated.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="139753" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/candy-cane-christmas-4-week-elementary-series/"][/vc_column][vc_column...
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The Great 8! Celebrating DKM’s 8th Birthday!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="165535" img_size="full" alignment="center" css=""][vc_column_text css=""]It's our party, and we'll give away stuff if we want to. We are celebrating our 8th birthday this week with a special sale and a fun, limited-time bonus! October 19-25, get 30% off EVERY resource on the site! So whether you're thinking about Thanksgiving, planning for Christmas, or even looking ahead to Easter, save big this week in honor of our birthday!  Find our newest resources here, and explore all our resources in the DKM Marketplace here.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="165536" img_size="full" alignment="center" css=""][vc_column_text css=""]And if you spend more than $25 during the sale week, we'll mail you a set of our KidMin Stickers (a $9.99 value) for free! We don't often send things in the mail since...
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Switching Curriculum Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Volunteers): Lessons from a Leader Like You

Making a curriculum switch is no small decision for a children’s ministry. It impacts everything: your volunteers, your parents, your kids, and the way your church teaches God’s Word. I did a digital interview with Vicki Abbott, the Director of Children’s Ministry at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to hear how her team navigated a recent curriculum change. Ada Bible is a multi-site church with 6 campuses, 16 kids ministry staff, and an average of 1,600 kids each weekend. Vicki has faithfully served there for 14 years, and her team recently walked through the big task of transitioning curriculum. Here’s what she shared about their journey and what you can learn if your church is considering the same move: Knowing When It’s Time for a Change How do you know when it’s time to change curriculum? According to Vicki, it...
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12 Filters for Curriculum Evaluation in Your Children’s Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Leaders often ask about curriculum I recommend or how I choose curriculum. And while I point to Deeper KidMin and some of our series for special occasions or seasons, if you’re looking at various larger curriculum companies for your Sunday morning curriculum, the “best” curriculum will vary from church to church. Vicki Abbott, a kidimin leader in Michigan, shared about her experience with switching curricula, and they created these 12 filters for evaluation based on their ministry’s goals. Read about her full experience here, and explore the 12 filters below. Note: These lenses fit the priorities and goals of Vicki and her church. Use them as a brainstorming launch point, but then use your own ministry goals and priorities to create your own list of evaluation filters. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn...
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20 Quick Wins To Serve Young Families in Your Church

I'm in Evansville, IN at the KidzMatter Conference this week, hosting the Deeper KidMin booth in the resource center and teaching 3 breakouts! One of my breakouts is all about how we can best serve young families in our church. My breakout session walks through a S-E-R-V-E acronym, with each letter highlighting a specific action leaders must prioritize with young families. While I'm saving the full details for those who attend my breakout at the conference, here's a little nugget from that session to help you serve the young families in your church... Families with littles are in one of the most demanding, exhausting, and spiritually significant seasons of their lives. When it comes to ministering to families with young children, one of the best things we can do as leaders is to SERVE them well. What does that look like practically? Here are 20...
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6 Ways to Use Pumpkins In Your KidMin This Fall

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] October starts this week, which means pumpkin patches, pumpkin spice, and of course, pumpkin-themed ministry ideas! (Are anyone else's kids as obsessed with pumpkins as mine are?) Pumpkins are fun, familiar, and full of potential when it comes to engaging kids with God’s Word. If you’re looking for simple and seasonal ways to bring pumpkins into your children’s ministry, here are six ideas (and some fall pumpkin resources) that make it easy. 1. Play with Pumpkins - Pumpkins aren’t just for carving. They can also be the star of your next game time! Kids love interactive activities that get them moving, laughing, and connecting with one another. Try a few ready-to-go options like Pumpkin Select, Pumpkin Peekaboo, Pumpkin Jokes countdown, or Pumpkin Shuffle to bring some pumpkin fun into your large...
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Prayer Pumpkin Activity for Families

