Brain Dump Activity: 4 Steps to Reduce Stress and Maximize Productivity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Anyone else feeling just a *bit* overwhelmed lately?  😅 🙋 Me too. Between back to school, figuring out what ministry looks like, feeding the family, finding time to exercise, and all the other things, there’s a lot rattling around in my brain! Maybe you can relate. (And if you can relate, we want to help!) Sometimes it's just all so overwhelming, you don't even know where to start. That’s why I love brain dumps. What is a brain dump? I learned about brain dumps from my friend and leadership coach Joy Canupp, and a brain dump is exactly what it sounds like: dumping the contents of your mind out onto paper to clear out the mental clutter and give you the clarity to move forward. A brain dump is effective because it allows you to calm the whirling tornado of thoughts and bring them to a more...

We Want To Help

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we move into the school year in the midst of COVID-19, life and ministry look more different than ever before. That's why we wanted to check in, see how you're doing, and ask how we can help you navigate this season. Thank you for taking a few minutes to answer this survey that will help us serve you better as you serve and lead kids! Click here to access the survey or complete the version below. Note: Survey closes August 12,...

Emoji Prayer Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kids have a lot of feelings as the school year begins in the midst of COVID-19. They may be feeling frustrated, excited, scared, angry, or all of the above. Use this free printable to help kids process their feelings, share them with the Lord, and ask Him for the peace only He can give. (Psst! Educators could probably use some encouragement too! Check out some free educator appreciation video ideas here!)[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Emoji Prayer Printable here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FDKM-Emoji-Prayer-Back-to-School-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="36745" img_size="medium" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

Educator Appreciation Videos

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we head back to school (online or in-person), it's the perfect opportunity to honor the teachers and educators in our churches. Below are some video + post ideas to use in your Sunday service and/or to post on your ministry social media accounts to remind your educators how much they are appreciated. On-stage or email script: Thank you, educators! You've put so much time, energy, and love into figuring out the school year ahead. We are grateful for you, and we are praying for your school year. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download this video for free here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fthank-you-educators-video%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_separator color="custom" border_width="6" accent_color="#3ac1e1"][vc_column_text] This video from Google is so fun and...

Hoops: A Social-Distanced Kids Event

Jolie, the children's pastor at my church, came up with a BRILLIANT social-distanced kids event for the K-5th graders at our church, and she has graciously agreed to let me share her ideas with you! What is Hoops? A social-distanced event for kids that everyone loves (and that's easy to host)! How does Hoops work? Set up hula hoops 6ft apart in your church or ministry space. Invite kids to pack a lunch and meet you at the church (we divide up by small groups - each small group comes on a specific day to keep our numbers low). Hoops is a social-distanced kids event where parents drop their kids off at the church at 11:15 am for lunch, then pick the kids up again at 12:15 once lunch is over. Kids enter the building, find a hula hoop to sit in, and the fun begins! We talk, laugh, play a game, invite kids to share any prayer requests, and then...

Made in His Image Family Devotional

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Talking to kids about racial issues can be intimidating, but share this free devotional with your parents to help them start conversations about equality, race, and justice at home![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the free devotional here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2FDKM-Free-Truth-1-of-Precious-in-His-Sight.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]The devotional includes Scripture verses, discussion questions, and an easy object lesson to help kids understand and apply biblical truths.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="34486" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

Return-To-Worship FAQs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you return to in-person worship services, your families probably have a lot of questions about what that means for their kids. Use this list of frequently-asked-questions about returning to worship to help communicate the changes with your families. Post these FAQs on your church website, as social media posts (download a set of editable pre-made Canva templates here), and/or in email communications with your families.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the FAQs list here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2FDeeper-KidMin-Return-to-Worship-FAQs-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="34461" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

Encouragement Challenge for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With all that's going on in the world these days, we could use a bit of encouragement (and if you need some yourself, be encouraged here). Summer is a great time to help kids practice the discipline of encouragement![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Encouragement Challenge Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2FDKM-Encouragement-Challenge-Grow-Like-Jesus-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Print or email copies of the pages in the freebie, share with your families, and challenge kids to encourage others and "fill up their hearts" this summer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text] This freebie is an excerpt from the Grow Like Jesus Summer Growth Plan, a self-guided growth program that...

To The Best POP Father’s Day Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Summertime means Father's Day, and you can use this printable to give a little gift to the men in your church this summer season! Hand out the gifts during service, offer them at a drive-through service, or make a few runs to deliver them right to your families' front doors! See other resources for Summer 2020 here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Father's Day Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fto-the-best-pop-fathers-day-printable%2F|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Print the freebie on cardstock, cut out the circles, and attach to a bag of popcorn or a can/bottle of soda using ribbon or tape. For the popcorn, tie them around an unpopped bag or even a gourmet bag of popcorn like these. For the soda, purchase a variety of different sodas and just tie the...

