Categories: For Parents

8 Christmas & Winter Hands-On Devotions for Families

Our 8 Summer Toy Family Devotions was such a hit, I am THRILLED to share these Christmas and Winter options! Kelly, a kidmin leader in Springfield, IL, created these to share with the families in her ministry as part of her parent resource shelves. Below you will find devotions built around easy-to-find items. Some of these are Christmasy - others are just wintery that could be available all season long.  You can choose to use all or only some - each is independent. You can reword or change up any of the devotions included here - make them your own! The document is unformatted; I use them plain like this, but you are welcome to format them and pretty them up however works for you! You’re also welcome to use these at church and make as many copies as needed for your church families. If you want to provide both the devotions and the items to your...
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6 Benefits of Gratitude

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Happy November! This month is all about turkeys, family, and one of my favorite postures to teach kids: gratitude. There are countless verses in the Bible that help us express our gratitude to God, and when we can help kids develop an attitude of gratitude, we set them up for lifelong habits of success in a variety of ways. Here are 6 benefits of gratitude to consider as we head into a month-long focus on thankfulness: Emotional Health: Gratitude makes us more confident, leads to higher self-esteem, and can even improve decision-making. Mental Health: Thankfulness increases mental strength and resilience. It can even help reduce anxiety, a key benefit in a culture where kids and teens are more anxious than ever before. Physical Health: Even though gratitude is an attitude, it can affect our...
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Thankfulness Discussion Cards for Families

Share these thankfulness leaf discussion cards with the families in your ministry to give them an easy way to foster discussion about gratitude this month! Families can use one a day for 8 days or use them all at a special Thanksgiving meal! Just print, cut, and distribute to families, or share the PDF via email! Download the Thankfulness Discussion Cards Here! These Thankfulness Discussion Cards come from our Fall into Thankfulness Family devotions! Each resource includes 7-8 thankfulness cards like the ones in this download. The resources also include a corresponding devotional that can be done as a family activity to reinforce the thankfulness card and provide an opportunity for quality family time and conversation. Learn more about the preschool family devotions here and the elementary family devotions...
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4 Ways to Help Kids Develop an Attitude of Gratitude (And Why it’s Important to Their Success)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of my favorite Christian authors, Dr. Caroline Leaf, is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist who studies how the brain and body work together. (Seriously, y'all, she's brilliant.) I stumbled upon one of her blog posts recently that talked about how having an attitude of gratitude leads to success. Here's what she said... Did you know that gratitude is essential to success? If you can’t appreciate what you have to be thankful for right now, it is harder to achieve what you desire in the future. In fact, gratitude changes the brain and body for the better! Research on the effects gratitude has on our biology shows how being thankful increases our longevity, our ability to use our imagination, and our ability to problem-solve. You can read even more of what Dr. Leaf has to say about...
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10 Verses Kids Need to Know For Christmas

Christmas is about the coming of our Savior, and it's our job as children's ministry leaders to remind kids and families of that, give them space to explore and experience the story, and point them back to Scripture every chance we get. So here are 10 verses kids need to know for Christmastime, especially as we enter the season of Advent. Many of them are short enough for kids to memorize, and you can use them in your curriculum, Christmas events, Advent resources, and more! Find all of our Christmas and Advent resources here. Isaiah 9:6 (NIrV) - "A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace." (And here's a worship video that will help kids memorize it!) 2 Corinthians 9:15...
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7 Thanksgiving Crafts That Help Develop Gratitude

As you're planning your Sunday or mid-week lessons for the Thanksgiving season, here are 7 fun craft ideas for your kidmin that help kids develop an attitude of gratitude! More than just turkey coloring pages or a creative art project, these Thanksgiving-themed crafts will help kids focus their hearts and minds on being grateful! A Giant Group Poster - I saw this idea from Go Curriculum, and it seems so much fun! You just print a large poster of a coloring page at your local print store, then lay it out on a table and invite kids to color as a group! Find more details and download a free colorable poster from Go here. Gratitude Jars - These are a classic November idea. Give each child a jar or container of some kind, and let them decorate it. Provide a simple label and gratitude prompts like these for kids to cut and place in their jars....
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Celebrating 7 Years of Serving You!