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this simple but intentional pumpkin craft with your families this fall to encourage them to pray together and consider different kinds of prayer. Using easy-to-find supplies, families will write prayer requests on orange slips of paper and turn those prayers into a pumpkin to display in their home throughout the fall season![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Prayer Pumpkin Activity Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F08%2FDKM-Prayer-Pumpkin-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="39441" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/treat-street-to-go/"][/vc_column][vc_column...
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15 Fall Service Projects for Families

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The fall season is the perfect time to encourage families to serve your church and your community! Here are 15 fall service project ideas families can complete together: Write a thank you note to your teacher Shop for and stuff a box for Operation Christmas Child (This event guide does the work for you!) Leave a snack & note for the mail carrier Clean something for someone else Raise & donate money for offering or a mission partner at church Pick up trash in a local park Visit a nursing home Donate used towels and blankets to a local animal shelter OR make no-sew blankets for your local homeless shelter or foster care (This event guide includes a fun way to celebrate the blankets with bananas splits too!) Send flowers to someone going through a hard time Volunteer at church...
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Fall Reminds Us: God’s Word Never Changes

As we head into the fall season, it often brings change. Change of routines as kids head back to school. Change in the weather as the temperature cools down and the days get shorter. Maybe even a change of ministry rhythms and events. But one thing that never changes? God's Word. Which is why I'm excited to share a guest blog post this week from Tricia Machel, a DKM Vendor, who is passionate about helping kids dig into God's Word. Plus, we're celebrating that Tricia now has activity pages available for over 400 passages of Scripture!!! Find them all here or use the search bar to search for a specific passage, and read more about helping kids remember that God's Word never changes below.  Fall... autumn… a season that echoes the pattern of life. The pattern of change. Life is full of changes. We experience changes every single day: ...
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Starburst Candy Devotional Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use Starburst candy and this printable devotional to help kids learn about having the right attitude that comes from the Fruit of the Spirit![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Starburst Candy Devotion Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F09%2FDKM-Starburst-Candy-Devotion-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Want even more candy devotionals? Check out the Sweet Thoughts Download: Quick devotions flavored by different candies that anyone can do! Click here to learn more.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="12646" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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From Resources to Relationships: Shifting Your Mindset in Partnering with Parents

When most ministry leaders talk about equipping parents, they usually mean one thing: providing resources. And while there’s nothing wrong with handing out resources (we love a good family resource here at Deeper KidMin), if our strategy for partnering with parents stops there, we’re missing the bigger picture. Equipping parents is more than just distributing resources. If our only strategy for engaging families is giving them materials (that don't even make it into the house half the time), we’ve slipped into what I call a “vending machine mindset.” In a vending machine mindset… The children’s ministry leader simply provides resources with little interaction. Parents are expected to come to us: our buildings, our events, our parent resource shelves. Families may not know how to use what we’ve provided (or may not...
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KidMin Leader Family Prayer Calendar: Make Praying For Your Families a Habit!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Make praying for the families in your ministry a habit with this simple printable! Just write one family's name per box, then on that day of the month, pray for that family! If you have more than 31 families, make more copies. Repeat all year to make a habit of praying for the families you serve.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the KidMin Leader Family Prayer Calendar Here!" align="center" css=""...
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5 Faith-Focused Family Fall Events For Your KidMin

Fall is one of my favorite seasons in ministry. Families are settling back into routines, kids are excited about pumpkins and festivals, and there are plenty of natural opportunities to gather people together. But as children's ministry leaders, we have to add value to families' lives, not just events on their calendars. So what if your fall ministry calendar did more than offer seasonal fun? With a little creativity and intentionality, your fall family events can become moments where parents and kids laugh, learn, and grow deeper in their faith together. Here are 5 family events that incorporate an intentional faith element into the fall fun! Click on the title of each event to learn even more and download the guides for your ministry!  Find even more Fall Events for your kidmin here! Minute to Win It Family Faith Night - Through fun...
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What Parents Really Need From Your KidMin

