Categories: Leadership

Free Zoom Backgrounds for Online Kids Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier in the week, we talked about how to use virtual backgrounds on Zoom to engage kids while teaching online, so of course this week's freebie includes 8 free Zoom backgrounds you can use for Easter and beyond! Click on the title or image below, and it will open in a new tab. Right Click and "Save As" to download to your computer for use in your next Zoom meeting with kids.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_custom_heading text="Crosses" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F04%2FZoom-Crosses.png||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="27677" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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Change Your Zoom Background To Engage Kids While Teaching Online

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know you can change your background on Zoom while hosting online kids church (how-to instructions below)? You can be teaching from outer space, under the sea, or even in front of the city of Jerusalem, and you don't have to use the same background the entire time. Using virtual backgrounds on Zoom is not only fun, but you can also use this feature as a teaching tool. You can easily change the background in the middle of your teaching to engage kids and involve them in the story! Zoom Background Teaching Ideas: Bible Story Images: Find pictures that fit your story or that include objects within the story. As you teach, change the background to match what you're talking about to help keep kids engaged virtually. Eye Spy: Create a background with a collage of various items (people, words, objects,...
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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...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

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"...
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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,...
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Apps for Online Kids Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You may be trying to navigate the new normal of hosting kids church online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few apps to consider, and no matter which one you use, read these 5 tips for engaging kids through video to make it the best possible experience for everyone involved! FACEBOOK LIVE - So far, this seems to be the most popular platform for online children's ministry. Why? Because most parents are already on FaceBook and familiar with how to use it. When you go Live on Facebook, families can interact by leaving comments in real-time. Plus, the video stays on your church's FB page for those families who couldn't watch it live. I love this platform because it encourages parents to watch with their kids, giving them a glimpse into what Sunday mornings in the kids area looks like and encouraging family...
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5 Tips for Engaging Kids Through Video For Online Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you're hosting kids church online through video during the Coronavirus pandemic, use the tips below to make it the best possible experience for your kids and families (and you)! And check out all of our COVID-19 ministry tips & resources here. Make a plan. Just like you wouldn't walk into a regular Sunday morning without a plan for the day, don't try to do that with a video either! Make sure you and your team know the order and flow of the video, and be sure to set any props off-screen but within reach. You may also want to have links ready to share, like links to a folder on Google Drive of activity worksheets that go with the lesson, links to worship videos, links to a video lesson, and more! (Just make sure your curriculum & worship songs allows sharing the resources in this way). Spend the...
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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...
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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...
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5 Family Easter Resources 2020

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Easter is always an important season in children's ministry, especially as we help families connect with each other and with Jesus. Browse all of our Easter resources here, but check out our top 5 Family Easter resources below to help families engage and interact with the Easter story in a variety of ways![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_single_image image="24219" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/40-days-of-remembering-jesus-a-lent-resource-for-families/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]40 Days of Remembering Jesus - I know Lent started 2 weeks ago, but it's never too late for a family to start being intentional about remembering Jesus...
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10 Scriptures For Kids About Light

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use these Scriptures in your lesson about Jesus as the Light of the World, for your Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, your Walk in the Light Easter Event, or for any lesson teaching kids about light! They're short enough for kids to memorize, and they coordinate with any light or glowing theme. (Note: All verses in NIrV) John 12:36a - “While you have the light, believe in it. Then you can become children of light.” 1 John 1:5b - “God is light. There is no darkness in him at all.” John 9:5 - “Jesus said, ‘While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’” John 12:46 - “Jesus said, ‘I have come into the world to be its light. So no one who believes in me will stay in darkness.’” John 8:12 - “Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone...
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3 Things a Permanent Church Can Learn From a Mobile Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mobile churches are churches that have no permanent building but meet in a local venue like a school or community center. Having served on staff in mobile ministry for five years at a church that met at a local high school, I understand the struggle, frustration, and downright difficult task of mobile ministry. But there are aspects of mobile ministry that even churches with a brick-and-mortar building can learn and should adopt. 1) How to leverage resources – As a mobile church, the supplies you use on Sunday are often limited to what you can haul in and out each week. That means you have to get creative in how you store, prepare, and even use resources, and there’s no room for fluff! Renting a space rather than owning a building can also allow churches to leverage their financial resources for their...
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7 Ways to Break the Ice With Kids