This week, we're celebrating 7 years of serving you, an amazing community of children's ministry leaders. Don't miss out on our special Lucky 7 Birthday Scratch-Off Sale (head to our home page to play) and win a promo code for up to 37% off your next order! We're also sharing our top 7 posts and resources from the last 7 years. These are the ideas and downloads YOU have loved the most! Top 7 Posts From the Last 7 Years: 10 Scriptures for Kids About Light 5 Things KidMin Leaders Must Do to Effectively Partner with Today's Parents 10 Verses to Pray Over Your Kids as They Head Back to School  Worship Activity Bags: Praise Packs Learn the 10 Commandments with Your Fingers Teaching Kids About Pentecost Simple but Meaningful Holy Week Activities for Families Top 7 Subscriber Freebies: Crew Cards (available to...
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Supporting Kids & Families Through Hurricanes

As Florida and the southeast prepare for another hurricane to hit land in the next day or two, you may be wondering how you can best support the kids and families in your ministry as parents navigate talking with their kids about the hurricane(s) or experiencing them first-hand. Stephanie Cline, a children's minister in the Orlando, FL area, showed me the message she shared with her kids and families to support and encourage them as they prepare for the hurricane to hit. I thought it was full of great wisdom and reminders, even for those of us who may not be directly in the hurricane's path: Good afternoon, families! We are praying for you as you prepare today and tomorrow for Hurricane Milton. I know these times can seem scary and unsure. My flesh wants to focus on the temporary and unknown but I am reminded of Philippians 4:8,...
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Fall Family Fun

Share this list of fun fall family activities with the families in your ministry to do at home, or incorporate them as part of your in-person fall event! A lot of these ideas, printables, and more are included in our Not So Spooky Night at Home Fall Fest Take-Home Kit for families, and you can learn more about this resource here. Family Costume Contest – Everyone put on a costume! Find a costume you have already or create one using things you find around the house. Take a family picture in your costumes and post on social media, asking people to vote on which costume they think is the best! Don’t forget to tag our church in the picture too! Monster Mash Freeze Dance – With a grown-up’s help, look up the song “Monster Mash” on YouTube or your favorite music streaming service. Listen to the song and play Monster Mash Freeze Dance!...
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Faith-Based Fall Coloring Pages

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share these fun fall coloring pages with your kids and families as part of your fall event, fall family fun ideas, or as part of a fall take-home kit![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Faith-based Fall Coloring Pages Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F09%2FDKM-Fall-Coloring-Pages-Treat-Street-To-Go.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 width="1/2"][vc_column_text]These faith-based fall coloring pages come from our Treat Street To-Go download, a Christian Halloween alternative for families, written by Vanessa Myers....
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Go Bible Review & Giveaway!

As children's ministry leaders, we work hard to equip families to grow deeper in their faith at home, and that includes helping them dive into Scripture throughout the week! Part of that means helping kids and parents discover a Bible that works for the ages, stages, and preferences of their kids. That's why I'm excited to share about a brand new kids' Bible from Tyndale Publishing, the Go Bible: A Life-Changing Bible for Kids! The Go Bible is bursting with fun and engaging content to help kids explore God’s Word! Paired with the accurate, easy-to-read NLT translation, this kids’ Bible plants seeds of faith and share the life-changing love of God with kids through over 600 features centered on the theme of transformation. My favorite things about it: The Translation: NLT is written at about a 6th-grade reading level, so it...
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Olympic Family Games

Share this fun printable with the families in your church and encourage them to play their own Family Olympic Games at home as they watch the Summer Olympics this year! Download the Olympic Family Games here! Want to help them have intentional faith conversations at home while they watch the Olympics? Check out our Olympic Faith Family Challenge! It includes 7 simple family devotions that help families explore their faith while cheering on their favorite athlete. The download includes a printable version for you to share with families + a full social media campaign to engage with them online! Learn more...
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Mixed Feelings: Back-to-School Feelings Wheel Family Resource