Summer Fun Packs Details & Links Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier this week, we shared about how our mission partners at Path Project are creating Summer Fun Packs for the kids in their various communities. As promised, here is a freebie of their plans with all the links and details so you can create your own Summer Fun Packs for the kids in your ministry too![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Click here to download the plans!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2FDKM-Path-Project-Summer-Fun-Kits-2020.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]This freebie gives you a full month's worth of weekly summer goodies for your kids that will help them connect with the church and their family. And let's be honest, parents will thank you for providing something for the kids to do! Use the ideas and links in the download as...

Resources for Talking With Kids About Race

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Racism is a sin. In an episode of The Kids Ministry Collective Podcast, Mahogany Dudley-Finley labels racism for what it is: a sin. She encourages children's ministry leaders to recognize that and then approach teaching about racism the same way we teach children about other sins. (Listen to the full podcast episode here.) As we examine our own hearts regarding racism and equip the families we lead to do the same, here are some resources to facilitate conversations and change on a personal, communal, and global level:[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title="Resources to Share with Families" tab_id="1591196869353-de23a9f8-e82a"][vc_column_text] Resource Roundup - An entire blog post about talking with kids about race including developmental studies (babies as young as 6 months notice...

Summer Fun Packs from the Path Project

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Because you chose to download resources from us here at Deeper KidMin in May, we were able to support our mission partners, Path Project, in their special Summer Fun Packs initiative! Like many of us, Path Project usually has camps, retreats, and more during the summer, which have all been canceled this year. So they created the Summer Fun Packs as a way to provide kids with resources to stay connected and have fun! We used a portion of our May sales to sponsor a Summer Fun Pack for 8 different kids in the Buford, Georgia community. THANK YOU for helping us make that possible!  I was so excited to donate 8 Summer Fun Packs, and the more I looked into them, the more I thought, "Well hey, that's a fun idea for children's ministry leaders too!" So I reached out to the community director of the Buford location...

“Why do we do it?” Helping Kids Understand Worship Practices

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Kids ask a lot of questions. And they might be asking questions about your family or adult service that their parents don't know how to answer. Share this printable with the families in your ministry to help parents teach their kids about worship practices. The more kids understand what they're doing and why, the more they'll engage in the service! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the printable here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2FDKM-Why-Do-We-Do-It-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="29708" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/a-guide-to-family-worship/"][/vc_column][vc_column...

Emoji Sermon Notes for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this Emoji Sermon Notes printable with your kids to help them engage in a family or adult service! They're the perfect addition to your worship activity bags for kids! Find more ideas and printables for sermon notes for kids here, and dive deeper into the topic of including, not just occupying, kids in a family service with this online training.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Emoji Sermon Notes Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2FDKM-Emoji-Sermon-Notes-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="30696" img_size="large" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

Parent Note for Family Worship

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you're planning and preparing worship activity bags to help kids engage in your family services, don't forget to address the parents too! Attending a worship service as a family might be brand-new territory for your families, and parents may feel anxious or nervous about their child(ren) being disruptive during the service. Use this week's free download to help put parents at ease! For more resources to help prepare your families for an intergenerational service, check out our 5 practical tips for family worship, our Guide to Family Worship resource, and our online ministry training all about including (not just occupying) kids in a family service![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Parent Note For Family Services Here!" align="center"...

Worship Activity Bags: Praise Packs

As churches begin reopening after COVID-19, many will keep families together in one service for a while before opening their children's ministry. That means babies through adults will be worshiping together in one setting, and while that excites us as children's and family ministers, parents and senior pastors may not be so thrilled. In an interview with Michayla White from the International Network of Children's Ministry on FaceBook Live, I share some ideas for engaging (not just occupying) kids in your services. (This conversation turned into me teaching a breakout session on this topic at several children's ministry conferences + making the breakout session available online here.) One of my favorite ways is to provide worship activity bags, which we call Praise Packs! Praise Packs are a goody bag with activities that help kids engage and...

Mother’s Day Social Media Templates

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We mentioned this idea in our list of Quarantine Mother's Day Ideas, and it's super simple! Lots of high schools are doing something like this to honor their 2020 seniors, and you can do it for the moms in your ministry too. Ask families to share a picture (and maybe even a short note/quote), insert their pics into your favorite template below, then share on your church’s social media pages throughout Mother’s Day weekend to honor the moms and women in your ministry! See more social-distanced ministry resources here. Click on your favorite graphic(s) below, and the template(s) will open in a new tab. Right click and save the template to your computer, then insert the template into your favorite graphics editor or even Microsoft PowerPoint to customize them, export them, and...