Connecting with kids on Sunday mornings must be a priority in order to make Sunday mornings successful. Breaking the ice with the kids and forming personal relationships encourages them to be excited about coming to church and creates a better environment for them to learn more about God. While you may feel comfortable walking up to a brand-new kid, your volunteers might need some help in how to break the ice and build relationships with the kids in their small group. Here are 7 helpful hints to share with your team on breaking the ice with kids... Make an effort to see eye to eye with the kids! When the kids arrive in the morning, get down to their level to listen to them.  Give plenty of high fives because (appropriate) physical touch can go a long way. Engage in conservation with the kids and listen to what they have to say. That...
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Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt FAQs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So you're thinking about hosting a Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt, but you're not really sure what that really entails? Here's a closer look at how our Jesus is Light Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt event went + answers to some of the questions you've been asking about hosting your own glow in the dark egg hunt! We offered the event for free, but we did ask families to register ahead of time so we could know how many to expect. With the way we did our egg hunts using specific letters and numbers, we needed a general head count. We of course made extras for those who showed up the day-of, but it really helped to at least have an idea of our total numbers. As families arrived, they received details about all of our available stations![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="22387" img_size="full"...
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4 Ways to Change Up Your Easter Egg Hunt

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you looking for ways to add some variety to your regular annual Easter Egg Hunt? Use these 4 ideas to change up your egg hunts and provide a whole new hunt experience! Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt - Stuff your eggs with glow sticks or finger lights, then wait for the sun to go down, and hunt for glowing eggs in the dark! This is a popular and really fun way to add variety to your egg hunt. The first year we hosted a Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, one family had to miss it, and the kids were so disappointed they asked mom to re-create it for them at home! (Psst - if you want to host a Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, we've done the planning for you! See the details here. Colored Egg Hunt - This hunt works great if you have multiple ages hunting at the same time. In this type of egg hunt, certain ages can pick up...
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Staying Motivated in Ministry

Let's face it. Children's ministry is challenging! There will be plenty of times when we will want to hit snooze on the alarm clock and call in sick or when we feel like we just can't handle it anymore. But the gospel will be the one thing to bring us back to where we need to be. The gospel is what will get us out of bed in the morning and into church so we can share the gospel with kids and lead our volunteers with integrity. LifeWay shared a post about leadership lessons from Paul, and they offered ideas for staying motivated in ministry and leadership and how the gospel kept Paul motivated through chaos like imprisonment, shipwreck, and more. Practice these things this month so the joy of the gospel can be your motivation to serve well and persevere. Spend time in the Word. (To be motivated by the gospel, you have to know the gospel!) ...
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Never Plan in Pen

I like having a plan just as much (if not more) than the average leader, but if you serve in ministry (especially children's ministry), then you know that being flexible and able to adapt to a constantly-changing situation is vital. Sometimes the plans have to change. So as you're planning your calendar year (use this Calendar Planning Checklist to help balance the year!), always plan in pencil so you can be adaptable and flexible when plans have to change. Here are some situations in KidMin when I've had to be flexible (some amusing, some not so much)... When the previously sunny skies unexpectedly turn into rain, meaning you won't be heading to the park for your Fall Scavenger Hunt Preschool Playdate. When no one signs up or shows up for an event you've scheduled. (No shame - this really happened.) When you show up at the fire...
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2020 Word of the Year Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you choose a word of the year for yourself or your ministry? A common theme in the way you want to see God work, or a reminder for yourself? Keep your word of the year front and center with this week's download! Print the download below, then write in your word for 2020. Hang the printable somewhere in your office or home where you'll see it every day. If you have a word of the year for your ministry, you could even make copies of your word for your entire volunteer team to join you in prayer around that word![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Word of the Year Printable Here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F12%2FDKM-2020-Word-of-the-Year.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]After some prayer and consideration, my word for both my personal...
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KidMin Reading List for the New Year