The first day of school can bring lots of emotions to the surface. Share this simple resource with families to help them talk about those first-day feelings and find out what the Bible says about different emotions! Print copies for every child, and/or share the printable with them digitally! Download the resource here! Want to dive deeper into helping kids and families talk about their emotions this back-to-school season? We’ve got TWO resources to help! Learn more about each one below, and find all of our Back-to-School resources here! Mixed Feelings is an emotions-focused lesson all about those first-day feelings! By looking at Philippians 4:4-7 & John 14:27, kids will learn that God made us with emotions, He wants us to talk to Him about our emotions, and that no matter what we are feeling, we can ask...
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The Parents In Your Ministry Need This Book

My word of the year this year is habits. Last week, we shared about simple scripture habits for families, and we're continuing this habit theme with a giveaway of Christie Thomas' brand new book: Little Habits, Big Faith: How Simple Practices Help Your Family Grow in Jesus.  In Little Habits, Big Faith, Christie applies the science of habits to faith formation in a way that makes family discipleship easy, doable, and sustainable for every family, all while sharing encouragement and support. She walks readers through a Faith Growth Cycle, which she divides into three stages: seed, sprout, and root. This metaphor effectively conveys the gradual and nurturing process of faith development. By focusing on small, habitual actions, the book emphasizes how even brief moments of spiritual practice can have a significant impact over time. I personally...
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Scripture Stars: 4th of July Family Faith Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this fun summer activity with the families in your ministry to help them decorate their house for the 4th of July and remind them of the freedom we have in Jesus! It's a great way to help them form tiny habits that incorporate scripture into their lives![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Printable Copy Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F06%2FDKM-Scripture-Stars-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Supplies: red, white, and blue cardstock, star templates from online, gluestick, markers, Bible Instructions: Search the internet for star templates. Print and cut out stars of different sizes on red, white, and blue cardstock. Layer the stars by gluing a smaller star on top of a larger star. Then write one of the Bible verses...
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Simple Scripture Habits For Families

Sometimes parents feel overwhelmed by the thought of family devotions or reading the Bible with their kids. But you can remind them that even the simplest habits can help them incorporate Scripture into their daily lives! Here are a few ideas to share with the families in your church: Decorate with scripture - Many families have more scripture in their homes than they realize, but it's also easy to make it an art project or part of a holiday celebration! With an activity like Scripture Stars or even encouraging kids to make their own Bible verse poster, families can hang up scripture around their homes where they'll see it every day. If they're decorating for a certain holiday or season, they can find Bible verses that relate to that celebration, add them to some decorations, and hang those up too! Then each time they pass the scripture...
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Summer Connection Idea: KidMin Pizza Delivery!

Summertime is a great time to connect with families in unique and fun ways! I saw Darren Goodrich, a Family Pastor at a church in Florida, share this idea in a local children's ministry Facebook group and had to learn more! The idea is simple: set up a signup genius (or other scheduling tool) to invite families to choose a day over the summer when you, the kidmin leader (or someone from your team), will deliver a pizza to the family for dinner! It can be a surprise for the kids or something they know about. Darren shares more about the idea on his blog here, and DKM subscribers can find a step-by-step plan for implementing this idea in their own church (including an email template) here! Darren also shared more about how he got the idea and what the families in his ministry had to say about it: "I really had the idea to...
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Step-by-Step Summer Family Engagement Plan

Hear an overview of how one leader used this plan for a summer pizza delivery initiative here! Download a printable/save-able version here! Step-by-Step Plan: 1. Identify Goals and Budget Goal: Enhance family engagement, reinforce community bonds, and maintain connection with the children and their families during the summer. Budget: Allocate funds for pizza, delivery materials (magnets, etc.), and other potential activities like Christmas cookies. 2. Plan and Communicate Calendar and Communication: Create a clear and detailed summer calendar highlighting all events and dates, including the special delivery days. Email and Social Media: Send out emails and post on social media well in advance. Use graphics and engaging language to get families excited. 3. Sign-Up Process Online Form: Use an online form (e.g., Google...
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Baptism Adventure: Unique Baptism Resources for Kids and Preteens

As kids are hearing the gospel and expressing their faith at camp and VBS this summer, are you thinking about their next steps? Salvation decisions are an important part of children's ministry since we get to share the gospel with kids at a time when their little hearts are most open to receiving it, but if we don't think intentionally about following up with a child after they've made a decision to give their life to Christ, we're missing a big piece of our roles as disciple-makers. One natural next step: baptism! Earlier this year, I learned about an incredible resource that Rivers Crossing Church in Ohio created to help kids and preteens explore baptism in fun and adventurous ways! A team at Rivers Crossing created 3 books that inspired special Adventure Kits: Maya and River’s Campout Adventure (a fiction book, like a modern-day...
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Sermon Notes For Kids List