Quarantine Mother’s Day Ideas

Mother's Day 2020 will look vastly different than in years past thanks to COVID-19 and quarantines. So how can you honor the women and mothers in your church while maintaining a safe social distance? I learned about these ideas from a live webinar in Jessica Bealer's Don't Quit Ministry Support FaceBook Group and had to share! Donut Delivery - Did you know that Dunkin Donuts delivers? They've partnered with Grub Hub to deliver as few as half a dozen donuts in and around participating locations. Send a breakfast treat to your moms and remind them you "donut" know what you'd do without them! Find out if your Dunkin location is participating here. Pop Cards - I know, I know, moms always get cards for Mother's Day, but what if you splurged a bit and sent the moms in your ministry special Pop Up cards that are almost like works of art? Pop...

Easter Egg Hunt Alternatives for COVID-19 Quarantine Printable!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier in the week, we talked about Easter Egg Hunt Alternatives during this time of social distancing and quarantining for COVID-19, so today we're sharing a free printable to help you pull that off![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download You've Been Egged Easter Egg Hunt Alternative Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2FDKM-Youve-been-Egged-COVID-19-Update.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]It’s simple, it’s cheap (you only need some colored paper and plastic Easter eggs), and most importantly, it’s so fun! Print & copy the printable pages double-sided on colored paper, adding in details about your church Easter services (online or in person) in the space provided. You can also share this PDF with your families via email so...

Easter Egg Hunt Alternatives for COVID-19 Quarantine

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As Easter draws near and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you may be wondering what to do about your Easter Egg Hunt in this time of social distancing and quarantines. Here are a few alternative egg hunt ideas to help you and your families celebrate Easter, and check out all of our COVID-19 ministry resources here. You've Been Egged (Free Printable here!) - We adapted this from an Easter Egg Hunt invite to a family activity! It’s simple, it’s cheap (you only need some colored paper and plastic Easter eggs), and most importantly, it’s so fun! Print & copy this free download, adding in details about your church Easter services (online or in person) in the space provided. Then leave the printable on a family's doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run! Kids hunt for the empty egg in the yard, then "egg"...

Quarantine Bingo

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As parents and kids are staying home during the Covid-19 pandemic, share this fun and easy Quarantine Bingo printable with them to help give parents some fun activity ideas! Use the version I created, or use the editable PDF page to create your own with specific ideas related to your church or ministry! It's a fun way to stay connected with your families, especially if you encourage them to post their Quarantine Bingo pictures online with your specific ministry hashtag or by tagging your ministry page.  You could even turn this Bingo game into a challenge or contest and award prizes when we're able to meet together in person again![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Quarantine Bingo (+ Create Your Own Version) Here! " align="center"...

A Habit of Joy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I've been reading through Bob Goff's Live In Grace, Walk in Love Devotional, and one of the days from last month has really stuck with me. Bob was talking about the power of habits and connected the physical process of building habits with the spiritual process of building habits that help us create a lifestyle of loving others. He said... "When joy is a habit, love is a reflex."  And then he posed the question: How do we make joy a habit in our everyday lives so our reflex is always love for the people around us? Confession: I'm not very good at making joy a habit. I tend to over-analyze and have a critical attitude of everything, from myself to my ministry to other people. So I have to be very intentional about making joy a habit in my life. One way I've done that is by keeping a gratitude journal,...

Book Review: The Family Board Meeting

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In January, I shared my KidMin Reading List for 2020, and I wanted to tell you about the first book I read: The Family Board Meeting.  My friend Joy Canupp sent me this book when we announced our pregnancy back in August 2019, and as my husband and I are now a month in to life as new parents, this book has already given me so much to think about, pray about, and implement as our family grows. And with kids across the country at home this week from Covid-19 school closings, the book's emphasis on quality family time is relevant for everyone.  It's a nice, quick little read (not even 100 pages), but it's full of encouragement and ideas for being intentional at home, even in the midst of the busy-ness. As a ministry leader, I know you know the challenge of balancing family and ministry, and this book had...

How To Prepare for the Coronavirus at Your Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The coronavirus pandemic will have medical and economical effects, but it doesn't have to affect the spiritual growth of the families we serve. While we don't quite yet know the full extent of this virus's impact, we do know we have to be prepared. My pastor related the pandemic to a weatherman's warning of an upcoming hurricane. It may be as bad as they predict; it may not. Either way, we have to be prepared. Use the ideas and resources below to prepare for the effects of this virus and equip families during this uncertain time, and check out all of our COVID-19 tips, resources, and ideas here.  If your church will continue to meet:  Make a plan. You may not be closing this weekend, but chances are you might in the future, and you should still adjust practices based on the current circumstances. This...

Great Commission Object Lesson for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use this object lesson when teaching kids about the Great Commission or print several copies of the other pages in the download to give out to each child with a globe stress ball and send them home with a fun family activity, especially at Easter![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Printable for Families and Kids Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F02%2FDKM-Great-Commission-Object-Lesson.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Find a globe to use in a teaching setting or order a globe stress ball to give to each child. Read Matthew 28:16-20. Discuss: What did Jesus tell the disciples to do? What did Jesus promise them? Who can you tell about Jesus? Say: The globe represents all the people in the world who Jesus commanded us to...

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