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I'm an avid reader, and reading is one of my favorite ways to learn about ministry and leadership! Now that I've completed my seminary degree (woop woop!) I've got even more time to read books of my own choosing, so here are the kidmin/leadership books (in no particular order) I'm hoping to read in 2020, with one book for each month! What's on your reading list for this year?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="21689" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://amzn.to/2Pxp2ra"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text] Sustainable Children's Ministry: From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions - Burnout is such a problem in ministry, and especially in children's ministry. I'm hoping this...
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Christmas Carols 4 Corners: Large Group Christmas Game for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I don’t know about you, but the kids in my ministry love playing 4 corners! Now you can play a Christmas version of 4 Corners with this large-group game that gets kids moving and singing in the Christmas spirit![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download a printable version of the game here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FChristmas-Carols-4-Corners-Large-Group-Game.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Prep: In each corner of the room, tape up a piece of paper, one color per corner: blue, red, green, and white (or yellow). Supplies: Christmas songs you can start/stop easily (on a CD player or through your sound system), a sheet of blue paper, a sheet of red paper, a sheet of green paper, and sheet of white (or yellow) paper, tape Play: Play...
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Last Christmas 2019

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last Christmas, we shared these ideas & freebies, but some of you weren't here. This year, to save you some time, I'm bringing them back in case you missed them. Ok, so maybe those aren't the lyrics, but it's true! (And you already have my heart anyway, kidmin leader.) Here are our top resources from Last Christmas (and Last Last Christmas too!)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="7171" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/2-christmas-volunteer-appreciation-ideas/"][vc_custom_heading text="2 Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Ideas" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes"...
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Christmas Resource Review & Giveaway: Confusing Christmas Activity Book for Kids!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This week, I'm teaming up with the authors over at Kid-tivity Books to offer our followers a giveaway! Kid-tivity Books provides beautifully designed resources to help kids and families engage with Biblical truths, and this week, we're giving away a free copy of their most popular Christmas resource, Confusing Christmas, to one lucky winner! It's the perfect gift for families at Christmas! Order a single physical copy here, or download the digital version to print unlimited copies for your families here![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="20978" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]I got my hands on a digital copy of Confusing Christmas, and this 30-page activity book teaches kids the Christmas story through interactive activities, a unique family story, and coloring pages! In this book...
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Have a Cup of Cheer Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Thank your volunteers for serving in your ministry and invite them to "have a cup of cheer"  this Christmas season with this free printable![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Printable here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2FDKM-Have-a-Cup-of-Cheer-Freebie-Updated-2025.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Use the version with a pre-printed note at the bottom, or use the blank version to write in your own Christmas message of appreciation. Use page 2 and 3 to put together goodie bags with hot chocolate packs, instant coffee packs, tea bags, candy canes, and more for your team. You could even include a mug with your ministry logo! Use pages 3 and 4 as cards to attach to Starbucks gift cards. Print...
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Child of God

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]My favorite part of any conference is singing worship. I love being in a room with other children's ministry leaders, singing praise to the God we serve and introduce kids to. This time is so sweet because worship is often something that children's ministry leaders don't get to do very often. We're with the kids during Sunday morning worship, and even if it's a family service, we probably have responsibilities to think about. We may lead worship in the kids area, but we rarely have the opportunity to focus completely on the words and object of our worship. At the last conference I attended, the song below was an impactful one during one of our times of worship. We so often point children to God that we sometimes forget we are children of God ourselves. I'm praying you take time today to reflect and remember...
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Worship as a Way of Life

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I say "worship," pictures of waving arms, jumping, and Yancy may pop into your head. And while those are very real aspects of worship, if we let kids believe that worship is ONLY singing songs of praise to God, we're missing the mark.  Worship is more than just singing songs; it’s a way of life! It's a whole-life response to God and His greatness. Sometimes that means singing praise songs, but it also means so much more. We can worship God through our actions, our words, and our songs. When we serve, we are worshiping. When talk about God to others, we are worshiping. When we spend time thinking about how awesome God is, we position ourselves into a posture of worship. Worship doesn't just happen on Sunday mornings. It's the moments walking in between when God stirs our hearts with His presence and...
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