If you search “Sermon Notes for Kids” on the web, there are literally hundreds of options that show up. So to help you narrow down your search, here’s a list of links to my favorite free sermon notes for kids! Sermon Notes for Kids are a great activity to include in your worship bags and encourage kids to participate in the church service. I recommend including a sermon notes printable every week, but feel free to change up the look, layout, style, or format each Sunday to add variety for your kids! Then start over and cycle back through them. Before long, your kids will have favorites! Emoji Sermon Notes Printable that just released from Deeper KidMin! Sermon Notes Bundle from Deeper KidMin (Including pages for Pre-Readers!) Free Bible Coloring Pages from Sermon for Kids Worship Notes for Kids PDF from MMMCrafts Kid’s...
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10 Summer Scripture Activities for Kids & Families

Things are heating up as summer rolls around, but that doesn’t mean the spiritual life of your kids has to cool down! While summertime often means even more sporadic church attendance as families enjoy trips, vacations, and downtime, the summer can be an opportunity for spiritual growth for the kids and families you lead, especially if you can equip them with ways to dive deep into Scripture this summer! So here are 10 of our favorite summer activities and resources that help kids and families dig into Scripture over the summer: S'more Scripture - A summer resource for kids that helps them memorize Bible verses! Summer Scripture Scratch-Off - A fun and simple way to encourage a daily habit of prayer and reading scripture over the summer months while focusing on who God and Jesus are! Scripture Scoops - Scoop up the Word of God this...
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Mother’s Day Card Freebie

Print these foldable cards on cardstock, cut, then fold in half. Encourage kids to write or draw a special note to their mom on the inside! The card is also generic enough for them to create one for any special woman in their life! Download the Mother's Day Card here! This card design/printable is 1 of 4 available in one of our Mother’s Day Cards and Tags resources. Find even more Mother’s Day card/craft downloads...
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What Millennial Moms Want From Your KidMin this Mother’s Day

We've been talking all month long about today's parents, how they're different from parents of the past, and what that means for our strategy in effectively partnering with parents. With Mother's Day coming up, let's talk specifically about today's moms. Research has shown that Millennial moms prefer experiences over things, and they love to customize. Like the rest of their generation, they're technologically inclined, highly connected online, and are always looking for ways to make their lives easier. They value life management assistance (think house cleaners, meal services, organizational apps, etc.), and they are also more likely than moms of generations past to work outside the home and contribute to the family income. So while the carnation still makes a sweet gift, consider getting a little more intentional or creative with how you...
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8 Summer Toy Family Devotions

Below you will find 8 devotions built around commonly known summer toys and other items kids are familiar with. Read through these and decide which you want to offer your families. You can reword or change up any of the devotions included here - make them your own! Decide if you will provide just the papers to your families, or if you will provide the necessary items. If you will provide the items you will need zip-top baggies along with the items you want to include. Most of the items in these devotions can be found at your local dollar store or Walmart. When packaging the items up, place a copy of the devotion and the related item in the right-sized bag. You may wonder how many of each devotion to make…. it really depends on your church size and your families! For context, the church this author serves at serves about 100 distinct...
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Parent Resources Shelves: A Digital Interview with a Local KidMin Leader

Last week, we talked about moving beyond a vending machine mentality and into a meal kit mentality when it comes to our strategy for effectively partnering with parents (a month-long conversation you can join here). I ran across a Facebook post from Kelly Turner, a kidmin leader in Springfield, IL, about the success she's found with her parent resource shelves, and I knew we had to talk more! Kelly graciously shared ideas and pictures and even took the time to answer a few questions about her parent resource shelves. I love that they move beyond just a stagnant spot for resources to a deeper strategy for equipping parents. You might be asking: "But aren't parent resource shelves just like a vending machine? Isn't that what we're trying to move beyond?" Yes! We are trying to move beyond just resourcing parents, but an easy first step in...
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