Behavior Management System (SLLRP)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the past I've shared my 5 Tips for Behavior Management at Church, which discusses the importance of sharing behavior expectations with kids. To help the kids in my ministry understand my expectations for them, I created 5 Rules called the "5 I Can's", that eventually became known by the kids as SLLRP (pronounced "slurp"). They were adaptable for any situation too, so I could remind kids to "SLLRP it up" at VBS, a preschool playdate, or on a Sunday morning, and they'd know exactly what I was talking about. These “I Can” Statements help kids remember how we should behave at church so we can get the best out of our time each Sunday morning and learn all about what God wants to teach us. They allow kids to take ownership of their time at church each week and to empower them to CHOOSE to do the right thing....

Palm Sunday Craft Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since we celebrate Palm Sunday every year, it can be difficult to come up with new crafts each time, but this one has been my favorite "outside of the box" palm craft idea! It's super simple, takes minimal prep work, and makes a pretty palm branch! Supplies: Palm Sunday Craft printable green scrapbook paper or different shades of green paper (cut into 1-inch squares) glue sticks [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Get your hands on the palm Sunday craft now!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2FDKM-Palm-Sunday-Scrapbook-Craft.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Prep: Cut green scrapbook paper or different shades of green paper into 1 inch squares. Do: Give each child a Palm Branch Craft Printable. Spread out the green scrapbook...

Home Grown Review and Giveaway

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="4365" img_size="medium" onclick="custom_link" link="https://amzn.to/2MCjw3B"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text 0=""] Home Grown: How to Equip Parents for Spiritual Leadership By KidMin Nation (Editor: Tina Houser) My rating: 5/5 stars - It was amazing!     Read: March 2018[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]This book is for you if... you serve in children's ministry, you think parents are an important part of discipleship, you want more practical ideas for equipping parents that you can implement today. My thoughts: As a contributing author to this book (check out chapter 4 for my thoughts on being a parent cheerleader), I am a little bit biased. But there really is so much good stuff in this...

Wiping Sin Away Prayer Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This is one of my favorite prayer activities to help kids think about their own sin, ask God for forgiveness, and see a visual of how Jesus washes away our sin. Here's how to do this activity with your kids too. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Give me the Prayer Activity" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2FDKM-Wiping-Sin-Away-Activity.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text] Cut and laminate the hearts (included in the download). Give each child a heart, a dry erase marker, and a baby wipe. Encourage kids to think of their sins, write them on their heart, then wipe them away, thanking Jesus for wiping away our sins. [/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2="Want to see how this fits into a Sunday lesson?" h4="Check out the free Squeaky Clean Sunday...

Fleeing From Sin Game

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Want a fun, large-group game to help kids learn a healthy reaction to sin? Give this one a try! I used it as an opening game for the Squeaky Clean Sunday lesson, and it helps set the stage for the full 4-week Squeaky Clean Easter unit! Prep: Print several copies of the "Sin Signs" Printable that comes with the download. Give these signs to your volunteer leaders before service starts, and help them coordinate an order to hold up their signs. Play: Play music and invite the children to mingle/move/dance around the room. Cut the music off randomly, and one leader will hold up their sin sign. Children should flee as fast as they can from the leader holding the sin sign. (In the Squeaky Clean version, kids run away from the sin signs and to the rubber ducks!) Continue playing as time...

Baptism Guide for Parents

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sometimes parents wonder whether their child is ready for baptism or not. Share this guide with them to help parents talk with their children about baptism and discern if their child is ready to take this important step of faith.   Not sure YOU know how to talk with kids about baptism? Read tips for you as the leader here.[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2="Want to teach a full lesson on baptism?" h4="Use this Easter season to do just that! " txt_align="center" color="sky" add_button="bottom" btn_title="Show me the baptism-focused Easter unit! " btn_color="sky" btn_align="center" btn_link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fsqueaky-clean-4-week-easter-unit%2F||target:%20_blank|"]The 4-week Squeaky Clean Easter unit closes with a special lesson on baptism, teaching kids what it is, why it's...