In children’s ministry, there are a few lessons you learn pretty quickly: Saturday-night volunteer call-outs are going to happen (so plan for them and don't let them wreck your weekend). The check-in printers will die at the worst possible moment (right before the Sunday morning rush). And if you bring out the glitter, you will still be finding it in the carpet six months later. But when it comes to partnering with parents, there’s one lesson that matters most: Consistent is better than flashy. Parents don’t need one more giant, blown-out event from you (though those are great when they're intentional). They don’t need the perfectly polished devotional resource that took you weeks to design and put together. They don’t even need a “wow” moment every single Sunday. What parents really need is simple, steady encouragement that...
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An Update on Time to Update: What’s Changed in Digital Ministry In Two Years

This week marks the 2-year anniversary of the release of my book, Time to Update: 7 Areas to Integrate Digital Discipleship into Your Children's Ministry Strategy. When Time to Update was first released in 2023, Threads had just launched, AI tools were still new for most of us, and many churches were still figuring out post-pandemic rhythms. Now, two years later, digital discipleship isn’t just a trend or a response to a global crisis. It’s become a key part of how we lead, equip, and connect in children’s ministry. As we celebrate the two-year anniversary of Time to Update, let's get an update (see what I did there?) and look at how things have shifted since the book’s release and what that means for your digital ministry strategy moving forward. Technology Changes: AI Tools Have Become Mainstream - In 2023, AI tools like ChatGPT were...
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Digital Ministry Audit

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Technology changes fast, and it's time to update! Use this quick audit to assess what’s working, what needs improvement, and where to focus your digital ministry efforts in the year ahead. Reflect on the questions, then evaluate how your ministry is doing. Then make a goal for a small next step to increase the effectiveness of your digital discipleship! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Digital Ministry Audit Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F08%2FDKM-Digital-Ministry-Audit-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="108203" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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3 Systems That Will Improve Relationships in Your KidMin

Ministry is all about relationships, and while systems might feel more administrative than personal, solid systems can help you improve the connections in your ministry. Systems help you organize and automate important tasks, which might sound counterintuitive to relationship-building. But when your ministry includes more than 3 families, systems help you better serve and connect with those families, without letting anything (or anyone) fall through the cracks. Here are 3 systems to help you connect with the people in your ministry (plus a bonus one!): 1. System for Connecting with Kids: Crew Cards How do you connect with the children in your ministry throughout the week? One way we did this was by asking each volunteer to take just a couple minutes after Sunday service to write a postcard to a child. We provide postcards and pens in Crew...
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2 Pencil-Themed Games for Your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Grab some unsharpened pencils and play these games in your children’s ministry this back-to-school season! They’re fun, simple, and help kids grow deeper in their faith.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Printable Version Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F07%2FDKM-2-Pencil-Themed-Games-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text css=""]Pencil Pick Bible Challenge Supplies Needed: pencils labeled with a number 1-10, Bible trivia questions below Directions: Choose a child or family to come up front, pick a numbered pencil, and answer a question related to the Bible. Optional: Give prizes if they answer correctly. Make up questions relating to the Bible story you’re teaching that day, or here are some ideas of questions you...
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5 Ways to Start the School Year Strong in Your Children’s Ministry

Backpacks are packed, first-day-of-school outfits are purchased, and everyone's trying to get back into a routine after the summer, which means it's officially back-to-school season! Whether you’re pumped for a fresh start or still mourning the end of summer fun, now is the perfect time to refocus, refresh, and relaunch your ministry for a brand-new year. Here are 5 ways to start the school year strong in your children’s ministry: Get Organized (Before the Sunday Morning Scramble Hits) - From updated rosters to curriculum plans to stocked classrooms, a little prep now will save you a ton of stress later. Take time to update parent contact info, allergy alerts, and class lists. Make sure your check-in system is ready to go for new families. Clean out all those VBS supplies from your office, and take a look at your overall calendar to figure...
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