Volunteer Dove Chocolate Valentine Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Give your volunteers some love this Valentine's Day with a simple gift. It's always a good time to let your volunteers know how much you appreciate them, and with this week's free printable, it'll only take you a few minutes of prep work to thank them for being the heart of your ministry. I heard about this idea at a breakout session with Kathie Phillips, the brilliant KidMin leader and author behind KidMinspiration. What you need: Dove chocolates Glue Dots DKM Volunteer Valentine Printable Just print, cut, stick on the chocolates, and you're ready to go![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title="Help me love on my volunteers this Valentine's Day!" color="sky" align="center"...

How To Make A Prayer Labyrinth

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the past, I've shared 10 Prayer Station Ideas, and one of them included a prayer labyrinth. A labyrinth is a special kind of maze historically used to promote deep thinking and soul-searching. I like to use it to help teach kids (especially those who like to move) about prayer! What You Need: King size flat sheet Pencil Tape measure/ruler Sharpie (regular and thick) You'll need to do some measuring, but don't worry, I've done all of the calculations for you! Mark your checkpoints in pencil, lightly sketch the maze paths in pencil, then trace over the path marks with Sharpie. Add any extra details you want (I like to add directional arrows and a title, but that's the extent of my artistic ability). Throw the sheet in the wash to erase any stray pencil marks, and your prayer labyrinth is...

It’s a Date! (Calendar Planning Checklist)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now that the summer is over, and I’m looking to the school year ahead, I created a calendar planning checklist to help me plan out the year without leaving anything out. Planning your calendar year ahead of time helps you see the big picture of what you’re doing in your ministry and stay on top of things (looking at you, procrastinators). When you know what’s coming 2, 3, or even 6 months down the road, you are better able to delegate, plan, focus on your goals, and use your time wisely. So grab your favorite calendar (print or digital), print off the checklist, and plan away! What you need: Goals for the year so you have a direction (Use the DKM Goal Setting Guide to help) Calendar (digital or print) Pencil (because we never plan in pen) DKM Calendar...

Goal-Setting Guide

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Studies have shown that when you write down your goals, you are 42% more likely to achieve them because it engages both the creative and logical parts of your brain. So when was the last time you wrote down specific goals for your ministry? Setting goals for the year can be overwhelming and intimidating, so I hope this free download helps make that process more manageable and successful. I’ll be praying Psalm 20:4 over you as you work through this guide to map out the year ahead. The children and families we serve are too important not to take the time to intentionally look to their futures.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Help me set goals this year! " color="sky" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fministry-goal-setting-guide%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]The Deeper...

Candy Cane Poem Printable

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for a last-minute gift for the children in your ministry or want to include a stocking stuffer that reminds kids about the real reason for the season? Use our Candy Cane Poem Printable from the A Praise in a Manger 4-week Christmas series! I can't claim rights to this poem because it's all over the internet, but I formatted the poem in a cute and modern printable that's easy and fun. Just print, cut, and slap on a candy cane for an instant Christmas gift![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Give me a printable to help share the real reason for the season!" color="sky" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FCandy-Cane-Poem-Printable-from-Deeper-KidMin.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text 0=""]What you need: cardstock & printer candy...

Christmas Eve Bingo

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Want a fun and easy way to engage kids during a family Christmas Eve service? Make it a game! I like to give Christmas Eve bingo cards out to kids as part of their Praise Packs, and this Christmas-themed one is perfect for the Christmas Eve service. The idea is that as kids participate in the service or listen for certain words in the sermon, they get to cross out a box on their Bingo board. When they show me their completed board at the end of the service, they earn a Christmas treat! The download even includes a non-reader-friendly version so even your littlest members can still participate. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_btn title="Give me a download to help kids engage!" color="sky" align="center"...

Instant Christmas Pageant (Just Add Kids)

[vc_row][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text]Last Christmas (no, I didn’t give you my heart) but I went out on a limb for our Christmas Eve service and tried an instant Christmas pageant with our children. No practice. No rehearsals. Lots of cuteness. Basically, I read the Christmas story from Luke and kids acted out the scene on-stage with nativity masks. Our Christmas Eve services are family services, so children ages 4 and above attend with their parents and we try to include more interactive elements in the service than usual. The instant Christmas pageant turned out to be the best (and funniest) Christmas Eve element we ever did! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_btn title="Click Here to Download the Instant Christmas Pageant Plan" align="center"...

Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Ideas #2

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column][vc_column_text 0=""]Last week we shared a couple of Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Ideas that would really wow your team. This week, we’re sharing some equally amazing gifts, but for a smaller budget. Each download even comes in multiple color options! 1. Your volunteers have warmed your hearts, so you can warm their hands!  What you need: Hand Warmers (make your own or buy these in bulk), Deeper KidMin Pocket Hand Warmers Printable, assembly supplies (twine, ribbon, bows, etc.) Optional: Avery 5395 Labels for easy assembly - just print, peel, and stick on the hand warmers packets! Price point: ~$1 per volunteer (hard to beat that) We even made our own hand warmers one year by filling flannel, microwave-safe fabric pockets with mint-infused rice! Pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, and...

Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text 0=""]It's Christmas time! OK, OK, it's really only Thanksgiving, but in the world of ministry, that means you're already thinking ahead to Christmas (and hopefully have been for a while). Spread some Christmas cheer to your volunteers this year using one of our free printables for Christmas volunteer appreciation gifts.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="2px"][vc_btn title="Click Here to Download Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Printables!" color="sky" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fchristmas-volunteer-appreciation-bundle-1%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]1. Let your volunteers know they're worth more than a pot of gold! What you need: A Hershey's Pot of Gold for every volunteer, the Deeper KidMin Pot of Gold Printable Download, Avery 5164 labels Price...

Connect with Kids Throughout the Week with Crew Cards

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column][vc_column_text 0=""]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 Card Folders, they pull out a pre-addressed postcard, jot down a quick note, and then stick it right back in the folder. We mail the postcard for them on Monday morning, and kids are PUMPED to receive mail from their leaders at church.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Click Here to Download Your Crew Cards Printables" color="sky" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fcrew-cards%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="3277" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]Now you might be thinking, that seems like a lot of...

Candy Appreciation Labels (Free Printables!)

[vc_row][vc_column 0=""][vc_btn title="Click Here to Get Your Candy Appreciation Labels!" color="sky" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FCandy-Appreciation-Labels.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Any candy that doesn't get passed out on Halloween or at the Fall Fest comes home to live with me (and it doesn't last very long). So this year, I decided to find a new home for all that leftover candy, and my waistline will thank me for it. You can get all that sugary goodness out of your house too AND let your volunteers know how much you appreciate them at the same time. Talk about a win-win! Use these free printable labels for 12 different candy bars to remind your volunteers how awesome they are using fun size or mini-size candy. Even if you don't have much candy left over...

6 Ways to Make Scripture Memory Fun!

  Scripture memory can be a daunting goal to accomplish, even as adults, but the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts is undeniably valuable. Check out some of the ideas below for making memorizing Scripture fun (and therefore easier) for you and your kids. We’ve used several in our ministry context, and they are easy to apply at home or in your ministry too! 1) Make it a game! There are SO MANY ways to make memorizing scripture a game, and the more fun your kids are having, the more they’ll want to memorize! Click on the image below to download a copy of my favorite Scripture Memory Games. 2) Sing it Out! – Make up your own song, chant, cheer, or rap using the words in the verse. You could also check out several resources that are readily available for you and your family. JumpStart3 and Seeds Family Worship both...